[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1525-1554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-6]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[FWS-R8-ES-2007-0026; 92210-1117-0000; ABC Code: B4]
RIN 1018-AU83


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for the Monterey Spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are 
designating revised critical habitat for the threatened Monterey 
spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens) under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 11,055 
acres (ac) (4,475 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of this 
revised critical habitat designation. The revised critical habitat is 
located in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, California.

DATES: This rule becomes effective on February 8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials we received, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in the preparation of this final rule, are 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite 
B, Ventura, CA 93003 (telephone 805-644-1766). The final rule, economic 
analysis, and more detailed maps are also available on the Internet at 
http://www.fws.gov/ventura.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Rutherford, Listing and 
Recovery Coordinator for Plants, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see 
ADDRESSES), (telephone 805-644-1766, ext. 306; facsimile 805-644-3958). 
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    It is our intent to discuss only those topics directly relevant to 
the designation of revised critical habitat in this rule. For more 
detailed background information on the appearance, seed ecology, 
habitat requirements, and the historical and current distribution of 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, refer to the proposed revised 
critical habitat designation published in the Federal Register on 
December 14, 2006 (71 FR 75189), and the previous final designation of 
critical habitat for C. p. var. pungens published in the Federal 
Register on May 29, 2002 (67 FR 37498). Additional information on C. p. 
var. pungens is also available in the final listing rule published in 
the Federal Register on February 4, 1994 (59 FR 5499).
    Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens is an annual species in the 
buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It is a low-growing herb that is soft-
hairy and grayish or reddish in color, with white-to rose-colored 
flowers. It produces one seed per flower, and depending on the vigor of 
an individual plant, dozens to over one hundred seeds can be produced 
(Abrams 1944, F35-1; Fox et al. 2006, pp. 162-163). Seed dispersal in 
C. p. var. pungens is likely facilitated by hooked spines on the 
structure surrounding the seed. In the Chorizanthe genus, these are 
believed to attach to passing animals and disperse seed between plant 
colonies and populations (Reveal 2001, unpaginated). Wind also 
disperses seed within colonies and populations.

Previous Federal Actions

    On May 29, 2002, we designated critical habitat for Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens on approximately 18,829 acres (ac) (7,620 hectares 
(ha)) of land in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, California (67 FR 
37498). In March 2005, the Homebuilders Association of Northern 
California, et al., filed suit against the Service (CV-013630LKK-JFM) 
challenging final critical habitat rules for several species, including 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. In March 2006, a settlement was 
reached that requires the Service to re-evaluate five final critical 
habitat designations, including critical habitat designated for

[[Page 1526]]

C. p. var. pungens. The settlement stipulated that any proposed 
revisions to the C. p. var. pungens designation would be submitted to 
the Federal Register for publication on or before December 7, 2006, and 
a final determination by December 7, 2007. We published the proposed 
revisions to the critical habitat designation for C. p. var. pungens in 
the Federal Register on December 14, 2006 (71 FR 75189), and accepted 
public comments on the proposed revisions until February 12, 2007. This 
final rule completes the Service's obligation regarding this species 
under the March 2006 settlement agreement.
    On October 16, 2007, we published a notice announcing the 
availability of the draft economic analysis and reopening the public 
comment period on the revised proposed rule (72 FR 58618). This comment 
period closed on October 31, 2007. For more information on previous 
Federal actions concerning Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, refer to 
the three documents we previously published in the Federal Register and 
identified above in this ``Previous Federal Actions'' section.

Summary of Comments and Recommendations

    We requested written comments from the public on the proposed 
revised designation of critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens in the revised proposed rule published on December 14, 2006 (71 
FR 75189) and again in a subsequent notice of availability of the draft 
economic analysis published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2007 
(72 FR 58618). We also contacted appropriate Federal, State, and local 
agencies; scientific organizations; and other interested parties and 
invited them to comment on the revised proposed rule.
    During the comment period that opened on December 14, 2006, and 
closed on February 12, 2007, we received five comment letters directly 
addressing the proposed revised critical habitat designation: Three 
from peer reviewers, and two from organizations or individuals. During 
the comment period that opened on October 16, 2007, and closed on 
October 31, 2007, we received two comment letters addressing the 
proposed revised critical habitat designation and the draft economic 
analysis. Of these latter comments, one was from a landowner, and one 
was from an individual. Of the seven total letters, two commenters 
expressed support for a designation of critical habitat for Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens, two opposed part or all of the designation of 
critical habitat for this taxon, and three letters included comments or 
information but did not express support or opposition to the proposed 
revised critical habitat designation. Comments we received are 
addressed in the following summary and incorporated into this final 
rule as appropriate. We did not receive any requests for a public 
hearing.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our policy published on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 
34270), we solicited expert opinions from three knowledgeable 
individuals with scientific expertise that included familiarity with 
the species, the geographic region in which the species occurs, and 
conservation biology principles. We received responses from all three 
of the peer reviewers. The peer reviewers provided additional 
information, clarifications, and suggestions to improve the revised 
final critical habitat rule.
    We reviewed all comments we received from the peer reviewers and 
the public for substantive issues and new information regarding 
critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, and we address 
them in the following summary.

Peer Reviewer Comments

    (1) Comment: One peer reviewer noted that we had reduced the size 
of the units in the proposed revised designation as compared to the 
2002 designation. The reviewer questioned why the northernmost area of 
Unit 2 has been divided into 2 subunits that are no longer continuous 
along the coastline. The commenter noted that the separation between 
the 2 northern subunits seemed artificial because appropriate habitat 
is continuous along that stretch of coastline.
    Our Response: We used a multi-step process to identify and 
delineate critical habitat units. First we mapped all California 
Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) records and additional records from 
recent surveys that have been reported to the CNDDB but have not yet 
been entered into their database in a Geographic Information System 
(GIS) format. We then selected sites from among this data set that 
contain the physical and biological features essential to the 
conservation of C. p. var. pungens, that may require special management 
considerations or protection, and would result in a designation that: 
(a) Represents the geographical range of the species, and captures 
peripheral populations; (b) encompasses large occurrences in large 
areas of contiguous native habitat, as these have the highest 
likelihood of persisting through the environmental extremes that 
characterize California's climate and of retaining the genetic 
variability to withstand future introduced stressors (e.g., new 
diseases, pathogens, or climate change); (c) includes the range of 
plant communities and soil types in which Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens is found, (d) maintains connectivity of occurrences; (e) 
maintains the disturbance factors that create the openings in 
vegetation cover on which this taxon depends; and (f) provides for the 
sufficient quantity and spatial arrangement of the primary constituent 
element (PCE) to provide for the conservation of the species.
    Once we identified all areas that contain the physical and 
biological features essential to the conservation of the species, we 
focused first on those areas that were either already protected, 
managed, or unencumbered by conflicting use (e.g., undeveloped County 
or City parks) or otherwise best suited for future conservation (e.g., 
proposed preservation areas). Populations in these areas are most 
likely to persist into the future and to contribute to the species' 
survival and recovery. We prioritized our selection in the following 
manner: First we included undeveloped Federal and State lands, then 
local agency and private lands with recognized resource conservation 
emphasis (e.g., lands owned by a conservation-oriented, non-profit 
organization, or undeveloped County or City parks), and finally other 
agency and private lands.
    Based on the comments received by the peer reviewer, we have 
reviewed the biological information available for the lands in and 
adjacent to the northern two subunits of Unit 2 (Moss Landing Unit). 
Approximately 224 ac (91 ha) of State lands containing the essential 
features for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens occur along this stretch 
of coastline, within Zmudowski and Moss Landing State Beaches. Of the 
26 ac (10.5 ha) of land that occurs between the two northernmost 
subunits of Unit 2, 6 ac (2.4 ha) are county-owned and 20 ac (8.1 ha) 
are privately owned. The habitat between the two northernmost subunits 
contains the features essential for the conservation of C. p. var. 
pungens, is occupied by the species, and together with the State lands 
on either side, provides one contiguous block of coastal habitat for 
the species. The 26 ac (10.5 ha) of habitat were included in our 
previous critical habitat designation of 2002 and protection of this 
coastal area is identified in the Recovery Plan for C. p. var. pungens 
as one of the criteria to recover and de-list the species. We conclude 
that the 26 acres (10.5 ha) of

[[Page 1527]]

land between the two northernmost subunits of Unit 2 are essential to 
the conservation of C. p. var. pungens and have included the lands in 
the final revised designation.
    (2) Comment: Two peer reviewers commented on the response of 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens to human-caused disturbance. One peer 
reviewer commended the Service for distinguishing between human-caused 
disturbance that results in unvegetated openings (e.g., roadsides or 
trails) that may be colonized by C. p. var. pungens and openings caused 
by animals or other non-human factors in ecologically intact, dynamic, 
dune communities. This reviewer described observations made at Moss 
Landing Marine Laboratories where biologists distributed seeds of C. p. 
var. pungens in dune soils disturbed by construction. Although these 
attempts resulted in initially large numbers of flowering C. p. var. 
pungens, the numbers declined substantially over the following 6 years, 
even though there appeared to be sufficient bare ground for the 
persistence of C. p. var. pungens. The other peer reviewer indicated 
that from her 10 years of experience with C. p. var. pungens it is 
clear that human-caused disturbances, such as roads and trails, are 
soon invaded by nonnative, invasive plants, which compete with C. p. 
var. pungens. The peer reviewer suggested that invasive, nonnative 
plants must be controlled on roads and trails to prevent a decline in 
C. p. var. pungens, and that if roads and trails are not needed they 
should be restored to a condition where openings between shrubs are 
free of nonnative plant species.
    Our Response: We appreciate the information provided by the peer 
reviewers and have provided clarifications in the section titled 
``Criteria Used to Identify Critical Habitat'' in this final rule in 
response to their comments.
    (3) Comment: One peer reviewer indicated that the area for Unit 8 
(Fort Ord) is an overestimate of area actually occupied by Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens. The reviewer noted that the proposed unit 
contains high quality habitat for C. p. var. pungens in some areas, 
while other areas support a high cover of perennials or have been 
invaded by nonnative plant species.
    Our Response: We recognize that the area of Unit 8 (Fort Ord Unit) 
exceeds the area currently documented to be occupied by Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens because, due to mapping limitations and scale, it 
does not exclude intervening, currently unoccupied habitat. Unit 8 
contains multiple populations of C. p. var. pungens within a mosaic of 
oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, and maritime chaparral where the soil 
and vegetation structure currently provide the open conditions suitable 
for its growth and reproduction (i.e., the primary constituent 
element). Over time, the locations of suitable habitat will change as 
some maritime chaparral stands age, resulting in a continuous 
vegetation canopy, while other openings are created through shrub 
death, prescribed fire, or animal use. The size and configuration of 
Unit 8 is designed to accommodate the ephemeral and successional nature 
of any given opening in its ability to support C. p. var. pungens and 
the value of habitat management at a landscape scale.
    (4) Comment: One peer reviewer noted the fragmented configuration 
of the proposed revised critical habitat and indicated that this 
configuration will require specific management actions to reduce the 
detrimental effects of fragmentation so that critical habitat can 
provide for the conservation of the species.
    Our Response: We recognize that, in many cases, development has 
already resulted in a discontinuous distribution of lands supporting 
the physical and biological features essential for the conservation of 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. In cases where public lands 
supporting the essential features are contiguous, we have tried to 
designate those lands within the same critical habitat unit or subunit. 
For example, Unit 8 (Fort Ord) consists of public lands supporting the 
essential features over a relatively large area, unfragmented by 
development. This lack of intervening development improves the 
likelihood that future management will be able to promote multiple, 
large areas of the relatively open, maritime chaparral plant community 
that is suitable for C. p. var. pungens. We recognize that specific 
management actions will likely be needed in some of the designated 
units to overcome the disadvantages of habitat fragmentation.
    (5) Comment: One peer reviewer commented that it was not clear why 
the Del Rey Oaks unit from the 2002 final designation was not included 
in the 2006 proposed revised critical habitat designation.
    Our Response: As we indicated in the revised proposed rule, the 
previously designated Del Rey Oaks unit contains substantial areas that 
have continued to be developed since 2002, and, as a consequence, the 
areas within the unit that contain the PCE for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens are very fragmented. Therefore, the PCE is no longer in the 
spatial arrangement and quantity necessary to be considered essential 
to the conservation of the species. As we noted in our response to 
Comment 1, in determining which areas to include in critical habitat, 
we first identified all areas which contain the PCE for the species in 
sufficient quantity and spatial arrangement and are either already 
protected, managed, or unencumbered by conflicting use (e.g., Federal 
lands, undeveloped County or State parks, proposed preservation areas). 
These areas are the focus for our designation, as they generally 
consist of higher quality habitat that is most likely to persist into 
the future. The Del Rey Oaks unit designated in the 2002 final rule is 
in close proximity to the much larger Fort Ord unit (Unit 8). We 
determined that the Fort Ord unit, which encompasses a large amount of 
unfragmented public land that supports the essential physical and 
biological features, contains sufficient areas containing the PCE laid 
out in the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement to provide for 
the conservation of C. p. var. pungens in this area.
    (6) Comment: One peer reviewer commented that mowing can be an 
appropriate management tool where nonnative annual grasses have 
invaded, if mowing is done at the proper time and height to remove 
annual grass seedheads prior to their maturity, while leaving the low-
growing Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens intact.
    Our Response: We agree that where nonnative grasses are abundant, 
mowing could potentially be designed to avoid Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens, while removing maturing grasses prior to seed maturity. We 
have revised the text under the ``Primary Constituent Elements'' 
section, below, to reflect this.
    Public Comments
    (7) Comment: One commenter recommended that two additional areas 
occupied by Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens be included in the 
critical habitat designation. One of these is Armstrong Ranch, which 
the commenter indicated would provide a connection between Units 3 and 
8 in the proposed revised designation. The other site is a population 
at the summit of North Rodeo Gulch Road, northwest of Soquel in Santa 
Cruz County, which the commenter indicated supports the northernmost 
population of C. p. var. pungens.
    Our Response: In designing this critical habitat designation, we 
sought to include locations throughout the range of the species that 
encompass the variation in soil type, vegetation

[[Page 1528]]

communities, elevation, and coastal influences of sites where 
populations of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens occur. We chose to 
include in this revised designation lands at former Fort Ord and the 
coast, but did not include Armstrong Ranch. We recognize that Armstrong 
Ranch provides connectivity between Units 3 (Marina) and 8 (Fort Ord); 
however, we do not believe that these lands should be designated 
because they do not support the highest quality habitat and the PCE in 
the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for the conservation 
of C. pungens var. pungens. Due to its agricultural past, Armstrong 
Ranch is dominated by nonnative annual grasses, with infrequent patches 
of coastal sage scrub. In designating Units 3 (Marina) and 8 (Fort 
Ord), we have included in the designation the more sparsely vegetated 
dune sands of the coast and the more developed (i.e., deeper), ancient 
sandy soils of the interior Fort Ord, which support native coastal sage 
scrub and maritime chaparral vegetation. Consequently, we have 
encompassed the soil types and native plant communities representing 
the high quality habitat and the PCE in the appropriate quantity and 
spatial arrangement for the conservation of C. pungens var. pungens in 
this region. These are the lands that we believe are essential to the 
conservation of C. p. var. pungens.
    We did not include the Chorizanthe population near North Rodeo 
Gulch Road in this revised designation, because of uncertainty 
regarding its taxonomy. A preliminary genetic analysis in 2007 (Baron 
and Brinegar 2007, p. 5) determined that the molecular data from this 
population is consistent with that of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens 
and the robust spineflower (C. robusta var. robusta), but that analysis 
could not assign this population to one or the other of the two taxa. 
Other techniques are now being used to investigate the relationship of 
this population to these taxa. Therefore, to represent the most 
northern distribution of C. pungens var. pungens, we designated the 
location near Freedom Boulevard. This location is the one for which we 
have the most complete information, it supports the PCE in the 
appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement, and encompasses a large 
population of C. p. var. pungens.
    (8) Comment: One commenter suggested that the boundaries for Unit 
5, the Freedom Boulevard Unit, be redrawn to encompass a location that 
supports the PCE and a population of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens 
on an approximately 15 ac (6 ha), privately owned parcel near the 
intersection of Valencia Road and Freedom Boulevard, and just outside 
the boundary of the proposed Freedom Boulevard Unit.
    Our Response: We had information about other populations of 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens that exist in the Freedom Boulevard 
area. However, we did not include the lands that support those 
populations in our revised proposed rule published in 2006 because most 
of those lands are fragmented by rural ``ranchette''-type development 
and were not likely to support populations of Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens into the future. We concluded that the area included in the 
final revised designation provides sufficient areas containing the PCE 
in the quantity and spatial arrangement for the conservation of the 
species in this portion of the species' range. These 24 ac (10 ha) 
support the essential physical and biological features and one of the 
largest populations of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens in the Freedom 
Boulevard area for which we have documentation.
    (9) Comment: One commenter questioned whether the mapping was 
correct for the southern boundary of proposed Unit 3 (Marina). The 
commenter noted that the map appears to encompass an approximately 0.5 
ac (0.2 ha) privately owned parcel, but that the description states 
that the unit contains only State lands.
    Our Response: The commenter is correct in noting that our map for 
Unit 3 contained an error at the southern boundary. To delineate these 
unit boundaries, we used parcel data from the Department of the Army 
(Army) for Fort Ord. We did not realize it did not match the parcel 
boundaries from the Monterey County assessor's office. We intend Unit 3 
to extend south only to the boundary of State land, and we have made 
the correction in this revised designation. No private lands are 
included in this unit.
    (10) Comment: One commenter suggested that the microclimate of the 
inland area in Unit 9 (Soledad) does not seem consistent with the 
coastal habitat described for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens.
    Our Response: As we indicated in the revised proposed rule, the 
habitat of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens is sandy soils in active 
dune systems and bluffs, grassland, scrub, chaparral, and woodland 
communities containing open areas free of other vegetation. The taxon 
is not restricted to dunes on the immediate coast. Historically, in the 
late 1800s and early 1900s, several collections of C. p. var. pungens 
were made from the Salinas Valley, and we know of one extant population 
in the Salinas Valley in interior Monterey County on the lands we are 
designating as Unit 9. Please see the discussion in the ``Critical 
Habitat Designation'' section of this final rule for more information 
on Unit 9 and its value to the conservation of the species.
    (11) Comment: One commenter stated that the process of designating 
critical habitat for endangered species was invalid because the 
Endangered Species Act had expired.
    Our Response: The Endangered Species Act has not expired. Section 
15 of the Act, which authorizes appropriations to carry out functions 
and responsibilities under the Act, has text authorizing funding 
through fiscal year 1992, i.e., the funding authorization provided in 
Section 15 expired on October 1, 1992. Although Section 15 has not been 
amended to change the authorization language, Congress has appropriated 
funds for continued implementation of the administrative provisions of 
the Act in each subsequent fiscal year, and these annual Congressional 
decisions are a de facto extension of the authorization of 
appropriations. All of the requirements and prohibitions of the Act 
remain in force, even in the absence of a change in the text of Section 
15 of the Act.
    (12) Comment: One commenter stated that zero acres should be 
designated as critical habitat.
    Our Response: The identification of areas that are essential for 
the conservation of the species is beneficial. The process of 
designating critical habitat, in which we clearly delineate features 
and areas of high conservation value for the species, helps focus and 
promote conservation efforts by other parties. Critical habitat 
designations may also provide greater regulatory benefits to the 
recovery of a species than would listing alone because the analysis of 
effects to critical habitat is a separate and different analysis from 
that of the effects to the species. Under section 7(a) of the Act, 
Federal agencies must insure that their actions are not likely to (1) 
jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species, or (2) result 
in the destruction or adverse modification of that species' critical 
habitat. The regulatory standard is different for each: the jeopardy 
analysis looks at the action's impact on survival and recovery of the 
species, while the adverse-modification analysis looks at the action's 
effects on the designated habitat's contribution to the species' 
conservation.

[[Page 1529]]

Comments Related to the Draft Economic Analysis

    (13) Comment: One commenter stated that the future costs associated 
with conservation efforts for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens 
forecasted in the draft economic analysis are estimates, which are 
almost always far below what the eventual costs are when they are 
counted.
    Our Response: The purpose of the draft economic analysis is to 
estimate the economic impact of actions taken to protect Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens and its habitat. It attempts to quantify the 
economic effects associated with the proposed revised designation of 
critical habitat. It does so by taking into account the cost of 
conservation related measures that are likely to be associated with 
future economic activities that may adversely affect the habitat within 
the proposed revised boundaries. The analysis looks retrospectively at 
costs incurred since C. p. var. pungens was listed, and it attempts to 
predict future costs likely to occur after the proposed revised 
critical habitat designation is finalized. It does this by 
incorporating the best available information from the section 7 
consultations, the Recovery Plan, and conversations with landowners and 
the Service.
    (14) Comment: One commenter noted that the designation of proposed 
critical habitat unit 9 would damage farming operations in the 
immediate area. The commenter stated that unit 9 is surrounded by 
farming operations, presently partially farmed, and planned for 
additional farm development. The commenter requests that the economic 
analysis consider the negative impact of critical habitat designation 
on the farm.
    Our Response: After many attempts to speak with this commenter, he 
could not be reached regarding future farming development and whether 
or not a federal nexus would occur on his land after critical habitat 
is designated. We lack sufficient information to quantify the impacts 
to the commenter of the critical habitat designation.

Summary of Changes From the Revised Proposed Rule and Previous Critical 
Habitat Designation

    In preparing this final revised critical habitat designation for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, we reviewed and considered comments 
from the public and peer reviewers on the proposed revised designation 
of critical habitat published on December 14, 2006 (71 FR 75189), and 
public comments on the draft economic analysis published on October 16, 
2007 (72 FR 58618). As a result of all comments received on the revised 
proposed rule and the draft economic analysis, we made changes to our 
proposed revised designation, as follows:
    (1) We corrected the error in Unit 3 by remapping its southern 
boundary to match the boundary of State lands. This resulted in a 
reduction of Unit 3 from 884 ac (358 ha) to 881 ac (357 ha). The 
acreage change is reflected in Table 1.
    (2) We included 26 ac (10.5 ha) that had been included in our 
previous 2002 critical habitat designation between the 2 northernmost 
subunits of Unit 2 (Moss Landing).
    (3) We incorporated technical information provided by the peer 
reviewers.
    (4) We revised the PCE to incorporate the dynamic processes that 
create and maintain openings in the vegetation communities in which 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens grows.
    This final designation is unchanged from the proposed revised 
designation with the following exceptions: (1) The correction of a 
mapping error has reduced Unit 3 by 3 ac (1 ha); and (2) the inclusion 
of 26 ac (10.5 ha) that had been included in our previous 2002 critical 
habitat designation between the 2 northern subunits of Unit 2 (Moss 
Landing), which has increased the size of that unit. The result of 
these changes has been the increase of final critical habitat 
designated to 11,055 ac (4,475 ha); this represents a total of 23 ac (9 
ha) more than what we proposed in 2006. At the same time, this 
represents a decrease of 7,774 ac (3,145 ha) from what we previously 
designated as critical habitat in 2002.
    The areas identified in this revised critical habitat designation 
constitute a revision from the areas we designated as critical habitat 
for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens on May 29, 2002 (67 FR 37498). The 
main differences include the following:
    (1) The 2002 critical habitat rule (67 FR 37498) consisted of 10 
units comprising a total of 18,829 ac (7,620 ha). This revision 
includes 9 units comprising a total of 11,055 ac (4,475 ha). Eight of 
the units in the revision are generally located in the same geographic 
locations as those from the previous designation and bear the same unit 
names. The ninth unit in this revision (Unit 6--Manresa) was included 
in the previous proposed critical habitat designation in 2000, but 
dropped from the previous final designation in 2002 due to confusion 
concerning the identity of the spineflower populations that occur 
there. Since 2002, we confirmed the presence of Chorizanthe pungens 
var. pungens at Manresa State Beach. Additionally, two of the units 
included in the previous designation in 2002 are not included in this 
revision. One of these units, Del Rey Oaks, has substantial areas of 
development within its boundaries, and, as a consequence, the areas 
within the unit that contain the essential features are very 
fragmented. The second of these units, Bel Mar, is in close proximity 
to Unit 6 (Manresa) included in this revision, but not included in the 
2002 critical habitat rule. The Monterey spineflower in Unit 6 
(Manresa) was recently discovered and contains a more robust population 
than the Bel Mar unit. For these reasons, the Del Rey Oaks and Bel Mar 
units designated in 2002 are no longer considered essential to the 
conservation of the species.
    (2) We revised the PCEs. The 2002 critical habitat rule listed four 
separate elements that we believed to be important to maintaining 
populations of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens where they occur 
(soils, plant communities, low cover of nonnative species, and physical 
processes that support natural dune dynamics). In this revision of 
critical habitat, we have combined these four elements within one PCE 
in an effort to emphasize the overarching importance of the structure 
of the vegetation (mosaic with openings between the dominant elements).
    (3) Most of the units in this revision are smaller in acreage than 
their counterpart units in the 2002 critical habitat rule. The decrease 
in size is due primarily to the removal of numerous parcels in private 
ownership where, due to the availability of updated aerial imagery, we 
removed areas of development included in the 2002 critical habitat rule 
and areas developed since the publication of the 2002 rule. In 
addition, the changes to Unit 7 are due to the removal of areas 
designated in the 2002 rule that are underlain by soil types not known 
to support Monterey spineflower, and removal of areas containing 
suitable soils isolated by development (and not known to support 
Monterey spineflower). The resulting units are more accurately mapped 
to include those areas that contain the PCE laid out in the appropriate 
quantity and spatial arrangement for the conservation of the species.

Critical Habitat

    Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
    (1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a 
species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which 
are found those physical or biological features

[[Page 1530]]

    (a) Essential to the conservation of the species and
    (b) Which may require special management considerations or 
protection; and
    (2) Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a 
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas 
are essential for the conservation of the species.
    Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means the use 
of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring any 
endangered species or threatened species to the point at which the 
measures provided under the Act are no longer necessary.
    Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act 
through the prohibition against Federal agencies carrying out, funding, 
or authorizing the destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat. Section 7 of the Act requires consultation on Federal actions 
that may affect critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat 
does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, 
reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. Such designation does 
not allow the government or public to access private lands. Such 
designation does not require implementation of restoration, recovery, 
or enhancement measures by the landowner. Where the landowner seeks or 
requests federal agency funding or authorization may affect a listed 
species or critical habitat, the consultation requirements of Section 7 
would apply, but even in the event of a destruction or adverse 
modification finding, the landowner's obligation is not to restore or 
recover the species, but to implement reasonable and prudent 
alternatives to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat.
    For inclusion in a critical habitat designation, habitat within the 
geographical area occupied by the species at the time it was listed 
must contain the physical and biological features that are essential to 
the conservation of the species. Critical habitat designations 
identify, to the extent known using the best scientific data available, 
habitat areas that provide essential life cycle needs of the species 
(areas on which are found the primary constituent elements laid out in 
the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for the conservation 
of the species, as defined at 50 CFR 424.12(b)).
    Areas within the geographical area occupied by the species that 
contain the physical and biological features essential to the 
conservation of the species meet the definition of critical habitat 
only if those features may require special management considerations or 
protection.
    Under the Act, we can designate an area outside of the geographical 
area occupied by the species at the time of listing as critical habitat 
only when we determine that the best available scientific data 
demonstrate that the designation of that area is essential to the 
conservation needs of the species.
    Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on 
the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available. 
Further, our Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered 
Species Act (published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 
34271)), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 
106-554; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality 
Guidelines, provide criteria, establish procedures, and provide 
guidance to ensure that our decisions are based on the best scientific 
data available. They require our biologists, to the extent consistent 
with the Act and with the use of the best scientific data available, to 
use primary and original sources of information as the basis for 
recommendations to designate critical habitat.
    When we are determining which areas should be designated as 
critical habitat, our primary source of information is generally the 
information developed during the listing process for the species. 
Additional information sources may include the recovery plan for the 
species, articles in peer-reviewed journals, conservation plans 
developed by States and counties, scientific status surveys and 
studies, biological assessments, or other unpublished materials and 
expert opinion or personal knowledge.
    Habitat is often dynamic, and species may move from one area to 
another over time. Furthermore, we recognize that designation of 
critical habitat may not include all of the habitat areas that we may 
eventually determine, based on scientific data not now available to the 
Service, are necessary for the recovery of the species. For these 
reasons, a critical habitat designation does not signal that habitat 
outside the designated area is unimportant or may not be required for 
recovery of the species.
    Areas that support populations of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, 
but are outside the critical habitat designation, will continue to be 
subject to conservation actions we implement under section 7(a)(1) of 
the Act. They are also subject to the regulatory protections afforded 
by the section 7(a)(2) jeopardy standard, as determined on the basis of 
the best available scientific information at the time of the agency 
action. Federally funded or permitted projects affecting listed species 
outside their designated critical habitat areas may still result in 
jeopardy findings in some cases. Similarly, critical habitat 
designations made on the basis of the best available information at the 
time of designation will not control the direction and substance of 
future recovery plans, habitat conservation plans (HCPs), or other 
species conservation planning efforts if new information available to 
these planning efforts calls for a different outcome.

Primary Constituent Elements

    In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at 
50 CFR 424.12, in determining which areas to designate as critical 
habitat within the geographical area occupied by the species at the 
time of listing, we consider the physical and biological features that 
are essential to the conservation of the species to be the primary 
constituent elements laid out in the appropriate quantity and spatial 
arrangement for conservation of the species. These include, but are not 
limited to:
    (1) Space for individual and population growth and for normal 
behavior;
    (2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or 
physiological requirements;
    (3) Cover or shelter;
    (4) Sites for breeding, reproduction, or rearing (or development) 
of offspring; and
    (5) Habitats that are protected from disturbance or are 
representative of the historic, geographical, and ecological 
distributions of a species.
    We derived the specific primary constituent element required for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens from its biological needs, as 
described below.

Space for Individual and Population Growth, Including Sites for Seed 
Dispersal and Germination, and for the Seed Bank

    Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens readily grows where suitable sandy 
substrates occur and, like other Chorizanthe species, where competition 
with other plant species is minimal (Harding Lawson Associates 2000, p. 
1; Reveal 2001, unpaginated). Where C. p. var. pungens occurs within 
native plant communities, along the coast as well as at more interior 
sites, it occupies microhabitat sites between shrub stands where there 
is little cover from other herbaceous species. Where C. p. var.

[[Page 1531]]

pungens occurs within grassland communities, the density of C. p. var. 
pungens may decrease with an increase in the density of other 
herbaceous species. Conserved areas should be of sufficient size and 
spatial arrangement to maintain the native plant communities that 
support C. p. var. pungens, which include coastal dune, coastal scrub, 
grassland, maritime chaparral, oak woodland, and interior floodplain 
dune communities, and have a structure with openings between the 
dominant elements (Service 1998, p. 20).
    These openings within the vegetation community should be free of 
nonnative invasive plant species. Not only do invasive, nonnative 
plants physically exclude Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens seedlings, 
but many of the hymenopteran (members of the insect order that includes 
bees, wasps, and ants) pollinators important to Chorizanthe pollination 
(e.g., sphecid wasps, bumblebees, and bees from the families Halictidae 
and Anthophoridae) require bare ground for nesting (Murphy 2003a, p. 
4). Removal of invasive, nonnative species may help to maintain 
existing rates of pollinator visitation. Although areas with little or 
no cover of invasive, nonnative species may be optimal for the 
conservation of C. p. var. pungens, seeds that could subsequently 
germinate may still be present beneath the canopy of the nonnative, 
invasive plants.
    Conservation of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens depends not only 
on adequate space for growth, but also on maintaining the dynamic 
nature of C. p. var. pungens habitat, which ensures the availability of 
microsites appropriate for germination and growth. Coastal dune 
communities are subject to natural dynamic processes that create 
suitable openings in scrub and chaparral communities (Cooper 1967, pp. 
63-72; Barbour and Johnson 1988, p. 242). Shifts in habitat composition 
caused by patterns of dune mobilization that create openings suitable 
for C. p. var. pungens are followed by stabilization and successional 
trends in coastal dune scrub that result in increased vegetation cover 
over time (Barbour and Johnson 1988, p. 242). Accordingly, over time 
there are shifts in the distribution and size of individual colonies of 
C. p. var. pungens found in the gaps between shrub vegetation. In most 
years, one can find patches of plants separated by several feet 
(meters) or several hundred feet (meters) within a particular area. In 
following years, the distribution of plants may shift due to seed 
dispersal by animals or wind, emergence of seeds from a relatively 
short-lived soil seed bank, and/or fire that has opened up the 
vegetation canopy, creating a site suitable for germination of seeds 
and growth of this taxon.
    Human-caused disturbances, such as scraping of roads and 
firebreaks, can reduce the competition from other herbaceous species 
and consequently provide temporarily favorable conditions for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. This has been observed at former Fort 
Ord where C. p. var. pungens occurs along the margins of dirt roads 
(Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 1992, p. 39; U.S. Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) 2003, pp. 15-22). However, such activities also often 
promote the spread and establishment of nonnative species (Fusari and 
McStay 2007, p. 9); in addition, they can bury the seedbank of C. p. 
var. pungens, and they do not result in the cycling of nutrients and 
soil microbial changes that are associated with large-scale natural 
disturbances such as fires (Stylinski and Allen 1999, pp. 544-554; 
Keeley and Keeley 1989, pp. 67-70). In one case, C. p. var. pungens had 
been initially abundant in disturbed soils where its seeds had been 
scattered, but it subsequently declined in abundance even though 
seemingly suitable open habitat persisted (Slattery 2007, pp. 1-3). 
This type of management may not sustain populations over the long term 
and would likely result in a general degradation of habitat for C. p. 
var. pungens if conducted over large areas.
    Conservation of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens depends on 
adequate space to promote pollinator activity and minimize the edge 
effects associated with urban development. Larger areas with a high 
area-to-edge ratio are less likely to be affected by the range of human 
activities that would alter adjacent C. p. var. pungens habitat. 
Potential edge effects identified for other Chorizanthe species that 
may also affect C. p. var. pungens include the introduction of 
nonnative plants (e.g., landscaping plants), roadside mowing for fuel 
reduction, informal recreation, trash and landscape waste dumping, 
hydrologic changes from landscape watering or increased paved surfaces, 
and pesticide drift (Conservation Biology Institute 2000, pp. 6-17). 
Large occurrences of C. p. var. pungens are more likely to attract 
insect pollinators necessary for gene flow and the production of viable 
seed, are better able to withstand periodic extreme environmental 
stresses (e.g., drought, disease), and may act as important ``source'' 
populations to allow recolonization of surrounding areas following 
periodic extreme environmental stresses (Schemske et al., pp. 584-588). 
Small patches of plants have been documented to suffer reproductive 
failure due to lack of effective pollination when critical thresholds 
of isolation were exceeded. In contrast, sufficiently large patches of 
plants attracted pollinators regardless of their degree of isolation 
(Groom 1998, p. 487). However, small populations of plants may serve 
other functions that support the long-term persistence of the species. 
They may serve as corridors for gene flow between larger populations, 
and may harbor greater levels of genetic diversity than predicted for 
their size (Lesica and Allendorf 1991, pp. 172-175).
    Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens appears to function as an 
opportunistic annual plant, with most of its seeds germinating under 
variable winter conditions rather than persisting to create an 
extensive, long-lasting soil seed bank (Fox et al. 2006, p. 168). This 
highlights the importance of protecting above-ground plants from 
germination through seed set each year (approximately December through 
the following September), as it appears the persistence of C. p. var. 
pungens relies on successful seed set from the previous year in 
addition to adequate climatic conditions. This has implications for the 
amount of successive disturbance that C. p. var. pungens can endure and 
still persist. Management activities that are used for nonnative, 
invasive species removal, such as mowing, must be conducted in a manner 
that does not adversely affect seed development in the C. p. var. 
pungens population; otherwise, it is unlikely to be compatible with the 
long-term persistence of C. p. var. pungens.

Areas That Provide the Basic Requirements for Growth (Such as Water, 
Light, and Minerals)

    Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens occurs on sandy soils with a 
variable origin, including active dunes, interior fossil dunes, and 
floodplain alluvium (Service 1998, pp. 1-13, 20). The most prevalent 
soil series represented are coastal beaches, dune sand, Baywood sand, 
Oceano loamy sand, Arnold loamy sand, Santa Ynez fine sandy loam, 
Arnold-Santa Ynez complex, Metz loamy sand, and Metz complex (Soil 
Conservation Service 1978, pp. 13-73; 1980, pp. 9-81). Sites where C. 
p. var. pungens occurs are generally bare, sandy patches free of other 
vegetation (Zoger and Pavlik 1987, unpaginated). On the coast, it 
occurs in coastal dune scrub and chaparral communities (Service 1998, 
pp. 19-20; CNDDB 2006). Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens does not occur 
under dense stands of

[[Page 1532]]

vegetation, but will occur between more widely spaced shrubs or gaps in 
the shrub vegetation. At more inland sites, C. p. var. pungens occurs 
on sandy, well-drained soils in a variety of habitat types, most 
frequently maritime chaparral, valley oak woodlands, and grasslands 
(CNDDB 2006). In grassland and oak woodland communities, abundant 
annual grasses may outcompete C. p. var. pungens, but in places where 
grass species are controlled through grazing, mowing, or fire 
activities that are appropriate in timing and intensity, C. p. var. 
pungens may persist (e.g., Zander Associates 2003, pp. B.22-B.24; 
Fusari 2007, p. 2). Additional specific information about the native 
plant communities associated with C. p. var. pungens can be found in 
the listing rule notice (59 FR 5499) and the previous final critical 
habitat designation (67 FR 37498).

Primary Constituent Element for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens

    Under the Act and its implementing regulations, we are required to 
identify the known physical and biological features within the 
geographical area occupied by Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens at the 
time of listing that are essential to the conservation of the species 
and that may require special management considerations or protections.
    Based on our current knowledge of the life history, biology, and 
ecology of the species and the requirements of the habitat to sustain 
the essential life history functions of the species, we have determined 
that the PCE for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens is a vegetation 
structure arranged in a mosaic with openings between the dominant 
elements (e.g., scrub, shrub, oak trees, or clumps of herbaceous 
vegetation) that changes in spatial position as a result of physical 
processes such as windblown sands and fire and that allows sunlight to 
reach the surface of the following sandy soils: coastal beaches, dune 
land, Baywood sand, Ben Lomond sandy loam, Elder sandy loam, Oceano 
loamy sand, Arnold loamy sand, Santa Ynez fine sandy loam, Arnold-Santa 
Ynez complex, Metz complex, and Metz loamy sand.

Special Management Considerations or Protection

    When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the areas 
within the geographical area determined to be occupied at the time of 
listing contain the physical and biological features that are essential 
to the conservation of the species and may require special management 
considerations or protection.
    The known occurrences of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens are 
threatened by direct and indirect effects from habitat fragmentation 
and loss and edge effects resulting from urban development. Examples of 
edge effects include increases in invasive, nonnative species and 
increased trampling and soil compaction from recreation (Conservation 
Biology Institute 2000, p. 5). Additional threats include road 
development, invasive species control with herbicides, industrial and 
recreational development, equestrian and other recreational activities, 
and dune stabilization using nonnative species (59 FR 5499). Threats 
that could result in unfavorable disturbance intensity, frequency, or 
timing and can destroy individual plants or deplete any associated seed 
bank include road maintenance, invasive species control, and fire 
suppression. These threats may require special management 
considerations or protection to ensure the long-term conservation of C. 
p. var. pungens and are described below in the individual discussions 
of the units.

Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat

    As required by section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we use the best 
scientific and commercial data available in determining areas that 
contain the physical and biological features that are essential to the 
conservation of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. This includes 
information from the final listing rule; data from research and survey 
observations published in peer-reviewed articles; reports and survey 
forms prepared for Federal, State, and local agencies and private 
corporations; site visits; regional GIS layers, including soil and 
species coverages; and data submitted to the CNDDB. We have also 
reviewed available information that pertains to the ecology, life 
history, and habitat requirements of this species. This material 
included information and data in peer-reviewed articles, reports of 
monitoring and habitat characterizations, reports submitted during 
section 7 consultations, our recovery plan for the species, and 
information received from local species experts. We are not designating 
any areas outside of the geographical area occupied by the species at 
the time of listing because we believe the areas we have designated 
provide sufficient essential habitat for the conservation of the 
species; therefore, unoccupied areas are not needed in the designation.
    The long-term conservation of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens is 
dependent upon the protection of existing population sites and the 
quantity and spatial arrangement of the PCE and essential habitat that 
provides for the maintenance of ecologic functions, such as 
connectivity between populations within close geographic proximity to 
facilitate pollinator activity and seed dispersal.
    Determining the specific areas that this taxon occupies is 
challenging for several reasons: (1) The distribution of Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens appears to be more closely tied to the presence of 
sandy soils and openings in the surrounding vegetation than to specific 
plant communities, because plant communities may undergo changes over 
time, which, due to the degree of cover that is provided by that 
vegetation type, may either favor the presence of C. p. var. pungens or 
not; (2) the way the current distribution of C. p. var. pungens is 
mapped varies depending on the scale at which patches of individuals 
were recorded (e.g., many small patches versus one large patch); and 
(3) depending on the climate and other annual variations in habitat 
conditions, the extent of the species' distribution may either shrink 
and temporarily disappear, or enlarge and cover a more extensive area.
    We used a multi-step process to identify and delineate critical 
habitat units. First we mapped all CNDDB records of Chorizanthe pungens 
var. pungens known at the time of the final listing in a GIS format. 
These data consist of points and polygons depicting the results of 
field surveys. Additional records from recent surveys that have been 
reported to the CNDDB but have not yet been entered into their database 
were also mapped in GIS format. These surveys provided more detailed 
distribution information for C. p. var. pungens within and around known 
occurrences, but did not extend the known range of the taxon. We then 
selected sites from among this data set that contain the physical and 
biological features essential to the conservation of C. p. var. 
pungens, that may require special management considerations or 
protection, and would result in a designation that: (a) Represents the 
geographical range of the species, and captures peripheral populations; 
(b) encompasses large occurrences in large areas of contiguous native 
habitat, as these have the highest likelihood of persisting through the 
environmental extremes that characterize California's climate and of 
retaining the genetic variability to withstand future introduced 
stressors (e.g., new diseases, pathogens, or climate change); (c) 
includes the range of plant communities

[[Page 1533]]

and soil types in which C. p. var. pungens is found, (d) maintains 
connectivity of occurrences; (e) maintains the disturbance factors that 
create the openings in vegetation cover on which this taxon depends; 
and (f) provides for the sufficient quantity and spatial arrangement of 
the PCE to provide for the conservation of the species.
    Species and plant communities that are protected across their 
ranges are expected to have lower likelihoods of extinction (Scott et 
al. 2001, pp. 1297-1300); therefore, critical habitat should include 
multiple locations across the entire range of the species to prevent 
range collapse. Protecting peripheral or isolated populations is highly 
desirable because they may contain genetic variation not found in core 
populations. The genetic variation results from the effects of 
population isolation and adaptation to locally distinct environments 
(Lesica and Allendorf 1995, pp. 754-757; Fraser 2000, pp. 49-51; 
Hamrick and Godt 1996, pp. 291-295). We also sought to include the 
range of plant communities, soil types, and elevational gradients in 
which Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens is found to preserve the genetic 
variation that may result from adaptation to local environmental 
conditions, as documented in other plant species (e.g., see Hamrick and 
Godt 1996, pp. 299-301; Millar and Libby 1991, pp. 150, 152-155). 
Finally, habitat fragmentation can result in loss of genetic variation 
(Young et al. 1996, pp. 413-417); therefore, we sought to maintain 
connectivity between patches or occurrences of plants.
    Once we identified all areas that contain the physical and 
biological features essential to the conservation of the species, we 
focused first on those areas that were either already protected, 
managed, or otherwise unencumbered by conflicting use (e.g., 
undeveloped County or City parks, proposed preservation areas). 
Populations in these areas are most likely to persist into the future 
and to contribute to the species' survival and recovery. We prioritized 
our selection in the following manner: First we included undeveloped 
Federal and State lands, then local agency and private lands with 
recognized resource conservation emphasis (e.g., lands owned by a 
conservation-oriented, non-profit organization, or undeveloped County 
or City parks), and finally other agency and private lands.
    After applying the criteria described above, the lands we are 
designating as revised critical habitat fall under prong one of the 
definition of critical habitat in section 3(5)(A) of the Act (see 
``Critical Habitat'' section). We did not identify any lands outside of 
the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing as 
essential to the conservation of the species.

Mapping

    To map the critical habitat units, we overlaid Chorizanthe pungens 
var. pungens records on soil series data and, where available, 
vegetation data (e.g., maritime chaparral mapped by Van Dyke and Holl 
(2003)) to determine appropriate areas that would contain the physical 
and biological features essential to the conservation of C. p. var. 
pungens. This taxon is closely tied to the presence of sandy soil 
types, and occurrences are generally scattered in gaps between 
vegetation within appropriate soil types. Units were delineated by 
first mapping the occurrences and soil types and then considering other 
geographic features such as developed areas and road boundaries.
    When determining critical habitat boundaries, we made every effort 
to avoid including developed areas, such as lands covered by buildings, 
paved areas, and other structures, as well as tilled fields, row crops, 
and golf courses that lack the features essential for the conservation 
of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. The scale of the maps we prepared 
under the parameters for publication within the Code of Federal 
Regulations may not reflect the exclusion of such developed areas. Any 
such structures and the land under them inadvertently left inside 
critical habitat boundaries shown on the maps of this revised critical 
habitat designation have been excluded by text and are not designated 
as revised critical habitat. Therefore, Federal actions involving these 
areas would not trigger section 7 consultation with respect to critical 
habitat and the requirement of no adverse modification, unless the 
specific action would affect the primary constituent elements in the 
adjacent critical habitat.
    A brief discussion of each area designated as revised critical 
habitat is provided in the unit descriptions below. Additional detailed 
documentation concerning the essential nature of these areas is 
contained in our supporting record for this rulemaking.

Critical Habitat Designation

    We are designating nine units as revised critical habitat for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. These units, which generally 
correspond to those units in the 2002 designation, entirely replace the 
2002 critical habitat designation for C. p. var. pungens in 50 CFR 
17.96(a). The critical habitat units we describe below constitute our 
current best assessment of areas that meet the definition of critical 
habitat for C. p. var. pungens. Table 1 shows the occupied units.

            Table 1.--Occupancy of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens by Revised Critical Habitat Units
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Occupied at time of                                    Size of unit in
                Unit                            listing?               Currently  occupied?     acres (hectares)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Sunset...........................  Yes........................  Yes........................        85 (35)
2. Moss Landing.....................  Yes........................  Yes........................       250 (101)
3. Marina...........................  Yes........................  Yes........................       881 (357)
4. Asilomar.........................  Yes........................  Yes........................        48 (19)
5. Freedom Blvd.....................  Yes........................  Yes........................        24 (10)
6. Manresa..........................  Yes........................  Yes........................        94 (38)
7. Prunedale........................  Yes........................  Yes........................       190 (77)
8. Fort Ord.........................  Yes........................  Yes........................     9,432 (3,817)
9. Soledad..........................  Yes........................  Yes........................        51 (21)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The nine units designated as revised critical habitat are: Sunset 
(Unit 1), Moss Landing (Unit 2), Marina (Unit 3), Asilomar (Unit 4), 
Freedom Boulevard (Unit 5), Manresa (Unit 6), Prunedale (Unit 7), Fort 
Ord (Unit 8), and Soledad (Unit 9). The approximate area encompassed 
within each critical habitat unit is shown in Table 2.

[[Page 1534]]



                                          Table 2.--Critical Habitat Units for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens
                                        [Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit boundaries]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 State lands          Private lands       County and other        Federal lands       Estimate of total
                                           --------------------------------------------  local jurisdictions ----------------------         area
                 Unit name                                                             ----------------------                      ---------------------
                                              Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Sunset.................................         85         35          0          0          0          0          0          0         85         35
2. Moss Landing...........................        224         91         20          8          6          2          0          0        250        101
3. Marina \1\.............................        881        357          0          0          0          0          0          0        881        357
4. Asilomar...............................         40         16          0          0          4          2          4          1         48         19
5. Freedom Blvd...........................          0          0         24         10          0          0          0          0         24         10
6. Manresa................................         94         38          0          0          0          0          0          0         94         38
7. Prunedale..............................        155         63         17          7         18          7          0          0        190         77
8. Fort Ord \1\...........................        606        245          0          0        654        265      8,172      3,307      9,432      3,817
9. Soledad................................          0          0         51         21          0          0          0          0         51         21
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Approximate Total.....................      2,085        844        112         46        682        276      8,176      3,309     11,055     4,475
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area estimates assigned to various landowner categories for the Fort Ord and Marina units (on former Fort Ord) reflect future land recipient, as
  indicated by 2006 Army records.

    We present descriptions of all units, and reasons why they meet the 
definition of critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, 
below.

Unit 1: Sunset (85 ac (35 ha))

    This unit consists of coastal beaches, dunes, and bluffs located 
west of Watsonville in southern Santa Cruz County. Unit 1 contains 
space for individual and population growth, including sites for seed 
dispersal and germination; provides the basic requirements for growth; 
and includes soils primarily in the coastal beach, dune land, and 
Baywood sand series (Soil Conservation Service 1978, pp. 13-25; 1980 
(maps)) (PCE 1). This unit was occupied at the time of listing (59 FR 
5499) and is currently occupied (CNDDB 2006, California Department of 
Parks and Recreation (CDPR) 2006a). This unit consists exclusively of 
State land (85 ac (35 ha)) and is entirely within the boundaries of 
Sunset State Beach. The unit includes land from Sunset Beach Road south 
to the gate on Shell Road, just north of the mouth of the Pajaro River, 
and west of Shell Road, which extends the length of Sunset State Beach. 
Unit 1 is essential because it supports a large population of 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens that in some years numbers in the tens 
of thousands (CNDDB 2006; CDPR 2006a). The features essential to the 
conservation of the species may require special management 
considerations or protection in this unit due threats from invasive, 
nonnative plants, particularly European beachgrass, which forms dense 
stands on coastal beaches and crowds out C. p. var. pungens, and from 
recreational activities, including camping and foot traffic, which 
could trample plants.

Unit 2: Moss Landing (250 ac (101 ha))

    This unit consists of coastal beaches, dunes, and bluffs to the 
north and south of the community of Moss Landing in northern Monterey 
County. Unit 2 contains space for individual and population growth, 
including sites for seed dispersal and germination; provides the basic 
requirements for growth; and includes soils in the coastal beach and 
dune land series (Soil Conservation Service 1978, pp. 13-25) (PCE 1). 
The northern portion of this unit includes lands owned and managed by 
the State (which includes portions of Zmudowski State Beach and Moss 
Landing State Beach between the mouths of the Pajaro River and Elkhorn 
Slough), 20 ac (8 ha) of private lands, and 6 ac (2 ha) of county 
lands. The southern portion of this unit includes State lands within 
Salinas River State Beach. This unit was occupied at the time of 
listing (59 FR 5499) and was included in the previous critical habitat 
designation. Herbarium records indicate that this site was occupied as 
early as 1933, and has remained occupied through time (Consortium of 
California Herbaria 2006 cites collections by H.S. Tates 1936; T. Craig 
1933; and J. Thomas 1950). Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens was also 
recently observed in this unit (CDPR 2006b, unpaginated). This unit 
contains one of only five populations found along the coast, and it may 
provide connectivity between the Sunset Unit to the north and the 
Marina Unit to the south. The features essential to the conservation of 
the species may require special management considerations or protection 
in this unit due threats from invasive, nonnative plants, particularly 
ice-plant, which forms dense ground cover on coastal beaches and crowds 
out C. p. var. pungens, and from recreational activities including foot 
traffic, which could trample plants.

Unit 3: Marina (881 ac (357 ha))

    This unit consists of coastal beaches, dunes, and bluffs ranging 
from just south of the mouth of the Salinas River, south to the city of 
Monterey in northern Monterey County; these lands are entirely west of 
Highway 1. Unit 3 contains space for individual and population growth, 
including sites for seed dispersal and germination; provides the basic 
requirements for growth; and includes soils in the coastal beach, dune 
land, and Oceano loamy sand soil series (Soil Conservation Service 
1978, pp. 13-25, 54-55) (PCE 1). This unit was occupied at the time of 
listing (59 FR 5499) and it is currently occupied (CNDDB 2006; CDPR 
2006; Service 2002, p. 54). Unit 3 is comprised of State lands, 
including Marina State Beach and Monterey State Beach. This unit is 
essential because it supports a population of Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens that numbers in the thousands in some years (CNDDB 2006; 
Service 1998, p. 67); it is the southernmost of the Monterey Bay area 
coastal populations; and it may provide connectivity between the 
populations along the coast and the more interior populations found at 
former Fort Ord. The features essential to the conservation of the 
species may require special management considerations or protection in 
this unit due to threats from invasive, nonnative plants, particularly 
ice-plant, which forms dense ground cover on coastal beaches and crowds 
out C. p. var. pungens;

[[Page 1535]]

recreational activities such as foot traffic, which could result in the 
trampling of plants; and edge effects of urban development.

Unit 4: Asilomar (48 ac (19 ha))

    This unit consists of coastal dunes and bluffs near the communities 
of Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula in northern 
Monterey County. This unit includes a portion of Asilomar State Beach, 
and extends just beyond Lighthouse Avenue to the north and terminates 
at the boundary of the Asilomar Conference Grounds. This unit's eastern 
boundary extends from Highway 68 north along Asilomar Avenue, and then 
turns west on Arena Avenue where the boundary connects to Sunset Drive. 
Unit 4 contains space for individual and population growth, including 
sites for seed dispersal and germination; provides the basic 
requirements for growth; and includes soils in the coastal beach, dune 
land, and Baywood sand soil series (Soil Conservation Service 1978, pp. 
13-25) (PCE 1). This unit is comprised of 4 ac (1 ha) of Federal lands, 
40 ac (16 ha) of State lands at Asilomar State Beach, and 4 ac (2 ha) 
of local government ownership. This unit was occupied at the time of 
listing (59 FR 5499) and is currently occupied. Herbarium records that 
contain specimens from this area include the following (collector and 
year): Lemmon 1881, L.C. Wheeler 1936, R. Hoover 1941 and 1963, and 
L.S. Rose 1963 (Consortium of California Herbaria 2006)). This unit 
currently supports a population of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens 
that numbers in the hundreds (Moss 2000, unpaginated). This unit is 
essential because it is the southernmost of only five populations of C. 
p. var. pungens along the coast. Preserving the genetic characteristics 
that have allowed individuals at this site to survive at the southern 
end of the species' range along the coast is essential to the long-term 
survival and conservation of C. p. var. pungens. Protecting peripheral 
or isolated populations is necessary because they may contain genetic 
variation not found in core populations. The genetic variation results 
from the effects of population isolation and adaptation to locally 
distinct environments (Lesica and Allendorf 1995, pp. 754-757; Fraser 
2000, pp. 49-51; Hamrick and Godt 1996, pp. 291-295). The features 
essential to the conservation of the species may require special 
management considerations or protection in this unit due to threats 
from invasive, nonnative plants, particularly ice-plant, which forms 
dense ground cover on coastal beaches and crowds out C. p. var. 
pungens; recreational activities such as foot traffic which could 
trample plants; and edge effects of urban development. An additional 
threat in this unit is the expansion of unregulated vehicle parking in 
the dunes associated with the high numbers of visitors this area 
receives each year.

Unit 5: Freedom Boulevard (24 ac (10 ha))

    This unit consists of grassland, maritime chaparral, and oak 
woodland habitat near the western terminus of Freedom Boulevard and 
northeast of Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County. This unit consists 
entirely of private lands (24 ac (10 ha)). Unit 5 contains space for 
individual and population growth, including sites for seed dispersal 
and germination; provides for the basic requirements for growth; and 
includes soils in the Baywood sand and Ben Lomond sandy loam series 
(Soil Conservation Service 1980, pp. 64-65; maps) (PCE 1). This unit 
was occupied at the time of listing (59 FR 5499) and is currently 
occupied (CNDDB 2006, element occurrences (EOs) 32 and 34; Morgan 2006, 
unpaginated). This unit currently supports a population of Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens that numbers in the thousands in favorable years, 
but many fewer in unfavorable years (CNDDB 2006, EOs 32, 34). This unit 
is essential because it is the northernmost known occurrence. In the 
absence of genetic data, protecting populations at the boundaries of a 
taxon's range is necessary because they may contain genetic variation 
not found in core populations. The genetic variation results from the 
effects of population isolation and adaptation to locally distinct 
environments (Lesica and Allendorf 1995, pp. 754-757; Fraser 2000, pp. 
49-51; Hamrick and Godt 1996, pp. 291-295). The features essential to 
the conservation of the species may require special management 
considerations or protection in this unit due to threats from invasive, 
nonnative plants, particularly annual grasses that crowd out C. p. var. 
pungens, and from edge effects of urban development.

Unit 6: Manresa (94 ac (38 ha))

    This unit consists of coastal bluffs along the immediate coast, 
south of Seacliff State Beach and north of Sunset State Beach in Santa 
Cruz County. Unit 6 contains space for individual and population 
growth, including sites for seed dispersal and germination; provides 
the basic requirements for growth; and includes soils in the coastal 
beach, Baywood sand, and Elder sandy loam series (Soil Conservation 
Service 1980, pp. 11-70, maps) (PCE 1). This unit is comprised entirely 
of lands owned and managed by the State at Manresa State Beach. This 
unit was occupied at the time of listing (59 FR 5499) and is currently 
occupied. This unit is essential because it is the most northerly 
population that is known from the immediate coast and provides 
connectivity to populations in the Sunset Unit to the south. The 
features essential to the conservation of the species may require 
special management considerations or protection in this unit due to 
threats from invasive, nonnative plants and from recreational 
activities such as foot traffic, which could trample plants.

Unit 7: Prunedale (190 ac (77 ha))

    This unit consists of grassland, maritime chaparral, and oak 
woodland in the area around Prunedale in northern Monterey County. On 
the west side of Highway 101, the unit includes the Manzanita County 
Park subunit located between Castroville Boulevard and San Miguel 
Canyon Road. On the east side of Highway 101, the unit consists of four 
additional subunits. The five subunits support similar plant 
communities and need similar types of special management; therefore, we 
discuss them as a unit. Unit 7 contains space for individual and 
population growth, including sites for seed dispersal and germination; 
provides the basic requirements for growth; and includes soils in the 
Arnold loamy sand, Santa Ynez fine sandy loam, and Arnold-Santa Ynez 
complex series (Soil Conservation Service 1978, pp. 9-11, 72-73) (PCE 
1). This unit consists of 155 ac (63 ha) of State lands, 18 ac (7 ac) 
of local agency lands (Manzanita County Park), and 17 ac (7 ha) of 
Pacific Gas and Electric easement lands. This unit was occupied at the 
time of listing, was included in our listing rule in reference to the 
Prunedale area (59 FR 5499), and is currently occupied (Caltrans 2001; 
Consortium of California Herbaria 2006). This unit is essential because 
it is one of only four units that are known to support populations in 
maritime chaparral and oak woodland habitats more representative of 
hotter, interior sites and is the easternmost of the units in the 
interior hills. The features essential to the conservation of the 
species may require special management considerations or protections in 
this unit due to threats from invasive, nonnative plants, which crowd 
out Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens; edge effects from urban 
development; and recreational activities

[[Page 1536]]

such as off road vehicles, which can crush plants and destroy seeds.

Unit 8: Fort Ord (9,432 ac (3,817 ha))

    This unit consists of grassland, maritime chaparral, coastal scrub, 
and oak woodland on the former Department of Defense base at Fort Ord, 
east of the city of Seaside in northern Monterey County. This unit is 
entirely within the area formerly known as Fort Ord, bounded by Highway 
1 on the northwest, the Salinas River to the east, and Monterey-Salinas 
Road (Highway 68) on the south. Approximately 87 percent of this 
critical habitat unit is Federal land (8,172 ac (3,307 ha)) managed by 
BLM and the Army, 6 percent is State land (606 ac (245 ha)), and 7 
percent is under local jurisdictions (654 ac (265 ha)). Portions of 
Fort Ord have been transferred to BLM; University of California, 
California State University at Monterey Bay; and local (city and 
county) jurisdictions. All of the lands included in this unit are 
designated as current or future habitat reserves under the Army's 
habitat management plan (Corps 1997, Attachment A map; Zander 
Associates 2002, Figures 4-6). About one-half of Unit 8 still must be 
cleaned of environmental contaminants by the Army before it can be 
transferred to BLM.
    Unit 8 contains space for individual and population growth, 
including sites for seed dispersal and germination; provides the basic 
requirements for growth; and includes soils in the Arnold-Santa Ynez 
complex, Baywood sand, and Oceano loamy sand series (Soil Conservation 
Service 1978, pp. 9-73). Lands in this unit are intended to be managed 
at a landscape scale, using prescribed fire, as needed, to maintain a 
range of different-aged maritime chaparral stands (Corps 1997, pp. 
4.24-4.25), and by doing so preserve substantial populations of rare 
maritime chaparral species in the Monterey Bay area. This unit was 
occupied at the time of listing (59 FR 5499) and is currently occupied. 
This unit is essential because it currently supports multiple large 
populations of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens that number in the tens 
of thousands in some years (CNDDB 2006, EO 2; Jones and Stokes 1992, 
Figure F-3; BLM 2006), and it is one of only five units that include 
maritime chaparral and oak woodland habitats more representative of 
hotter, interior sites. The features essential to the conservation of 
the species may require special management considerations or protection 
in this unit due to threats from invasive species that crowd out C. p. 
var. pungens, munitions clean-up methods on former ranges that remove 
and chip all standing vegetation, and recreational activities and road 
and trail maintenance that could trample plants.

Unit 9: Soledad (51 ac (21 ha))

    This unit consists of an interior dune in the floodplain of the 
Salinas River channel just south of the city of Soledad in central 
Monterey County on privately owned lands. Unit 9 contains space for 
individual and population growth, including sites for seed dispersal 
and germination; provides the basic requirements for growth; and 
includes soils in the dune land and Metz complex soil series (Soil 
Conservation Service 1978, pp. 24, 48-49) (PCE 1). This unit was 
occupied at the time of listing (59 FR 5499) and is currently occupied. 
Approximately 5,000 plants were observed in this unit in 1994 (CNDDB 
2006, EO 28; Wesco 1994, pp. 5-8). This unit is essential because it is 
the southernmost interior location that supports a population and the 
only unit where Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens grows in interior 
floodplain dune habitat. This population is geographically remote from 
all others in this revised critical habitat designation. Protecting 
peripheral or isolated populations of rare species is highly desirable 
because they may contain genetic variation not found in core 
populations (Lesica and Allendorf 1995, pp. 755-757). The features 
essential to the conservation of the species may require special 
management considerations or protection in this unit due to threats 
from invasive, nonnative plants, which crowd out C. p. var. pungens; 
overspray of herbicides and pesticides from agricultural operations; 
and vegetation clearing activities associated with road maintenance.

Effects of Critical Habitat Designation

Section 7 Consultation

    Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies, including the 
Service, to ensure that actions they fund, authorize, or carry out are 
not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Decisions 
by the 5th and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals have invalidated our 
definition of ``destruction or adverse modification'' (50 CFR 402.02) 
(see Gifford Pinchot Task Force v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 378 
F. 3d 1059 (9th Cir 2004) and Sierra Club v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service et al., 245 F.3d 434, 442F (5th Cir 2001)), and we do not rely 
on this regulatory definition when analyzing whether an action is 
likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Under the 
statutory provisions of the Act, we determine destruction or adverse 
modification on the basis of whether, with implementation of the 
proposed Federal action, the affected critical habitat would remain 
functional (or retain the current ability for the PCEs to be 
functionally established) to serve its intended conservation role for 
the species.
    If a species is listed or critical habitat is designated, section 
7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities 
they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of the species or to destroy or adversely modify 
its critical habitat. If a Federal action may affect a listed species 
or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency (action agency) 
must enter into consultation with us. As a result of this consultation, 
we document compliance with the requirements of section 7(a)(2) through 
our issuance of:
    (1) A concurrence letter for Federal actions that may affect, but 
are not likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat; 
or
    (2) A biological opinion for Federal actions that may affect, and 
are likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat.
    When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or 
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat, we also provide 
reasonable and prudent alternatives to the project, if any are 
identifiable. We define ``Reasonable and prudent alternatives'' at 50 
CFR 402.02 as alternative actions identified during consultation that:
     Can be implemented in a manner consistent with the 
intended purpose of the action,
     Can be implemented consistent with the scope of the 
Federal agency's legal authority and jurisdiction,
     Are economically and technologically feasible, and
     Would, in the Director's opinion, avoid jeopardizing the 
continued existence of the listed species or destroying or adversely 
modifying critical habitat.
Reasonable and prudent alternatives can vary from slight project 
modifications to extensive redesign or relocation of the project. Costs 
associated with implementing a reasonable and prudent alternative are 
similarly variable.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require Federal agencies to reinitiate 
consultation on previously reviewed actions in instances where we have 
listed a new species or subsequently designated critical habitat that 
may be affected and the Federal agency has

[[Page 1537]]

retained discretionary involvement or control over the action (or the 
agency's discretionary involvement or control is authorized by law). 
Consequently, Federal agencies may sometimes need to request 
reinitiation of consultation with us on actions for which formal 
consultation has been completed, if those actions with discretionary 
involvement or control may affect subsequently listed species or 
designated critical habitat.
    Federal activities that may affect Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens 
or its designated critical habitat require section 7 consultation under 
the Act. Activities on State, Tribal, local, or private lands requiring 
a Federal permit (such as a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et 
seq.) or a permit from us under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act) or 
involving some other Federal action (such as funding from the Federal 
Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, or the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency) are subject to the section 7 consultation 
process. Federal actions not affecting listed species or critical 
habitat, and actions on State, Tribal, local, or private lands that are 
not federally funded, authorized, or permitted, do not require section 
7 consultations.

Application of the ``Adverse Modification'' Standard

    The key factor related to the adverse modification determination is 
whether, with implementation of the proposed Federal action, the 
affected critical habitat would continue to serve its intended 
conservation role for the species, or would retain its current ability 
for the essential features to be functionally established. Activities 
that may destroy or adversely modify critical habitat are those that 
alter the essential physical and biological features to an extent that 
appreciably reduces the conservation value of critical habitat for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. Generally, the conservation role of 
C. p. var. pungens critical habitat units is to support viable core 
area populations.
    Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us to briefly evaluate and 
describe, in any proposed or final regulation that designates critical 
habitat, activities involving a Federal action that may destroy or 
adversely modify such habitat, or that may be affected by such 
designation.
    Activities that, when carried out, funded, or authorized by a 
Federal agency, may affect critical habitat and therefore should result 
in consultation for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens include, but are 
not limited to:
    (1) Actions that would degrade or destroy native maritime 
chaparral, dune, and oak woodland communities, including, but not 
limited to, livestock grazing, clearing, discing, introducing or 
encouraging the spread of nonnative plants, and heavy recreational use; 
and
    (2) Actions that would appreciably diminish habitat value or 
quality through indirect effects (e.g., edge effects, invasion of 
nonnative plants or animals, or fragmentation).

Exemptions and Exclusions

Application of Section 4(a)(3) of the Act

    The Sikes Act Improvement Act of 1997 (Sikes Act) (16 U.S.C. 670a) 
required each military installation that includes land and water 
suitable for the conservation and management of natural resources to 
complete an integrated natural resource management plan (INRMP) by 
November 17, 2001. An INRMP integrates implementation of the military 
mission of the installation with stewardship of the natural resources 
found on the base. Each INRMP includes:
     An assessment of the ecological needs on the installation, 
including the need to provide for the conservation of listed species;
     A statement of goals and priorities;
     A detailed description of management actions to be 
implemented to provide for these ecological needs; and
     A monitoring and adaptive management plan.
Among other things, each INRMP must, to the extent appropriate and 
applicable, provide for fish and wildlife management; fish and wildlife 
habitat enhancement or modification; wetland protection, enhancement, 
and restoration where necessary to support fish and wildlife; and 
enforcement of applicable natural resource laws.
    The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. 
L. 108-136) amended the Act to limit areas eligible for designation as 
critical habitat. Specifically, section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act (16 
U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)(i)) now provides: ``The Secretary shall not 
designate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical areas 
owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its 
use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management 
plan prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if 
the Secretary determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit 
to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for 
designation.''
    Lands at former Fort Ord are not discussed in this section because 
Fort Ord is no longer an active military installation. All but a few 
hundred acres at former Fort Ord are to be eventually transferred to 
non-military entities. The few hundred acres that the Army may retain 
do not occur within this critical habitat designation. There are no 
Department of Defense lands with a completed INRMP within this final 
revised critical habitat designation. Therefore, there are no lands 
exempted from this revised designation under section 4(a)(3) of the 
Act.

Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary must designate 
and revise critical habitat on the basis of the best available 
scientific data after taking into consideration the economic impact, 
national security impact, and any other relevant impact of specifying 
any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may exclude an 
area from critical habitat if he determines that the benefits of such 
exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such area as part of the 
critical habitat, unless he determines, based on the best scientific 
data available, that the failure to designate such area as critical 
habitat will result in the extinction of the species. In making that 
determination, the legislative history is clear that the Secretary is 
afforded broad discretion regarding which factor(s) to use and how much 
weight to give to any factor.
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, in considering whether to exclude 
a particular area from the designation, we must identify the benefits 
of including the area in the designation, identify the benefits of 
excluding the area from the designation, and determine whether the 
benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion. If based on 
this analysis, we make this determination, then we can exclude the area 
only if such exclusion would not result in the extinction of the 
species.
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we must consider the economic 
impact, national security impact, and any other relevant impact of 
specifying any particular area as critical habitat. We consider a 
number of factors in a section 4(b)(2) analysis. For example, we 
consider whether there are lands owned or managed by the Department of 
Defense (DOD) where a national security impact might exist. We also 
consider whether the landowners have developed any conservation plans 
for the area, or whether there are conservation partnerships that would 
be encouraged by designation of, or exclusion from, critical habitat. 
In addition, we look at

[[Page 1538]]

any Tribal issues, and consider the government-to-government 
relationship of the United States with tribal entities. We also 
consider the economic impacts, environmental impacts, and any social 
impacts that might occur because of the designation.
    In preparing this final rule, we have determined that while lands 
proposed for revised designation of critical habitat for Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens are currently administered by the Department of 
Defense, all of the lands will be transferred to other landowners. The 
proposed revised designation did not include any military lands covered 
by an existing INRMP, any lands covered by a completed HCP for C. p. 
var. pungens, or any Tribal lands or trust resources. Therefore, we do 
not anticipate any impact to national security, Tribal lands, or 
habitat conservation plans from this critical habitat designation. 
Based on the best available information, we believe that all of the 
units contain the physical and biological features essential to 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. In addition, as discussed below under 
the ``Economic Analysis'' section, our economic analysis indicates an 
overall low economic cost resulting from the revised designation. We 
have not identified any area for which the benefits of exclusion 
outweigh the benefits of inclusion; therefore, we have considered 
excluding, but have not excluded any areas from this revised 
designation of critical habitat for C. p. var. pungens based on 
economic impacts or other relevant factors.

Economic Analysis

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires us to designate critical 
habitat on the basis of the best scientific information available and 
to consider the economic and other relevant impacts of designating a 
particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may exclude areas 
from critical habitat for economic reasons if the Secretary determines 
that the benefits of such exclusion exceed the benefits of designating 
the area as critical habitat. However, this exclusion cannot occur if 
it will result in the extinction of the species concerned.
    Following the publication of the proposed revised critical habitat 
designation, we conducted an economic analysis to estimate the 
potential economic effect of the revised designation. The draft 
economic analysis was made available for public review on October 16, 
2007 (72 FR 58618). We accepted comments on the draft economic analysis 
until October 31, 2007.
    The primary purpose of the economic analysis is to estimate the 
potential economic impacts associated with the designation of critical 
habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. This information is 
intended to assist the Secretary in making decisions about whether the 
benefits of excluding particular areas from the designation outweigh 
the benefits of including those areas in the designation. This economic 
analysis considers the economic efficiency effects that may result from 
the designation, including habitat protections that may be co-extensive 
with the listing of the species. It also addresses distribution of 
impacts, including an assessment of the potential effects on small 
entities and the energy industry. This information can be used by the 
Secretary to assess whether the effects of the designation might unduly 
burden a particular group or economic sector.
    This analysis focuses on the direct and indirect costs of the rule. 
However, economic impacts to land use activities can exist in the 
absence of critical habitat. These impacts may result from, for 
example, local zoning laws, State and natural resource laws, and 
enforceable management plans and best management practices applied by 
other State and Federal agencies. Economic impacts that result from 
these types of protections are not included in the analysis as they are 
considered to be part of the regulatory and policy baseline.
    The draft economic analysis estimates pre-designation costs 
associated with the conservation of the species since the time of 
listing in 1994 to be approximately $5.2 million (undiscounted). 
Discounted costs are estimated to be approximately $6.2 million at a 3 
percent discount rate or approximately $7.9 million at a 7 percent 
discount rate. The draft economic analysis estimates post-designation 
costs associated with conservation efforts for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens to be approximately $17 million (undiscounted) over a 20-year 
period as a result of the proposed designation of revised critical 
habitat, including those costs coextensive with listing and recovery. 
Discounted future costs are estimated to be approximately $13 million 
($0.85 million annualized) at a 3 percent discount rate or 
approximately $9.6 million ($0.85 million annualized) at a 7 percent 
discount rate.
    The majority of the estimated costs are associated with management 
activities designed to preserve and enhance habitat for Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens on lands managed by the California Department of 
Parks and Recreation, Department of the Army, University of California, 
and the Bureau of Land Management. The economic analysis considers the 
potential economic effects of actions relating to the conservation of 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens, including costs associated with 
sections 4, 7, and 10 of the Act, and including those attributable to 
designating critical habitat. It further considers the economic effects 
of protective measures taken as a result of other Federal, State, and 
local laws that aid habitat conservation for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens in areas containing the features essential to the conservation 
of the species. The analysis considers both economic efficiency and 
distributional effects. In the case of habitat conservation, efficiency 
effects generally reflect the ``opportunity costs'' associated with the 
commitment of resources to comply with habitat protection measures 
(such as lost economic opportunities associated with restrictions on 
land use).
    The analysis also addresses how potential economic impacts are 
likely to be distributed, including an assessment of any local or 
regional impacts of habitat conservation and the potential effects of 
conservation activities on small entities and the energy industry. This 
information can be used by decision-makers to assess whether the 
effects of the revised designation might unduly burden a particular 
group or economic sector. Finally, this analysis looks retrospectively 
at costs that have been incurred since the date Chorizanthe pungens 
var. pungens was listed as threatened (February 4, 1994; 59 FR 5499), 
and considers those costs that may occur in the 20 years following a 
designation of revised critical habitat. We evaluated the potential 
economic impact of this revised designation as identified in the 
analysis. Based on this evaluation, we believe that there are no 
disproportionate economic impacts that warrant exclusion under section 
4(b)(2) of the Act at this time.
    The Service also completed a final economic analysis of the 
proposed revised designation that updates the draft economic analysis 
by removing impacts that were not considered probable or likely to 
occur and by adding an estimate of the costs associated solely with the 
revised designation of critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens (incremental impacts). The final economic analysis estimates 
that the potential economic effects of actions relating to the 
conservation of C. p. var.

[[Page 1539]]

pungens, including costs associated with sections 4, 7, and 10 of the 
Act, and including those attributable to the designation of revised 
critical habitat will be $17 million (undiscounted) over the next 20 
years. The present value of these impacts, applying a 3 percent 
discount rate, is $13 million ($0.85 million annualized); or $9.6 
million ($0.85 million annualized), using a discount rate of 7 percent. 
These cost estimates are the same as those estimated in the draft 
economic analysis. The final economic analysis also estimates that 
there are no anticipated costs attributable solely to the designation 
of revised critical habitat for C. p. var. pungens (incremental costs). 
All impacts quantified in the economic analysis are forecast to occur 
regardless of the revised critical habitat designation for C. p. var. 
pungens.
    A copy of the final economic analysis with supporting documents may 
be obtained by contacting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish 
and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES or download from the Internet at 
http://www.fws.gov/ventura).

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review

    In accordance with Executive Order 12866 (E.O. 12866), we evaluate 
four parameters in determining whether a rule is significant. The four 
parameters that would result in a designation of significant under E.O. 
12866 are:
    (a) The rule would have an annual economic effect of $100 million 
or more or adversely affect an economic sector, productivity, jobs, the 
environment, or other units of the government.
    (b) The rule would create inconsistencies with other Federal 
agencies' actions.
    (c) The rule would materially affect entitlements, grants, user 
fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their recipients.
    (d) The rule would raise novel legal or policy issues.
    If the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests to review a 
rule designating critical habitat for a species, we designate the rule 
as significant because it may raise novel legal and policy issues. We 
then use the DEA of the proposed designation of critical habitat to 
evaluate the potential effects related to the other provisions of E.O. 
12866 and make a determination as to whether the regulation may be 
significant for any of these other provisions.
    In accordance with E.O. 12866, this document is not a significant 
rule since OMB did not request to review this rule. On the basis of our 
economic analysis of the revised critical habitat for this species, we 
have determined that the revised final designation of critical habitat 
for this species will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more or to affect the economy in a material way. We used 
this analysis to meet the requirement of section 4(b)(2) of the Act to 
determine the economic consequences of designating the specific area as 
critical habitat. We also used it to help determine whether to exclude 
any area from critical habitat, as provided for under section 4(b)(2) 
of the Act. Due to the tight timeline for publication in the Federal 
Register, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not formally 
reviewed this rule.
    The designation of revised critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens 
var. pungens will not create inconsistencies with other agencies'' 
actions because no other Federal agencies designate critical habitat. 
Based on previous critical habitat designations and the economic 
analysis, we do not believe this rule will materially affect 
entitlements, grants, user fees, loan programs, or the rights and 
obligations of their recipients; however, we will continue to review 
this action for such impacts.
    Further, E.O. 12866 directs Federal agencies promulgating 
regulations to evaluate regulatory alternatives (OMB Circular A-4, 
September 17, 2003). Under Circular A-4, once an agency determines that 
the Federal regulatory action is appropriate, the agency must consider 
alternative regulatory approaches. Because the determination of 
critical habitat is a statutory requirement under the Act, we must 
evaluate alternative regulatory approaches, where feasible, when 
promulgating a designation of critical habitat.
    In developing our designations of critical habitat, we consider 
economic impacts, impacts to national security, and other relevant 
impacts under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Based on the discretion 
allowable under this provision, we may exclude any particular area from 
the designation of critical habitat providing that the benefits of such 
exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying the area as critical 
habitat and that such exclusion would not result in the extinction of 
the species. As such, we believe that the evaluation of the inclusion 
or exclusion of particular areas, or a combination of both, constitutes 
our regulatory alternative analysis for designations. Based on this 
evaluation, we believe that there are no disproportionate economic 
impacts that warrant exclusion under section 4(b)(2) of the Act at this 
time.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency must publish a notice of 
rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make 
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effects of the rule on small entities (small businesses, 
small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). However, no 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of the agency 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended RFA to require 
Federal agencies to provide a statement of the factual basis for 
certifying that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.
    Small entities include small organizations, such as independent 
nonprofit organizations; small governmental jurisdictions, including 
school boards and city and town governments that serve fewer than 
50,000 residents; as well as small businesses. Small businesses include 
manufacturing and mining concerns with fewer than 500 employees, 
wholesale trade entities with fewer than 100 employees, retail and 
service businesses with less than $5 million in annual sales, general 
and heavy construction businesses with less than $27.5 million in 
annual business, special trade contractors doing less than $11.5 
million in annual business, and agricultural businesses with annual 
sales less than $750,000. To determine if potential economic impacts to 
these small entities are significant, we consider the types of 
activities that might trigger regulatory impacts under this rule, as 
well as the types of project modifications that may result. In general, 
the term ``significant economic impact'' is meant to apply to a typical 
small business firm's business operations.
    To determine if the rule could significantly affect a substantial 
number of small entities, we consider the number of small entities 
affected within particular types of economic activities (e.g., housing 
development, grazing, oil and gas production, timber harvesting). We 
apply the ``substantial number'' test individually to each industry to 
determine if certification is appropriate.

[[Page 1540]]

However, the SBREFA does not explicitly define ``substantial number'' 
or ``significant economic impact.'' Consequently, to assess whether a 
``substantial number'' of small entities is affected by this 
designation, this analysis considers the relative number of small 
entities likely to be impacted in an area. In some circumstances, 
especially with critical habitat designations of limited extent, we may 
aggregate across all industries and consider whether the total number 
of small entities affected is substantial. In estimating the number of 
small entities potentially affected, we also consider whether their 
activities have any Federal involvement.
    Designation of critical habitat only affects activities conducted, 
funded, or permitted by Federal agencies. Some kinds of activities are 
unlikely to have any Federal involvement and so will not be affected by 
critical habitat designation. In areas where the species is present, 
Federal agencies already are required to consult with us under section 
7(a)(2) of the Act on activities they fund, permit, or implement that 
may affect Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. Federal agencies also must 
consult with us if their activities may affect critical habitat. 
Designation of critical habitat, therefore, could result in an 
additional economic impact on small entities due to the requirement to 
reinitiate consultation for ongoing Federal activities.
    To determine if the revised designation of critical habitat for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens would affect a substantial number of 
small entities, we considered the number of small entities affected 
within particular types of economic activities (e.g., residential and 
commercial development). We considered each industry or category 
individually to determine if certification is appropriate. In 
estimating the numbers of small entities potentially affected, we also 
considered whether their activities have any Federal involvement.
    In our draft economic analysis of the proposed revised critical 
habitat designation, we evaluated the potential economic effects on 
small business entities resulting from conservation actions related to 
the listing of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens and proposed 
designation of revised critical habitat. We determined from our draft 
analysis that the small business entities that could potentially be 
affected include one city government (City of Pacific Grove), and one 
private farm. However, costs were not associated with the City of 
Pacific Grove or the private farm because they are not currently 
required to undertake actions to conserve the species and there is a 
low likelihood that their actions will involve a federal nexus in the 
future. A third entity, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA), was 
created by the State legislature in 1994, to oversee the civilian reuse 
and redevelopment of former Fort Ord. It sunsets in 2014, after which 
lands that it may have been managing on former Fort Ord may be jointly 
managed by multiple local governments. The Habitat Conservation Plan 
(HCP) currently being developed that will define the future 
distribution and management of former Fort Ord lands has not been 
completed. Therefore, for the purpose of the draft and final economic 
analysis, FORA was not classified as a small entity. Based on our 
economic analysis, we certify that the rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.)

    Under SBREFA, this rule is not a major rule. Our detailed 
assessment of the economic effects of this designation is described in 
the economic analysis. Based on the effects identified in the economic 
analysis, we believe that this rule will not have an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or more, will not cause a major increase in 
costs or prices for consumers, and will not have significant adverse 
effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with 
foreign-based enterprises. Refer to the final economic analysis for a 
discussion of the effects of this determination (see ADDRESSES for 
information on obtaining a copy of the final economic analysis).

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O. 
13211; Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use) on regulations that significantly affect 
energy supply, distribution, and use. E.O. 13211 requires agencies to 
prepare Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. 
One critical habitat unit (Prunedale, Unit 7) contains 17 ac (7 ha) of 
land held in a conservation easement owned by Pacific Gas and Electric 
Company. Pacific Gas and Electric Company maintains power lines that 
cross this unit; however, because the company does not plan to develop 
this land any further, the designation of revised critical habitat is 
not expected to have an adverse effect on energy production. This final 
rule to designate revised critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens is not expected to significantly affect energy supplies, 
distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is not a significant 
energy action, and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.), we make the following findings:
    (a) This rule will not produce a Federal mandate. In general, a 
Federal mandate is a provision in legislation, statute or regulation 
that would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, Tribal 
governments, or the private sector and includes both ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandates'' and ``Federal private sector mandates.'' 
These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-(7). ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose 
an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal governments'' with two 
exceptions. It excludes ``a condition of Federal assistance.'' It also 
excludes ``a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal 
program,'' unless the regulation ``relates to a then-existing Federal 
program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided annually to State, 
local, and Tribal governments under entitlement authority,'' if the 
provision would ``increase the stringency of conditions of assistance'' 
or ``place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, the Federal Government's 
responsibility to provide funding,'' and the State, local, or tribal 
governments ``lack authority'' to adjust accordingly. At the time of 
enactment, these entitlement programs were: Medicaid; AFDC work 
programs; Child Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social Services Block Grants; 
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster Care, Adoption 
Assistance, and Independent Living; Family Support Welfare Services; 
and Child Support Enforcement. ``Federal private sector mandate'' 
includes a regulation that ``would impose an enforceable duty upon the 
private sector, except (i) a condition of Federal assistance or (ii) a 
duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal program.''
    The designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally 
binding duty on non-Federal government entities or private parties. 
Under the Act, the only regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must 
ensure that their actions do not destroy or adversely modify critical 
habitat under section 7. While non-Federal entities that receive 
Federal

[[Page 1541]]

funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require approval or 
authorization from a Federal agency for an action, may be indirectly 
impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally binding 
duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat 
rests squarely on the Federal agency. Furthermore, to the extent that 
non-Federal entities are indirectly impacted because they receive 
Federal assistance or participate in a voluntary Federal aid program, 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would not apply, nor would critical 
habitat shift the costs of the large entitlement programs listed above 
on to State governments.
    (b) As discussed in the draft economic analysis of the proposed 
designation of revised critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. 
pungens and the ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' section above, there is 
expected to be no impact on small governments or small entities. There 
is no record of consultations between the Service and any of these 
governments since C. p. var. pungens was listed as threatened on 
February 4, 1994 (59 FR 5499). It is likely that small governments 
involved with developments and infrastructure projects would be 
interested parties or involved with projects involving consultations 
under section 7 of the Act for C. p. var. pungens within their 
jurisdictional areas. As identified in the draft economic analysis, any 
costs associated with this activity are likely to represent a small 
portion of a local government's budget. Costs were not associated with 
the City of Pacific Grove because it is not currently required to 
undertake actions to conserve the species and there is a low likelihood 
that their actions will involve a federal nexus in the future. 
Consequently, we do not believe that the designation of revised 
critical habitat for C. p. var. pungens will significantly or uniquely 
affect these small governmental entities because it will not produce a 
Federal mandate of $100 million or greater in any year; that is, it is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act. The designation of revised critical habitat imposes no 
obligations on State or local governments. As such, a Small Government 
Agency Plan is not required.

Takings

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630 (Government Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Private Property Rights), 
we have analyzed the potential takings implications of designating 
revised critical habitat for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens in a 
takings implications assessment. Critical habitat designation does not 
affect landowner actions that do not require Federal funding or 
permits, nor does it preclude development of habitat conservation 
programs or issuance of incidental take permits to permit actions that 
do require Federal funding or permits to go forward. The takings 
implications assessment concludes that this designation of revised 
critical habitat for C. p. var. pungens does not pose significant 
takings implications for lands within or affected by the designation.

Federalism

    In accordance with E.O. 13132 (Federalism), the rule does not have 
significant Federalism effects. A Federalism assessment is not 
required. In keeping with Department of Interior and Department of 
Commerce policy, we requested information from, and coordinated 
development of, this final revised critical habitat designation with 
appropriate State resource agencies in California. However, we did not 
receive any comments from these State agencies. The designation of 
revised critical habitat in areas currently occupied by Chorizanthe 
pungens var. pungens may impose nominal additional regulatory 
restrictions to those currently in place and, therefore, may have a 
slight incremental impact on State and local governments and their 
activities. The designation may have some benefit to these governments 
because the areas that contain the physical and biological features 
essential to the conservation of the species are more clearly defined, 
and the primary constituent element of the habitat necessary to the 
conservation of the species is specifically identified. This 
information does not alter where and what federally sponsored 
activities may occur. However, it may assist these local governments in 
long-range planning (rather than having them wait for case-by-case 
section 7 consultations to occur).

Civil Justice Reform

    In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform), the Office of 
the Solicitor has determined that the rule does not unduly burden the 
judicial system and that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of the Order. We are designating revised critical habitat in 
accordance with the provisions of the Act. This revised final rule uses 
standard property descriptions and identifies the primary constituent 
element within the designated areas to assist the public in 
understanding the habitat needs of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

    This rule does not contain any new collections of information that 
require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This rule will not impose recordkeeping or 
reporting requirements on State or local governments, individuals, 
businesses, or organizations. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and 
a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    It is our position that, outside the jurisdiction of the Circuit 
Court of the United States for the Tenth Circuit, we do not need to 
prepare environmental analyses as defined by NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.) in connection with designating critical habitat under the Act. We 
published a notice outlining our reasons for this determination in the 
Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). This assertion was 
upheld by the Circuit Court of the United States for the Ninth Circuit 
Court (Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495 (9th Cir. Ore. 1995), 
cert. denied 516 U.S. 1042 (1996)).

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with recognized Federal 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with 
Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian Tribal Rights, 
Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act), 
we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work directly with 
tribes in developing programs for healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge 
that tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as Federal 
public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to make 
information available to Tribes. We have determined that there are no 
Tribal lands occupied at the time of listing or currently occupied that 
contain the physical and biological features essential for the 
conservation,

[[Page 1542]]

and no Tribal lands that are unoccupied areas essential for the 
conservation of Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. Therefore, revised 
critical habitat for C. p. var. pungens has not been designated on 
Tribal lands.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this rulemaking is 
available upon request from the Field Supervisor, Venture Fish and 
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).

Author(s)

    The primary author of this rulemaking is the staff of the Ventura 
Fish and Wildlife Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

0
Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.


0
2. In Sec.  17.96(a), revise the entry for ``Family Polygonaceae: 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens (Monterey spineflower)'' to read as 
follows:


Sec.  17.96  Critical habitat--plants.

    (a) Flowering plants.
* * * * *

Family Polygonaceae: Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens (Monterey 
spineflower)

    (1) Critical habitat units are depicted for Santa Cruz and Monterey 
Counties, California, on the maps below.
    (2) The primary constituent element of critical habitat for 
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens is a vegetation structure arranged in 
a mosaic with openings between the dominant elements (e.g., scrub, 
shrub, oak trees, or clumps of herbaceous vegetation) that changes in 
spatial position as a result of physical processes such as windblown 
sands and fire and that allows sunlight to reach the surface of the 
following sandy soils: coastal beaches, dune land, Baywood sand, Ben 
Lomond sandy loam, Elder sandy loam, Oceano loamy sand, Arnold loamy 
sand, Santa Ynez fine sandy loam, Arnold--Santa Ynez complex, Metz 
complex, and Metz loamy sand.
    (3) Critical habitat does not include manmade structures (such as 
buildings, aqueducts, airports, and roads) and the land on which such 
structures are located, existing within the legal boundaries on the 
effective date of this rule.
    (4) Critical habitat map units. Data layers defining map units were 
created on base maps using aerial imagery from the National 
Agricultural Imagery Program (aerial imagery captured June 2005). Data 
were projected to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone 11, North 
American Datum (NAD) 1983.
    (5) Note: Index map (Map 1) follows:

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 1543]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09JA08.000


[[Page 1544]]


    (6) Unit 1: Sunset Unit, Santa Cruz County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Watsonville West. Land 
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 603929, 
4083699; 604051, 4083487; 604059, 4083449; 604045, 4083383; 604045, 
4083351; 604091, 4083265; 604106, 4083164; 604122, 4083147; 604176, 
4083117; 604222, 4083063; 604255, 4083022; 604279, 4083005; 604325, 
4082960; 604349, 4082925; 604373, 4082842; 604412, 4082708; 604424, 
4082671; 604426, 4082579; 604449, 4082515; 604460, 4082474; 604491, 
4082428; 604504, 4082397; 604510, 4082350; 604527, 4082300; 604546, 
4082248; 604535, 4082205; 604688, 4081900; 604847, 4081649; 604743, 
4081648; 604613, 4081903; 604338, 4082450; 604205, 4082695; 604132, 
4082828; 603987, 4083070; 603703, 4083577; returning to 603929, 
4083699.
    (ii) Note: Map of Units 1, 5, and 6 (Map 2) follows:

[[Page 1545]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09JA08.001


[[Page 1546]]


    (7) Unit 2: Moss Landing Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Moss Landing. Land bounded 
by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 606846, 4077325; 
606856, 4077319; 606883, 4077322; 606936, 4077244; 607001, 4076989; 
607221, 4076534; 607207, 4076523; 607206, 4076512; 607216, 4076487; 
607238, 4076472; 607272, 4076417; 607272, 4076386; 607298, 4076371; 
607309, 4076358; 607302, 4076347; 607281, 4076295; 607281, 4076279; 
607281, 4076268; 607363, 4076215; 607402, 4076180; 607386, 4076154; 
607385, 4076136; 607405, 4076130; 607447, 4076140; 607463, 4076129; 
607474, 4076104; 607446, 4076087; 607459, 4076071; 607468, 4076053; 
607462, 4076033; 607463, 4076012; 607478, 4075951; 607520, 4075917; 
607562, 4075871; 607571, 4075831; 607568, 4075796; 607574, 4075776; 
607613, 4075747; 607633, 4075682; 607659, 4075646; 607659, 4075637; 
607654, 4075633; 607631, 4075619; 607636, 4075576; 607597, 4075556; 
607690, 4075440; 607823, 4075301; 607910, 4075107; 607947, 4074934; 
607954, 4074719; 608021, 4074544; 608058, 4074335; 607999, 4074277; 
607936, 4074603; 607872, 4074869; 607801, 4075108; 607725, 4075268; 
607599, 4075459; 607507, 4075612; 607438, 4075772; 607271, 4076054; 
607170, 4076277; 607008, 4076687; 606805, 4077227; 606661, 4077584; 
606561, 4077910; 606454, 4078187; 606601, 4078347; 606679, 4078021; 
606792, 4077578; 606824, 4077463; 606863, 4077367; 606841, 4077344; 
returning to 606846, 4077325.
    (ii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Moss Landing. Land bounded 
by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 607903, 4073162; 
608016, 4073442; 608084, 4073399; 607962, 4073136; returning to 607903, 
4073162.
    (iii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Moss Landing. Land 
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 607228, 
4070373; 607310, 4070736; 607328, 4070904; 607348, 4071016; 607384, 
4071156; 607514, 4071712; 607717, 4072508; 607772, 4072783; 607853, 
4073038; 607914, 4073020; 607895, 4072915; 607865, 4072861; 607783, 
4072474; 607787, 4072361; 607718, 4072182; 607621, 4071731; 607609, 
4071579; 607619, 4071527; 607625, 4071342; 607616, 4071320; 607621, 
4071220; 607596, 4071153; 607592, 4071096; 607570, 4071047; 607576, 
4071014; 607648, 4070995; 607689, 4070941; 607666, 4070915; 607668, 
4070868; 607631, 4070839; 607679, 4070781; 607677, 4070715; 607710, 
4070665; 607739, 4070545; 607696, 4070507; 607689, 4070486; 607670, 
4070465; 607654, 4070436; 607649, 4070398; 607502, 4070309; 607230, 
4070348; returning to 607228, 4070373.
    (iv) Note: Map of Units 2 and 7 (Map 3) follows:

[[Page 1547]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09JA08.002


[[Page 1548]]


    (8) Unit 3: Marina Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Marina. Land bounded by the 
following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 603550, 4054338; 
603691, 4054583; 603944, 4055018; 604173, 4055496; 604429, 4056021; 
604819, 4056877; 605042, 4057450; 605354, 4058252; 605565, 4058848; 
605837, 4059750; 605918, 4060031; 606155, 4061060; 606282, 4061745; 
606320, 4062114; 606653, 4061944; 606642, 4061777; 606595, 4061605; 
606497, 4061365; 606456, 4061248; 606413, 4061089; 606388, 4060903; 
606384, 4060755; 606390, 4060633; 606431, 4060406; 606349, 4060385; 
606398, 4060148; 606370, 4060069; 606443, 4060021; 606446, 4059958; 
606490, 4059933; 606225, 4059382; 606099, 4059154; 605974, 4058942; 
605942, 4058878; 605861, 4058673; 605779, 4058394; 605739, 4058410; 
605709, 4058346; 605679, 4058361; 605597, 4058304; 605587, 4058210; 
605728, 4058160; 605683, 4058028; 605674, 4057900; 605681, 4057671; 
605667, 4057538; 605662, 4057406; 605671, 4057317; 605690, 4057220; 
605712, 4057147; 605763, 4057024; 605756, 4056939; 605731, 4056910; 
605457, 4056766; 605429, 4056741; 605335, 4056560; 605360, 4056447; 
605356, 4056395; 605232, 4056155; 605212, 4056093; 604940, 4055894; 
604498, 4055349; 604397, 4055203; 604345, 4055087; 604323, 4055018; 
604254, 4054897; 604077, 4054661; 604008, 4054566; 603934, 4054465; 
603914, 4054402; 603758, 4054196; 603755, 4054189; 603737, 4054200; 
603550, 4054338; 604416, 4055878; 604427, 4055852; 604451, 4055848; 
604497, 4055868; 604526, 4055905; 604560, 4055938; 604613, 4055965; 
604651, 4056003; 604699, 4056069; 604731, 4056138; 604736, 4056182; 
604732, 4056242; 604726, 4056273; 604709, 4056296; 604675, 4056304; 
604634, 4056288; 604613, 4056256; 604609, 4056220; 604632, 4056186; 
604631, 4056167; 604605, 4056141; 604599, 4056122; 604602, 4056098; 
604599, 4056084; 604568, 4056084; 604524, 4056092; 604513, 4056083; 
604512, 4056070; 604528, 4056015; 604522, 4056001; 604501, 4055983; 
604475, 4055969; 604459, 4055945; 604456, 4055931; 604438, 4055912; 
604416, 4055878.
    (ii) Note: Map of Units 3, 4, and 8 (Map 4) follows:

[[Page 1549]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09JA08.003

BILLING CODE 4310-55-C

[[Page 1550]]

    (9) Unit 4: Asilomar Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Monterey. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 594619, 4053296; 
594619, 4053330; 594626, 4053369; 594643, 4053405; 594653, 4053431; 
594654, 4053454; 594660, 4053514; 594648, 4053561; 594648, 4053583; 
594655, 4053600; 594727, 4053636; 594734, 4053644; 594740, 4053671; 
594751, 4053688; 594765, 4053700; 594763, 4053748; 594755, 4053773; 
594750, 4053787; 594766, 4053795; 594788, 4053798; 594800, 4053805; 
594811, 4053823; 594817, 4053849; 594813, 4053884; 594795, 4053906; 
594779, 4053929; 594776, 4053948; 594778, 4053962; 594784, 4053976; 
594798, 4054002; 594808, 4054006; 594824, 4054004; 594853, 4053992; 
594880, 4053986; 594908, 4053991; 594929, 4054006; 594949, 4054037; 
594950, 4054065; 594944, 4054114; 594952, 4054174; 594968, 4054190; 
594979, 4054237; 594977, 4054292; 594972, 4054311; 595001, 4054351; 
594980, 4054393; 594962, 4054440; 594960, 4054479; 594946, 4054509; 
594969, 4054511; 594985, 4054509; 595008, 4054518; 595011, 4054528; 
595025, 4054538; 595059, 4054529; 595052, 4054467; 595026, 4054447; 
595013, 4054407; 595028, 4054355; 595028, 4054328; 595021, 4054284; 
594958, 4054012; 594959, 4054012; 594943, 4053970; 594883, 4053919; 
594857, 4053880; 594796, 4053673; 594782, 4053639; 594769, 4053626; 
594713, 4053598; 594719, 4053582; 594888, 4053489; 594869, 4053373; 
594896, 4053299; 594890, 4053268; 594927, 4053223; 594919, 4053193; 
594957, 4053160; 594950, 4053123; 594886, 4053082; 594885, 4053056; 
594923, 4053026; 594924, 4052940; 594906, 4052966; 594871, 4053005; 
594832, 4053036; 594804, 4053053; 594726, 4053053; 594680, 4053081; 
594680, 4053142; 594667, 4053173; 594651, 4053254; returning to 594619, 
4053296.
    (ii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Monterey. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 594873, 4054693; 
594913, 4054742; 595038, 4054606; 595057, 4054580; 595062, 4054561; 
594921, 4054598; 594905, 4054625; returning to 594873, 4054693.
    (iii) Note: Map of Unit 4 is provided at paragraph (8)(ii) of this 
entry.
    (10) Unit 5: Freedom Boulevard Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Watsonville West. Land 
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 
601321.000 4093848; 601363, 4093878; 601484, 4093904; 601600, 4093907; 
601710, 4093877; 601828, 4093833; 601921, 4093791; 601965, 4093746; 
601983, 4093719; 601989, 4093682; 601905, 4093585; 601870, 4093613; 
601487, 4093784; 601333, 4093837; returning to 601321, 4093848.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 5 is provided at paragraph (6)(ii) of this 
entry.
    (11) Unit 6: Manresa Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Watsonville West. Land 
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 602044, 
4086559; 602112, 4086716; 602197, 4086682; 602210, 4086694; 602221, 
4086722; 602232, 4086754; 602285, 4086738; 602326, 4086722; 602374, 
4086749; 602431, 4086877; 602376, 4086900; 602383, 4086914; 602296, 
4086951; 602289, 4086937; 602236, 4086959; 602268, 4086998; 602524, 
4086894; 602501, 4086838; 602557, 4086814; 602494, 4086665; 602763, 
4086296; 602864, 4086162; 602562, 4086054; 602541, 4086096; 602394, 
4086067; 602378, 4086099; 602302, 4086085; 602318, 4086053; 602275, 
4086044; 602210, 4086186; 602139, 4086348; 602115, 4086409; returning 
to 602044, 4086559.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 6 is provided at paragraph (6)(ii) of this 
entry.
    (12) Unit 7: Prunedale Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Prunedale. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 618887, 4071619; 
618896, 4071742; 619145, 4071725; 619431, 4071664; 619441, 4071576; 
619439, 4071574; 619169, 4071562; 619166, 4071601; returning to 618887, 
4071619.
    (ii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Prunedale. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 621025, 4070792; 
621080, 4071114; 621051, 4071111; 621085, 4071163; 621121, 4071173; 
621136, 4071182; 621157, 4071219; 621160, 4071234; 621207, 4071274; 
621233, 4071259; 621258, 4071205; 621283, 4071171; 621295, 4071168; 
621290, 4071132; 621295, 4071048; 621284, 4070900; 621321, 4070847; 
621314, 4070833; 621093, 4070705; 621046, 4070723; returning to 621025, 
4070792.
    (iii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Prunedale. Land bounded 
by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 620707, 4073069; 
620896, 4073161; 620837, 4073252; 620899, 4073326; 620937, 4073319; 
621026, 4073386; 621107, 4073506; 621199, 4073608; 621206, 4073579; 
621166, 4073526; 621173, 4073436; 621083, 4073322; 621197, 4073259; 
621151, 4072949; 621158, 4072940; 621187, 4072867; 621278, 4072572; 
621300, 4072385; 621364, 4072301; 621342, 4072258; 621328, 4072169; 
621331, 4072151; 621353, 4072139; 621389, 4072155; 621377, 4072009; 
621414, 4071899; 621422, 4071791; 621411, 4071786; 621361, 4071747; 
621364, 4071718; 621377, 4071704; 621421, 4071702; 621385, 4071615; 
621370, 4071533; 621379, 4071479; 621265, 4071449; 621256, 4071455; 
621283, 4071501; 621288, 4071541; 621282, 4071565; 621230, 4071628; 
621278, 4071792; 621255, 4071940; 621265, 4072089; 621192, 4072091; 
621191, 4072183; 621130, 4072185; 621130, 4072300; 621085, 4072462; 
621060, 4072649; 621031, 4072686; 621017, 4072730; 621009, 4072808; 
620987, 4072831; 620927, 4072859; 620775, 4072954; 620739, 4072948; 
620709, 4072962; returning to 620707, 4073069.
    (iv) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Prunedale. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 620983, 4073724; 
621027, 4073754; 620988, 4073922; 620997, 4073968; 620986, 4074025; 
621101, 4074125; 621133, 4074174; 621144, 4074209; 621084, 4074270; 
621123, 4074335; 621127, 4074380; 621146, 4074396; 621174, 4074395; 
621273, 4074228; 621256, 4074215; 621206, 4074150; 621149, 4074028; 
621163, 4073968; 621180, 4073920; 621159, 4073901; 621160, 4073898; 
621124, 4073845; 621154, 4073750; 621074, 4073707; 621036, 4073609; 
returning to 620983, 4073724.
    (v) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Prunedale. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 617547, 4073216; 
617576, 4073293; 617656, 4073321; 617785, 4073418; 617979, 4073424; 
618019, 4073404; 617985, 4073355; 617733, 4073162; 617632, 4073136; 
617572, 4073162; returning to 617547, 4073216.
    (vi) Note: Map of Unit 7 is provided at paragraph (7)(iv) of this 
entry.
    (13) Unit 8: Fort Ord Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Marina. Land bounded by the 
following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 609697, 4059326; 
609722, 4059410; 610034, 4059231; 610010, 4059188; 610075, 4059114; 
610137, 4059066; 610125, 4059051; 610114, 4059037; 610103, 4059024; 
610091, 4059012; 610078, 4058998; 610065, 4058986; 609965, 4058895; 
609958, 4058903; 609998, 4059020; 609962, 4059186; 609940, 4059175;

[[Page 1551]]

609906, 4059214; 609932, 4059260; 609797, 4059338; 609773, 4059296; 
609709, 4059308; returning to 609697, 4059326.
    (ii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Marina. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 610192, 4059594; 
610236, 4059663; 610258, 4059655; 610274, 4059651; 610309, 4059651; 
610379, 4059665; 610390, 4059664; 610433, 4059733; 610443, 4059751; 
610466, 4059785; 610502, 4059762; 610434, 4059652; 610504, 4059609; 
610493, 4059592; 610463, 4059611; 610444, 4059619; 610420, 4059623; 
610397, 4059620; 610355, 4059601; 610331, 4059591; 610295, 4059584; 
610267, 4059581; 610240, 4059582; 610211, 4059588; returning to 610192, 
4059594.
    (iii) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Marina. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 608008, 4060536; 
609030, 4060994; 609030, 4060995; 609971, 4060407; 609846, 4060206; 
610033, 4060089; 609999, 4060034; 610264, 4059868; 610164, 4059707; 
610220, 4059673; 610168, 4059589; 610111, 4059623; 609932, 4059336; 
609230, 4059739; 609322, 4059793; returning to 608008, 4060536.
    (iv) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Marina and Salinas. Land 
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 609751, 
4058616; 610060, 4058898; 610647, 4058564; 610667, 4058598; 610879, 
4058745; 612436, 4057852; 612399, 4057799; 612384, 4057756; 612381, 
4057739; 612387, 4057693; 612378, 4057650; 612361, 4057603; 612352, 
4057589; 612317, 4057541; 612304, 4057508; 612294, 4057462; 612274, 
4057395; 611971, 4057411; 611159, 4057399; 611101, 4057397; 611145, 
4057519; 611450, 4057629; 611480, 4057720; 611321, 4058012; 610816, 
4058291; returning to 609751, 4058616.
    (v) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Marina, Salinas, Seaside, 
and Spreckles. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 
coordinates (E, N): 605408, 4050946; 605410, 4051017; 605417, 4051087; 
605436, 4051191; 605522, 4051488; 605602, 4051720; 605630, 4051830; 
605627, 4052006; 605600, 4052419; 605601, 4052501; 605607, 4052559; 
605617, 4052617; 605630, 4052674; 605647, 4052729; 605669, 4052784; 
605755, 4052925; 605799, 4052980; 605821, 4053004; 605890, 4053067; 
605951, 4053108; 606007, 4053137; 606408, 4053300; 606490, 4053347; 
606545, 4053384; 606598, 4053428; 606636, 4053464; 606689, 4053526; 
606767, 4053639; 606817, 4053698; 606874, 4053750; 606918, 4053782; 
606950, 4053802; 607005, 4053831; 607729, 4054151; 607873, 4054074; 
607886, 4053775; 607904, 4053747; 607933, 4053729; 607986, 4053722; 
608063, 4053728; 608098, 4053744; 608110, 4053762; 608102, 4053961; 
608113, 4054001; 608182, 4053964; 608546, 4054184; 608601, 4054203; 
609141, 4054548; 609160, 4054556; 609231, 4054598; 609258, 4054621; 
609310, 4054704; 609315, 4054723; 609316, 4054750; 609309, 4054768; 
609291, 4054789; 609315, 4054806; 609366, 4054824; 609440, 4054835; 
609459, 4054850; 609477, 4054868; 609493, 4054873; 609569, 4054861; 
609611, 4054845; 609698, 4054839; 609757, 4054849; 609772, 4054857; 
609817, 4054936; 609820, 4054959; 609841, 4054989; 609907, 4055031; 
609927, 4055053; 609944, 4055100; 609947, 4055132; 609927, 4055254; 
609934, 4055294; 609967, 4055327; 610020, 4055349; 610057, 4055378; 
610164, 4055520; 610209, 4055546; 610237, 4055571; 610306, 4055681; 
610387, 4055754; 610520, 4055833; 610554, 4055869; 610574, 4055904; 
610643, 4056127; 610658, 4056143; 610901, 4056274; 611153, 4056431; 
611104, 4056509; 611091, 4056560; 611069, 4056592; 611046, 4056645; 
611025, 4056671; 611033, 4056696; 611031, 4056719; 611006, 4056762; 
611005, 4056778; 610992, 4056821; 610993, 4056878; 611001, 4056895; 
611011, 4057000; 610986, 4057080; 610970, 4057224; 611012, 4057361; 
611950, 4057379; 611958, 4057200; 611948, 4057203; 611937, 4057200; 
611926, 4057191; 611923, 4057178; 611938, 4057146; 611938, 4057138; 
611942, 4057138; 611962, 4057097; 611970, 4056892; 611990, 4056882; 
612022, 4056833; 612154, 4056656; 612173, 4056586; 612270, 4056432; 
612342, 4056434; 612478, 4056464; 612526, 4056458; 612566, 4056441; 
612640, 4056444; 612759, 4056485; 612970, 4056560; 613013, 4056113; 
613193, 4055994; 613060, 4055849; 613038, 4055818; 613033, 4055786; 
613060, 4055413; 613060, 4055373; 613052, 4055334; 612998, 4055174; 
612988, 4055121; 612992, 4055065; 613011, 4054974; 613013, 4054937; 
613005, 4054877; 612986, 4054850; 612887, 4054762; 612866, 4054738; 
612847, 4054706; 612833, 4054662; 612818, 4054637; 612799, 4054618; 
612755, 4054589; 612743, 4054577; 612721, 4054544; 612693, 4054453; 
612476, 4053952; 612446, 4053881; 612426, 4053845; 612349, 4053748; 
612332, 4053721; 612319, 4053691; 612303, 4053631; 612267, 4053559; 
612265, 4053541; 612273, 4053470; 612274, 4053433; 612270, 4053404; 
612250, 4053323; 612251, 4053272; 612255, 4053218; 612238, 4053128; 
612226, 4053030; 612228, 4052996; 612255, 4052840; 612255, 4052818; 
612248, 4052779; 612235, 4052738; 612193, 4052664; 612188, 4052579; 
612167, 4052495; 612147, 4052453; 612110, 4052400; 612097, 4052366; 
612092, 4052334; 612092, 4052274; 612096, 4052244; 612113, 4052172; 
612125, 4052134; 612203, 4051986; 612236, 4051914; 612248, 4051881; 
612275, 4051794; 612283, 4051759; 612291, 4051699; 612281, 4051639; 
612261, 4051561; 612247, 4051534; 612118, 4051387; 612023, 4051304; 
612002, 4051275; 611994, 4051260; 611987, 4051235; 611979, 4051157; 
611957, 4051054; 611948, 4051022; 611934, 4050984; 611908, 4050937; 
611867, 4050885; 611722, 4050757; 611702, 4050737; 611694, 4050705; 
611676, 4050543; 611484, 4050568; 611399, 4050574; 611259, 4050574; 
611146, 4050565; 611042, 4050551; 610945, 4050516; 610871, 4050482; 
610784, 4050434; 610732, 4050403; 610678, 4050363; 610617, 4050313; 
610545, 4050241; 610074, 4049765; 610039, 4049758; 609981, 4049733; 
609937, 4049701; 609889, 4049652; 609877, 4049618; 609814, 4049590; 
609730, 4049564; 607897, 4049093; 607832, 4049096; 607676, 4049111; 
607570, 4049128; 607487, 4049145; 607378, 4049173; 607306, 4049194; 
607130, 4049259; 606738, 4049427; 606676, 4049452; 606613, 4049473; 
606531, 4049492; 606449, 4049505; 606382, 4049509; 606308, 4049509; 
606215, 4049712; 606173, 4049789; 606127, 4049854; 606067, 4049919; 
606019, 4049966; 605756, 4050195; 605696, 4050251; 605658, 4050292; 
605623, 4050334; 605590, 4050379; 605560, 4050424; 605532, 4050472; 
605496, 4050546; 605465, 4050623; 605448, 4050675; 605428, 4050755; 
605417, 4050824; 605412, 4050864; returning to 605408, 4050946. 
Excluding: 609791, 4053559; 609792, 4053420; 609833, 4053395; 609908, 
4053357; 610068, 4053380; 610032, 4053598; returning to 609791, 
4053559. Excluding: 611172, 4052992; 611242, 4052923; 611314, 4052987; 
611402, 4052913; 611442, 4052907; 611524, 4052850; 611543, 4052844; 
611587, 4052866; 611607, 4052919; 611628, 4053042; 611618, 4053074; 
611670, 4053189; 611761, 4053277; 612029, 4053402; 612049, 4053521; 
611863, 4053644; 611727, 4053518; 611656, 4053497; 611611, 4053451; 
611535, 4053431; 611438, 4053400; 611394, 4053341; 611346, 4053238; 
611278, 4053122; 611230, 4053068; returning to

[[Page 1552]]

611172, 4052992. Excluding: 611476, 4056579; 611418, 4056559; 611437, 
4056500; 611496, 4056520; returning to 611476, 4056579.
    (vi) Note: Map of Unit 8 is provided at paragraph (8)(ii) of this 
entry.
    (14) Unit 9: Soledad Unit, Monterey County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Soledad. Land bounded by 
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 653941, 4029661; 
654080, 4029718; 654098, 4029754; 654158, 4029789; 654279, 4029808; 
654372, 4029801; 654425, 4029812; 654458, 4029845; 654505, 4029873; 
654619, 4029910; 654705, 4029898; 654777, 4029915; 654821, 4029942; 
654865, 4029970; 654930, 4029989; 655223, 4030005; 655305, 4030020; 
655374, 4029973; 655318, 4029807; 655195, 4029858; 655025, 4029760; 
654944, 4029812; 654829, 4029774; 654735, 4029691; 654629, 4029678; 
654495, 4029721; 654381, 4029731; 654318, 4029721; 654199, 4029687; 
654123, 4029655; 653987, 4029654; returning to 653941, 4029661.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 9 (Map 5) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 1553]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09JA08.004


[[Page 1554]]


* * * * *

    Dated: December 14, 2007.
Lyle Laverty,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 08-6 Filed 1-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C