[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27483-27489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10499]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[FWS-R8-ES-2007-0007; 92210-1117-0000-B4]
RIN 1018-AU86


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego thornmint)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period and revisions 
to proposed critical habitat boundaries.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
reopening of the comment period on the proposed designation of critical 
habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego thornmint) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are reopening the 
comment period because of new information we received following the 
close of the last public comment period on this proposed action. This 
new information leads us to propose revised boundaries for Subunit 1A 
and to update the areas we are proposing for exclusion from the final 
designation. The reopened comment period will provide the public; 
Federal, State, and local agencies; and Tribes with an additional 
opportunity to submit comments on the original proposed rule and the 
revisions proposed in this document. Comments previously submitted on 
the proposed critical habitat designation for A. ilicifolia need not be 
resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public 
record and will be fully considered in any final decision.

DATES: We will consider comments and information received or postmarked 
on or before June 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: RIN 1018-AU86; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, 
VA 22203.
    We will not accept e-mail or faxes. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the ``Public Comments'' 
section below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Bartel, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 
Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011; telephone 760-431-9440; 
facsimile 760-431-5901. If you use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comments

    We will accept written comments and information during this 
reopened

[[Page 27484]]

comment period on our proposed critical habitat designation for 
Acanthomintha ilicifolia published in the Federal Register on March 14, 
2007 (72 FR 11945), the corrections to the proposed designation 
published in the Federal Register on November 27, 2007 (72 FR 66122), 
and the new information provided in this document. We will consider 
information and recommendations from all interested parties. We are 
particularly interested in comments concerning:
    (1) The reasons why we should or should not designate habitat as 
critical habitat under section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
including whether the benefit of designation would outweigh threats to 
the species caused by the designation, such that the designation of 
critical habitat is prudent.
    (2) Specific information on:
     The amount and distribution of Acanthomintha ilicifolia 
habitat,
     What areas within the geographical area occupied at the 
time of listing that contain features essential for the conservation of 
the species we should include in the designation and why, and
     What areas not occupied at the time of listing are 
essential to the conservation of the species and why.
    (3) Any proposed critical habitat areas covered by conservation or 
management plans that we should consider for exclusion from the 
designation under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. We specifically request 
information on any operative or draft habitat conservation plans that 
include Acanthomintha ilicifolia as a covered species that have been 
prepared under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, or any other management 
plan, conservation plan, or agreement that benefits the species or its 
physical and biological features.
    (4) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the 
proposed critical habitat areas and their possible impacts on proposed 
critical habitat for the species.
    (5) Specific information concerning whether the benefits of 
excluding areas proposed for critical habitat within the City of San 
Diego subarea plan and the County of San Diego subarea plan under the 
San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), the Carlsbad 
and Encinitas subarea plans under the San Diego Multiple Habitat 
Conservation Program (MHCP), and the Manchester Avenue Mitigation Bank 
under section 4(b)(2) of the Act outweigh the benefits of their 
inclusion in designated critical habitat.
    (6) Additional scientific or commercial information that will help 
us to better delineate areas that contain the primary constituent 
elements laid out in the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement 
essential for the conservation of the species, specifically, 
information pertaining to the amount and distribution of the primary 
constituent elements in Subunit 1A.
    (7) Information about potential impacts that the designation of 
critical habitat in Subunit 1A may have on the operation of McClellan-
Palomar Airport, specifically, whether the benefits of excluding this 
area would outweigh the benefits of including this area under section 
4(b)(2) of the Act.
    (8) Any foreseeable economic, national security, or other relevant 
impacts resulting from the proposed designation and, in particular, any 
impacts on small entities.
    (9) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating 
critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation 
and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and 
comments.
    Comments and information submitted on the proposed rule (72 FR 
11945) during the initial comment period from March 14, 2007, to May 
14, 2007, or the second comment period (72 FR 66122) from November 27, 
2007, to December 27, 2007, do not need to be resubmitted as they have 
already been incorporated into the public record. Our final 
determination concerning the designation of critical habitat will take 
into consideration all written comments and any additional information 
we receive during all comment periods. On the basis of information 
provided during the public comment periods on the critical habitat 
proposal and the associated draft economic analysis (DEA), we may, 
during the development of our final determination, find that areas 
proposed do not meet the definition of ``critical habitat'' under 
section 3(5)(A) of the Act, or are appropriate for exclusion under 
section 4(b)(2) of the Act.
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning our proposed 
rule by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not 
consider comments sent by e-mail or fax or to an address not listed in 
the ADDRESSES section.
    If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire 
comment--including any personal identifying information--will be posted 
on the Web site. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes 
personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your 
document that we withhold this information from public review. However, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all 
hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in preparing this notice, will be available for 
public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by appointment, 
during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    You may obtain copies of the proposed rule and DEA by mail from the 
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) 
or by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

Background

    It is our intent to discuss only those topics directly relevant to 
the designation of critical habitat in this notice. For more 
information on the taxonomy and biology of Acanthomintha ilicifolia, 
refer to the final listing rule published in the Federal Register on 
October 13, 1998 (63 FR 54938) and the proposed critical habitat rule 
published on March 14, 2007 (72 FR 11945).
    On August 10, 2004, the Center for Biological Diversity and 
California Native Plant Society challenged our failure to designate 
critical habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia as well as four other 
plant species (Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. Norton, C-04-
3240 JL (N. D. Cal.)). In settlement of the lawsuit, the Service agreed 
to submit to the Federal Register a proposed rule to designate critical 
habitat, if prudent, on or before February 28, 2007, and a final 
designation by February 28, 2008. On March 14, 2007, we published a 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for A. ilicifolia (72 FR 
11945), identifying a total of approximately 1,936 acres (ac) (783 
hectares (ha)) of land in San Diego County, California. We proposed 
1,302 ac (527 ha) of land for exclusion from the final designation of 
critical habitat under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. On November 27, 
2007, we reopened the comment period on the proposed rule, announced 
the availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed rule, 
and made several corrections to the proposed rule (72 FR 66122). As a 
result of the corrections, the proposed critical habitat (1,936 acres 
(ac) (783 hectares (ha))) was reduced by approximately 69 ac (27 ha) 
and the area being proposed for exclusion (1,302 ac (527 ha)) was 
reduced by 168 ac (68 ha). Therefore, the total amount of land proposed 
as critical habitat was 1,867 ac (756 ha). Of

[[Page 27485]]

the total amount of land proposed as critical habitat, we proposed to 
exclude 1,134 ac (459 ha) from the final designation. Due to the 
substantive nature of the comments and new information received on this 
proposed rule, we requested an extension of the February 28, 2008, 
court-ordered date for the completion of the final designation. An 
extension was granted on April 15, 2008, which now requires us to 
submit to the Federal Register the final critical habitat designation 
by August 14, 2008.
    Section 3 of the Act defines critical habitat as 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 essential to the conservation of the species and 
that may require special management considerations or protection, and 
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. If the proposed rule is 
made final, section 7 of the Act will prohibit destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat by any activity funded, authorized, or 
carried out by any Federal agency. Federal agencies proposing actions 
affecting areas designated as critical habitat must consult with us on 
the effects of their proposed actions, pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of 
the Act.

New Information Relating to the Proposed Critical Habitat, Revisions to 
Proposed Critical Habitat Boundaries, and Updated Areas Proposed for 
Exclusion

    On March 14, 2007, we proposed to designate critical habitat in 
four units comprising a total of 1,936 ac (783 ha) (72 FR 11945). At 
that time we proposed to exclude 1,302 ac (527 ha) under section 
4(b)(2) of the Act (72 FR 11945, March 14, 2007). In the notice of 
availability for the draft economic analysis (DEA) published on 
November 27, 2007 (72 FR 66122), we announced corrections to the 
proposed designation that reduced the size of several subunits. As a 
result of those corrections, the total identified proposed critical 
habitat area was reduced from 1,936 ac (783 ha) to 1,867 ac (756 ha). 
Of the total amount of land proposed as critical habitat, the total 
area proposed for exclusion from the final designation was reduced from 
1,302 ac (527 ha) to 1,134 ac (459 ha). Following publication of the 
November 27, 2007, document, we received new information for Subunit 1A 
that leads us to reduce the proposed critical habitat by an additional 
17 ac (7 ha). Therefore, at this time we are proposing a total of 1,850 
ac (749 ha) as critical habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia. 
Additionally, we have become aware of information indicating that 
excluding Subunits 1A, 1B, and 1C within the MHCP may not be 
appropriate. Of the 1,850 ac (749 ha) we are proposing as critical 
habitat, we are intending to exclude 964 ac (390 ha) from the final 
designation. The information we received that led to these intended 
changes is presented below. We are opening this comment period to 
provide the public the opportunity to comment on these items.
    We received two comments indicating some areas in Subunit 1A are 
developed as agricultural land and some areas are actively used for 
maintenance and navigation purposes for McClellan-Palomar Airport. 
Further, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested the 
Service to consider impacts associated with the designation of critical 
habitat in Subunit 1A (Palomar Airport) on the operation of McClellan-
Palomar Airport. Specifically, the FAA requested that we not designate 
critical habitat in areas of Subunit 1A that encompass a series of 
navigational devices (i.e., Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System 
with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSRs)) and an associated dirt 
maintenance road. We met with the County of San Diego and the FAA at 
Subunit 1A on January 9, 2008, and we mapped agricultural fields and 
areas that are actively used for maintenance and navigation purposes at 
McClellan-Palomar Airport. We found that portions of the agricultural 
fields immediately adjacent to known occurrences of Acanthomintha 
ilicifolia do contain the primary constituent element (PCE) (PCE 
subparts 1b and 1c; clay lenses on gently sloping terrain and derived 
from gabbro and soft calcareous sandstone substrates) laid out in the 
appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for the conservation of 
the species and contribute to the stability and function of the habitat 
in Subunit 1A. However, the developed agricultural areas farther than 
approximately 100 feet (ft) (30 meters (m)) from known occurrences of 
A. ilicifolia, and the entirety of the dirt maintenance road within 
Subunit 1A, no longer appear to contain the features essential to the 
conservation of A. ilicifolia. While the agricultural fields have the 
same clay soil that supports A. ilicifolia, these areas no longer 
support the species because the soil structure has been altered by 
discing and other agricultural practices, and the soil no longer has 
the crumbly texture and deep fissures that are indicative of this 
species' habitat (PCE subpart 1c). Additionally, the area is infested 
with nonnative plants, and open areas no longer exist to support A. 
ilicifolia (PCE subpart 1d). We have determined that the developed 
areas of Subunit 1A have been altered to a point where these areas no 
longer contain the features essential for the conservation of A. 
ilicifolia. Therefore, the developed areas in Subunit 1A greater than 
100 ft (30 m) from known occurrences of A. ilicifolia and the entirety 
of the dirt maintenance road do not meet the definition of critical 
habitat. A total of 17 ac (7 ha) have been removed from the area 
proposed as Subunit 1A; the resulting area now identified as critical 
habitat in this unit is 71 ac (29 ha). As noted above, we are 
requesting additional information from the public pertaining to the 
proposed designation of critical habitat encompassing the MALSRs and 
whether the benefits of excluding this area would outweigh the benefits 
of including this area under section 4(b)(2) of the Act.
    In the March 14, 2007, proposed rule (72 FR 11945), we proposed the 
exclusion of and requested public comment on lands in Subunits 1A and 
1B covered by the Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan (HMP; i.e., the 
Carlsbad Subarea Plan) under the MHCP from the designation of critical 
habitat under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Upon further analysis of the 
Carlsbad HMP, we found that coverage of Acanthomintha ilicifolia under 
this habitat conservation plan (HCP) is contingent on a funded 
management plan being in place for this species and the completion of 
the San Marcos subarea plan under the MHCP. In the time that has 
elapsed since the development and publication of the proposed rule 
(March 14, 2007, 72 FR 11945), the City of San Marcos has not completed 
its subarea plan. Therefore, we believe that excluding land covered by 
the Carlsbad HMP in Subunits 1A and 1B is inappropriate. With the 
information we have at this time, we intend to designate the lands 
covered by the Carlsbad HMP in Subunits 1A and 1B as critical habitat. 
While we have received one comment indicating that some land in Subunit 
1A is conserved and managed, we do not believe this meets the 
requirements for A. ilicifolia to be covered under the Carlsbad HMP. We 
are requesting additional information from the public on the 
appropriateness of excluding lands covered by the Carlsbad HMP.
    In the March 14, 2007, proposed rule (72 FR 11945), we proposed the 
exclusion of, and requested public

[[Page 27486]]

comment on, the lands in Subunit 1C covered by the pending Encinitas 
subarea plan under the MHCP from the designation of critical habitat 
under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. At this time, the Encinitas subarea 
plan has not been completed and we believe excluding land based solely 
on its inclusion within the boundaries of this incomplete subarea plan 
would be inappropriate. Conversely, the majority of Subunit 1C (72 ac 
(29 ha)) is part of the Manchester Avenue Mitigation Bank and is 
actively managed for Acanthomintha ilicifolia (Spiegelberg 2005, pp. 1-
33). We believe the benefits of exclusion may outweigh the benefits of 
including these lands in a critical habitat designation and that this 
exclusion would not result in extinction of the species. Therefore, we 
are considering the possibility of excluding 72 ac (29 ha) of Subunit 
1C under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and designating the remaining 20 ac 
(8 ha) of private lands outside the Manchester Avenue Mitigation Bank 
as critical habitat. We are requesting public comment on benefits of 
including and benefits of excluding lands from critical habitat 
designation that are: (1) Covered by the Manchester Avenue Mitigation 
Bank; and (2) outside of the Manchester Avenue Mitigation Bank, but 
within the pending Encinitas subarea plan.
    We hereby notify the public that the final designation of critical 
habitat may differ from the proposed rule published on March 14, 2007 
(72 FR 11945), as corrected on November 27, 2007 (72 FR 66122). We 
intend to use the best available scientific and commercial data 
available to delineate the specific geographic areas that contain the 
physical and biological features essential to the conservation of 
Acanthomintha ilicifolia (i.e., the PCE laid out in the appropriate 
quantity and spatial arrangement) or that are otherwise essential for 
the conservation of the species and in making decisions regarding 
exclusions under 4(b)(2) of the Act. Therefore, we are requesting any 
additional information that may be useful in reassessing the proposed 
boundaries of critical habitat. Additionally, we request any 
information that may be useful in determining whether or not the 
benefits of excluding areas from critical habitat under section 4(b)(2) 
of the Act outweigh the benefits of including areas in critical 
habitat, specifically regarding the exclusion of areas covered by the 
MHCP as discussed in the proposed rule (72 FR 11945, March 14, 2007) 
(i.e., the areas within the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas, 
California), considering the new information summarized above. 
Additional comments and information on these issues will help make the 
final rule as accurate as possible.
    Table 1 contains the corrected area values based on revisions to 
proposed critical habitat Subunits 1A and 1C. The revisions to Subunit 
1A change the boundary description published in the March 14, 2007, 
proposed rule. This document publishes the boundary description for 
Subunit 1A, incorporating the revisions described in this document, 
along with a map depicting the revised location of proposed critical 
habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia.

Table 1.--Areas Proposed as Critical Habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia After the Corrections and Amendments to the Areas Proposed as Critical Habitat
 on March 14, 2007 (72 FR 11945), as Described in This Document and the Document Published on November 27, 2007 (72 FR 66122), and Areas Being Proposed
   and Considered for Exclusion From the Final Critical Habitat Designation Under Section 4(b)(2) of the Act (Acres (ac), Hectares (ha), CNDDB Element
                                                                    Occurrences (EO))
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                                                                Area proposed as        Area proposed as                           Area being considered
                                                               critical habitat in      critical habitat      Area proposed for      for exclusion from
       Critical habitat unit             Land ownership          March 14, 2007,     after corrections and   exclusion from final      final critical
                                                                  proposed rule            amendments          critical habitat           habitat
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                                                            Unit 1: Northern San Diego County
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1A. Palomar Airport (EO 70)........  Private...............  7 ac (3 ha)...........  7 ac (3 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     State/Local...........  81 ac (33 ha).........  64 ac (26 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
1B. Southeast Carlsbad (EO 47).....  Private...............  73 ac (29 ha).........  73 ac (29 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
1C. Manchester (EO 28, EO 42 and EO  Private...............  92 ac (37 ha).........  92 ac (37 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  72 ac (29 ha).
 54).
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                                                            Unit 2: Central San Diego County
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2A. Los Pe[ntilde]asquitos Canyon    State/Local...........  63 ac (25 ha).........  63 ac (25 ha)........  63 ac (25 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
 (EO 19).
2B. Sabre Springs (EO 36)..........  Private...............  1 ac (<1 ha)..........  1 ac (<1 ha).........  1 ac (<1 ha).........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     State/Local...........  51 ac (21 ha).........  51 ac (21 ha)........  51 ac (21 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
2C. Sycamore Canyon (EO 32)........  Private...............  30 ac (12 ha).........  30 ac (12 ha)........  30 ac (12 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     State/Local...........  276 ac (112 ha).......  276 ac (112 ha)......  276 ac (112 ha)......  0 ac (0 ha).
2D. Slaughterhouse Canyon (EO 64)..  Private...............  77 ac (31 ha).........  77 ac (31 ha)........  77 ac (31 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
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                                                       Unit 3: Viejas Mountain and Poser Mountain
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3A. Viejas Mountain (EO 73)........  Private...............  33 ac (13 ha).........  33 ac (13 ha)........  33 ac (13 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
3B. Viejas Mountain (EO 50)........  Private...............  156 ac (63 ha)........  156 ac (63 ha).......  156 ac (63 ha).......  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     Federal...............  52 ac (21 ha).........  52 ac (21 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
3C. Viejas Mountain (EO 51)........  Private...............  38 ac (15 ha).........  38 ac (15 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     Federal...............  280 ac (113 ha).......  280 ac (113 ha)......  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
3D. Viejas Mountain (EO 62)........  Private...............  50 ac (20 ha).........  50 ac (20 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     Federal...............  32 ac (13 ha).........  32 ac (13 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
3E. Poser Mountain (EO 74).........  Federal...............  34 ac (14 ha).........  34 ac (14 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
3F. Poser Mountain (EO 12).........  Private...............  7 ac (3 ha)...........  7 ac (3 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     Federal...............  156 ac (63 ha)........  156 ac (63 ha).......  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
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[[Page 27487]]

 
                                                            Unit 4: Southern San Diego County
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4A. McGinty Mountain (EO 21).......  Private...............  18 ac (7 ha)..........  18 ac (7 ha).........  18 ac (7 ha).........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     Federal...............  0 ac (0 ha)...........  2 ac (1 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
4B. McGinty Mountain (EO 22).......  Private...............  210 ac (85 ha)........  141 ac (57 ha).......  141 ac (57 ha).......  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     State/Local...........  10 ac (4 ha)..........  7 ac (3 ha)..........  7 ac (3 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
4C. McGinty Mountain (EO 30).......  Private...............  27 ac (11 ha).........  27 ac (11 ha)........  27 ac (11 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     Federal...............  0 ac (0 ha)...........  1 ac (<1 ha).........  0 ac (0 ha)..........  0 ac (0 ha).
4D. Hollenbeck Canyon (EO L).......  Private...............  23 ac (9 ha)..........  23 ac (9 ha).........  23 ac (9 ha).........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                     State/Local...........  61 ac (25 ha).........  61 ac (25 ha)........  61 ac (25 ha)........  0 ac (0 ha).
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total *........................  ......................  1,936 ac (783 ha).....  1,850 ac (749 ha)....  964 ac (390 ha)......  72 ac (429 ha).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Some columns may not sum exactly due to rounding of values.

    Below, we present brief descriptions of the revised proposed 
subunits and reasons why they meet the definition of critical habitat 
for Acanthomintha ilicifolia. These revised subunit descriptions 
replace those provided in the March 14, 2007, proposed rule (72 FR 
11945). California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) element 
occurrences are identified as EO in the subunit descriptions below.

Unit Descriptions

Subunit 1A, Palomar Airport (EO 70)

    Subunit 1A was occupied by Acanthomintha ilicifolia at the time of 
listing. Subunit 1A contains several habitat patches known to support 
A. ilicifolia and contains the features essential for the conservation 
of the species. Subunit 1A is located in Carlsbad, California, 
northeast of the intersection of Palomar Airport Road and El Camino 
Real. Subunit 1A consists of 64 ac (26 ha) of land owned by the County 
of San Diego and 7 ac (3 ha) of private land. Subunit 1A meets our 
selection criteria because it supports a population on a unique soil 
type (criterion 1). This is the only area where A. ilicifolia is still 
known to occupy calcareous clay soils. The features essential to the 
conservation of the species may require special management 
considerations or protection in this subunit to address threats from 
exotic plant species and unauthorized recreational activities.

Subunit 1C, Manchester (EO 42, EO 28, and EO 54)

    Subunit 1C was occupied by Acanthomintha ilicifolia at the time of 
listing. Subunit 1C contains several habitat patches known to support 
A. ilicifolia and contains the features essential for the conservation 
of the species. Subunit 1C is located in Encinitas, California, 
northeast of the intersection of Manchester Avenue and South El Camino 
Real. Subunit 1C consists of 92 ac (37 ha) of private land. Subunit 1C 
meets our selection criteria because it supports one of the most stable 
populations of A. ilicifolia (criterion 3). The features essential to 
the conservation of the species may require special management 
considerations or protection in this subunit to address threats from 
exotic plant species and unauthorized recreational activities.
    The majority of the land that meets the definition of critical 
habitat in this area (72 ac (29 ha)) is in the Manchester Avenue 
Mitigation Bank. The Manchester Avenue Mitigation Bank is owned and 
managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM). There is 
long-term management in place on this site to conserve several 
sensitive species, including Acanthomintha ilicifolia (Spiegelberg 
2005, p. 1). The Manchester Avenue Mitigation Bank is covered by the 
Manchester Habitat Conservation Area Management Plan (Spiegelberg 
2005). This plan provides for the management and monitoring of the 
portion of Subunit 1C owned by CNLM. Additionally, there is funding in 
place to provide for the long-term management of this area in a manner 
that will conserve A. ilicifolia. Therefore, we are considering the 
possibility of excluding 72 ac (29 ha) of Subunit 1C under section 
4(b)(2) of the Act and soliciting public comment based on this 
consideration (see ``Public Comments'' section).

References Cited

    A complete list of all references we cite in the proposed rule and 
this document is available on http://www.regulations.gov.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is the staff of the Carlsbad Fish 
and Wildlife Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

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

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we propose to further amend part 17, subchapter B of 
chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as proposed to 
be amended at 72 FR 11945, March 14, 2007, as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

    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.

    2. Critical habitat for Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego 
thornmint) in Sec.  17.96(a), which was proposed to be added on March 
14, 2007, at 72 FR 11945, is proposed to be amended by revising 
paragraph (6)(i) and by revising paragraph (6)(iv), as follows:

[[Page 27488]]

Sec.  17.96  Critical habitat--plants.

    (a) Flowering plants.
* * * * *
    Family Lamiaceae: Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego thornmint)
* * * * *
    (6) * * *
    (i) Subunit 1A. Land bounded by the following UTM NAD27 coordinates 
(E,N): 475760, 3666013; 475747, 3665994; 475724, 3665985; 475692, 
3665974; 475699, 3665944; 475697, 3665944; 475678, 3665937; 475677, 
3665937; 475667, 3665934; 475657, 3665931; 475655, 3665931; 475629, 
3665949; 475547, 3665912; 475552, 3665862; 475586, 3665824; 475639, 
3665823; 475697, 3665853; 475706, 3665850; 475706, 3665850; 475707, 
3665847; 475709, 3665845; 475710, 3665842; 475711, 3665840; 475713, 
3665837; 475714, 3665834; 475715, 3665832; 475716, 3665829; 475717, 
3665826; 475718, 3665823; 475719, 3665821; 475720, 3665818; 475721, 
3665815; 475721, 3665812; 475722, 3665809; 475723, 3665807; 475723, 
3665804; 475724, 3665801; 475724, 3665798; 475725, 3665795; 475725, 
3665792; 475726, 3665789; 475726, 3665787; 475726, 3665784; 475726, 
3665781; 475726, 3665778; 475726, 3665775; 475726, 3665772; 475726, 
3665769; 475726, 3665766; 475726, 3665763; 475726, 3665760; 475726, 
3665758; 475725, 3665755; 475725, 3665752; 475725, 3665751; 475690, 
3665758; 475660, 3665748; 475563, 3665702; 475501, 3665704; 475399, 
3665720; 475354, 3665731; 475352, 3665670; 475356, 3665635; 475364, 
3665617; 475351, 3665612; 475329, 3665607; 475298, 3665608; 475276, 
3665597; 475267, 3665596; 475257, 3665597; 475244, 3665599; 475234, 
3665595; 475221, 3665587; 475164, 3665590; 475133, 3665640; 475096, 
3665684; 475097, 3665687; 475098, 3665697; 475100, 3665707; 475103, 
3665716; 475107, 3665725; 475111, 3665735; 475114, 3665741; 475123, 
3665756; 475124, 3665759; 475129, 3665767; 475135, 3665775; 475142, 
3665783; 475148, 3665790; 475156, 3665797; 475161, 3665801; 475175, 
3665813; 475178, 3665815; 475186, 3665821; 475195, 3665826; 475203, 
3665831; 475212, 3665835; 475215, 3665836; 475216, 3665844; 475216, 
3665854; 475218, 3665864; 475220, 3665873; 475223, 3665883; 475227, 
3665892; 475231, 3665901; 475236, 3665910; 475241, 3665919; 475247, 
3665927; 475253, 3665934; 475260, 3665942; 475267, 3665948; 475286, 
3665965; 475286, 3665965; 475294, 3665972; 475302, 3665977; 475310, 
3665983; 475319, 3665987; 475328, 3665991; 475337, 3665995; 475338, 
3665995; 475372, 3666006; 475381, 3666009; 475390, 3666011; 475400, 
3666013; 475410, 3666014; 475420, 3666014; 475430, 3666014; 475440, 
3666013; 475450, 3666011; 475452, 3666011; 475478, 3666005; 475474, 
3666011; 475472, 3666014; 475466, 3666022; 475461, 3666030; 475456, 
3666039; 475452, 3666048; 475448, 3666057; 475445, 3666067; 475443, 
3666077; 475441, 3666087; 475440, 3666096; 475440, 3666106; 475440, 
3666116; 475441, 3666126; 475443, 3666134; 475446, 3666150; 475446, 
3666152; 475448, 3666162; 475451, 3666171; 475455, 3666181; 475459, 
3666190; 475464, 3666199; 475468, 3666205; 475479, 3666223; 475480, 
3666225; 475486, 3666233; 475492, 3666241; 475496, 3666245; 475511, 
3666260; 475514, 3666263; 475518, 3666267; 475517, 3666269; 475517, 
3666272; 475517, 3666275; 475516, 3666278; 475516, 3666281; 475516, 
3666284; 475516, 3666287; 475516, 3666289; 475516, 3666292; 475516, 
3666295; 475516, 3666298; 475517, 3666301; 475517, 3666304; 475517, 
3666307; 475518, 3666310; 475518, 3666313; 475519, 3666315; 475519, 
3666318; 475520, 3666321; 475520, 3666324; 475521, 3666327; 475522, 
3666330; 475523, 3666332; 475524, 3666335; 475524, 3666338; 475525, 
3666341; 475526, 3666343; 475528, 3666346; 475529, 3666349; 475530, 
3666351; 475531, 3666354; 475532, 3666357; 475534, 3666359; 475535, 
3666362; 475536, 3666364; 475538, 3666367; 475539, 3666369; 475541, 
3666372; 475543, 3666374; 475544, 3666376; 475546, 3666379; 475548, 
3666381; 475550, 3666383; 475551, 3666386; 475553, 3666388; 475555, 
3666390; 475557, 3666392; 475559, 3666394; 475561, 3666396; 475563, 
3666398; 475565, 3666400; 475568, 3666402; 475570, 3666404; 475572, 
3666406; 475574, 3666408; 475577, 3666410; 475579, 3666411; 475581, 
3666413; 475584, 3666415; 475586, 3666416; 475589, 3666418; 475591, 
3666419; 475594, 3666421; 475596, 3666422; 475599, 3666424; 475601, 
3666425; 475604, 3666426; 475607, 3666427; 475609, 3666428; 475612, 
3666430; 475615, 3666431; 475617, 3666432; 475620, 3666433; 475623, 
3666433; 475626, 3666434; 475628, 3666435; 475631, 3666436; 475634, 
3666437; 475637, 3666437; 475640, 3666438; 475643, 3666438; 475645, 
3666439; 475648, 3666439; 475651, 3666439; 475654, 3666440; 475657, 
3666440; 475660, 3666440; 475663, 3666440; 475666, 3666440; 475669, 
3666440; 475671, 3666440; 475674, 3666440; 475677, 3666440; 475680, 
3666440; 475683, 3666440; 475686, 3666439; 475689, 3666439; 475692, 
3666439; 475695, 3666438; 475697, 3666438; 475700, 3666437; 475703, 
3666437; 475706, 3666436; 475709, 3666435; 475712, 3666434; 475714, 
3666433; 475717, 3666433; 475717, 3666433; 475720, 3666432; 475723, 
3666431; 475725, 3666430; 475728, 3666428; 475731, 3666427; 475733, 
3666426; 475736, 3666425; 475738, 3666424; 475741, 3666422; 475744, 
3666421; 475746, 3666419; 475749, 3666418; 475751, 3666416; 475753, 
3666415; 475756, 3666413; 475758, 3666411; 475761, 3666410; 475763, 
3666408; 475765, 3666406; 475767, 3666404; 475770, 3666402; 475772, 
3666400; 475774, 3666398; 475776, 3666396; 475778, 3666394; 475780, 
3666392; 475782, 3666390; 475784, 3666388; 475786, 3666386; 475788, 
3666383; 475789, 3666381; 475791, 3666379; 475793, 3666376; 475794, 
3666374; 475796, 3666372; 475798, 3666369; 475799, 3666367; 475801, 
3666364; 475802, 3666362; 475803, 3666359; 475805, 3666357; 475806, 
3666354; 475807, 3666351; 475808, 3666349; 475810, 3666346; 475811, 
3666343; 475812, 3666341; 475813, 3666338; 475814, 3666335; 475814, 
3666332; 475815, 3666330; 475816, 3666327; 475817, 3666324; 475817, 
3666321; 475818, 3666318; 475819, 3666315; 475819, 3666313; 475820, 
3666310; 475820, 3666307; 475820, 3666304; 475820, 3666301; 475821, 
3666298; 475821, 3666295; 475821, 3666292; 475821, 3666289; 475821, 
3666287; 475821, 3666284; 475821, 3666281; 475821, 3666278; 475820, 
3666275; 475820, 3666272; 475820, 3666269; 475820, 3666266; 475819, 
3666263; 475819, 3666261; 475818, 3666258; 475817, 3666255; 475817, 
3666252; 475816, 3666249; 475815, 3666246; 475814, 3666244; 475814, 
3666241; 475813, 3666238; 475812, 3666235; 475811, 3666233; 475810, 
3666230; 475808, 3666227; 475807, 3666225; 475806, 3666222; 475806, 
3666222; 475810, 3666213; 475814, 3666204; 475818, 3666195; 475821, 
3666185; 475823, 3666176; 475825, 3666166; 475825, 3666166; 475828, 
3666141; 475829, 3666132; 475829, 3666122; 475829, 3666118; 475791, 
3666114; 475770, 3666086; 475762, 3666044.
* * * * *
    (iv) Note: Map of Unit 1, subunits 1A, 1B, and 1C (Map 2), follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 27489]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13MY08.000

* * * * *

    Dated: May 1, 2008.
Lyle Laverty,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
 [FR Doc. E8-10499 Filed 5-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C