[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11816-11817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04586]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2014-N009; FXES1113080000-145-FF08E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for Arctostaphylos Pallida (Pallid Manzanita)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Arctostaphylos pallida 
(pallid manzanita) for public review and comment. The recovery plan 
includes recovery objectives and criteria, and specific actions 
necessary to achieve removal of the species from the Federal Lists of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

DATES: We must receive any comments on the draft recovery plan on or 
before June 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan from our Web site 
at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. 
Alternatively, you may contact the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, 
Sacramento, CA 95825 (telephone 916-414-6700).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Norris, Field Supervisor, at 
the above street address or telephone number (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 11817]]

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the 
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status of listed species to 
the point at which listing is no longer appropriate under the criteria 
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species.
    We listed Arctostaphylos pallida throughout its entire range on 
April 22, 1998 (63 FR 19842). The species is endemic to the San 
Francisco East Bay, and currently consists of two naturally occurring 
populations and an out-planted population, totaling 1,353 mature 
plants. Arctostaphylos pallida requires frequent summertime fog, and, 
as a component of the maritime chaparral vegetation type, it occurs on 
relatively cool, moist, and stable sites in close proximity to the San 
Francisco Bay. It is highly shade intolerant and adapted to a 
particular fire regime. The species requires fire for natural seed 
germination; however, too frequent a fire regime, one that depletes the 
soil seed bank before enough seeds have become deeply buried enough in 
the soil to withstand fire, represents a significant threat to the 
species. Approximately one-third of all plants occur within the 
backyards of homeowners, and almost all individuals occur in close 
proximity to human-built structures. These plants represent an extreme 
wildfire hazard to human-built structures, and have been targeted for 
removal to reduce the threat of wildfire. Finally, an incurable and 
virulent nonnative pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi, has been 
identified as killing A. pallida plants at two locations.

Recovery Plan Goals

    The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of species so that protection under the Act is no longer 
necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the 
species and provides criteria that enable us to gauge whether 
downlisting or delisting the species is warranted. Furthermore, 
recovery plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we 
consider necessary for each species' conservation and by estimating 
time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures.
    The ultimate goal of this recovery plan is to recover 
Arctostaphylos pallida so that it can be delisted. To meet the recovery 
goal, the following objectives have been identified:
    1. Minimize the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi.
    2. Treat stands infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi.
    3. Manage native and nonnative vegetation that shades 
Arctostaphylos pallida.
    4. Expand existing stands.
    5. Establish additional stands.
    6. Ensure stands are protected from incompatible uses and 
incompatible wildfire fuels-reduction activities.
    As Arctostaphylos pallida meets reclassification and recovery 
criteria, we will review its status and consider it for removal from 
the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the draft revised recovery plan 
described in this notice. All comments received by the date specified 
above will be considered in development of a final recovery plan for 
Arctostaphylos pallida. You may submit written comments and information 
by mail or in person to the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at the 
above address (see ADDRESSES).

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    We developed our recovery plan under the authority of section 4(f) 
of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under section 
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

    Dated: February 25, 2014.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-04586 Filed 2-28-14; 8:45 am]
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