[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49497-49498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23510]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice to Reopen the Public Comment Period for the Draft Recovery
Plan for the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of reopening of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the
comment period announced in the July 2, 1999 (64 FR 36033), notice of
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake
(Thamnophis gigas) will be reopened for an additional 30 days.
Substantial public interest in the draft plan led the Service to
distribute additional copies and to provide additional opportunities
for the public to comment on the plan. This draft recovery plan
contains recovery criteria and actions for threatened giant garter
snake. Additional species of concern that will benefit from recovery
actions taken for the giant garter snake are also discussed in the
draft plan. The Service reopens the comment period and solicits review
and comment from the public on this draft plan.
DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by October 13, 1999
will be considered by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
following location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California
(telephone (916) 414-6600); and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Regional Office, Ecological Services, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, Eastside
Federal Complex,
[[Page 49498]]
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181 (telephone (503) 231-2071). Requests for
copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and materials
regarding this plan should be addressed to Wayne S. White, Field
Supervisor, Ecological Services, at the above Sacramento address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Elam, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above Sacramento address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring 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 the Service's endangered species
program. To help guide recovery efforts, the Service is working to
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing
the recovery measures needed. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act), requires the development of
recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote
the conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act as
amended in 1988 requires that public notice and an opportunity for
public review and comment be provided during recovery plan development.
The Service will consider all information presented during the public
comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan.
Substantive technical comments will result in changes to the plan.
Substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation may not
necessarily result in changes to the recovery plan, but will be
forwarded to appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can
take these comments into account during the course of implementing
recovery actions. Individualized responses to comments will not be
provided.
The giant garter snake is an endemic species of wetlands in the
Central Valley of California. Historically, giant garter snakes were
found in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys from the vicinity of
Butte County southward to Buena Vista Lake, near Bakersfield in Kern
County. Today, populations of the giant garter snake are found in the
Sacramento Valley and isolated portions of the San Joaquin Valley. They
historically inhabited natural wetlands and now occupy a variety of
agricultural, managed, and natural wetlands including their waterways
and adjacent uplands. This species is threatened by historic wetland
habitat loss and resulting habitat fragmentation, and by continuing
urban expansion. The objective of this draft recovery plan is to delist
the giant garter snake through implementation of a variety of recovery
measures including (1) habitat protection; (2) public participation,
outreach and education; (3) habitat management and restoration; (4)
surveying and monitoring; and (5) research.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the draft recovery plan
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered prior to approval of this plan.
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 3, 1999.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 99-23510 Filed 9-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
