[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51126-51127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25844]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Seven Coastal Plants
and the Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability
for public review of a draft Recovery Plan for Seven Coastal Plants and
the Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly. The seven plants and the butterfly
occur in coastal habitats from Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County.
[[Page 51127]]
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by December 29,
1997 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 locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3310 El Camino
Ave., Suite 130, Sacramento, California 95821-6340 (phone: 916/979-
2710); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B,
Ventura, California 93003. Requests for copies of the draft recovery
plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan should be
addressed to Diane Noda, Field Supervisor, at the above Ventura
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Thomas, Botanist, at the above
Ventura address (phone: 805/644-1766).
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 the recovery effort, 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 the recovery
levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost
for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act, 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 plans. Substantive comments
regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in
changes to the recovery plans, 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.
These species are listed as endangered except for the threatened
Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens. Chorizanthe howellii is known from 3
populations with 23,700 individuals; Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens
is known from 7 populations with 14 million individuals; Chorizanthe
valida, one population with 30,000 individuals; Erysimum menziesii
(three subspecies), 16 populations with 33,300 individuals; Gilia
tenuiflora ssp. arenaria, 15 populations with 110,400 individuals;
Layia carnosa, 19 populations with 300,000 individuals; Lupinus
tidestromii, 7 populations with 433 individuals; and the Myrtle's
Silverspot butterfly, 3 populations with 10,000 individuals. The plants
are restricted to the foredunes and dune scrub vegetation and adjacent
sandy habitats occupied by coastal scrub or coastal prairie of northern
and central coastal California. The butterfly occurs in the coastal
grasslands and scrub, with the larval host plant (a violet) in the
immediate vicinity of Point Reyes, Marin County. All of these species
are threatened by competition from non-native plants, loss of habitat
from commercial and residential development, and habitat disturbance
from recreation and grazing.
The objective of this plan is to conserve the seven plants and the
butterfly so that protection by the Act is no longer necessary. The
plant species will be recovered by restoring and protecting dune
habitats on which they depend. Assuring long-term protection of public
and privately-owned habitat is essential. Habitat conservation
planning, as provided for listed animals by the Endangered Species Act
will be helpful. Once land is protected, the primary means to
accomplish recovery is by controlling non-native invasive plant
species. Long-term commitment of resources by public agencies to
maintain weed control and other management measures will be essential.
Artificial creation of new populations is recommended only as a last
resort.
The recovery strategy for the Myrtle's silverspot butterfly is to
protect, manage and secure the three known population sites. Monitoring
will be required for at least 10 consecutive years to determine if
butterfly populations (numbers) are relatively stable and the sites
adequately protected, so the Myrtle's silverspot may be considered for
de-listing. Some new populations may be established in areas from which
the species has been extirpated, if suitable sites are found.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the 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 24, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-25844 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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