[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51128-51129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25846]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Upland 
Species of the San Joaquin Valley, CA, for Review and Comment

AGENCY: U.S. 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 the Draft Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the 
San Joaquin Valley, California. This recovery plan includes 34 species, 
of which 11 species are federally listed as endangered or threatened. 
The draft plan includes recovery criteria and measures for the plants--
California jewelflower (Caulanthus californicus), palmate-bracted 
bird's-beak (Cordylanthus palmatus), Kern mallow (Eremalche kernensis), 
Hoover's woolly-star (Eriastrum hooveri), San Joaquin woolly-threads 
(Lembertia congdonii), Bakersfield cactus (Opuntia basilaris var. 
treleasei); and the animals--giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens), 
Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis), Tipton kangaroo rat 
(Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), blunt-nosed leopard lizard 
(Gambelia sila), and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica). 
Long-term conservation of three candidate species, the Buena Vista Lake 
shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus), the riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus 
bachmani riparius), and riparian woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes riparia); 
and an additional 20 species of plants and animals of concern to the 
Service are addressed in the draft recovery plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by January 28, 1998 
will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
copies by contacting: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish 
and Wildlife Office, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, 
California (telephone 916-979-2725).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Miller, 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 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 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. Appropriate Federal or 
other entities will take these comments into account during the course 
of implementing recovery actions. Individualized responses to comments 
will not be provided.
    The 34 species of plants and animals covered in the draft recovery 
plan are restricted primarily to the San Joaquin Valley of California. 
The majority of the species occur in arid grasslands and scrublands of 
the San Joaquin Valley and adjacent foothills and valleys. The riparian 
woodrat and riparian brush rabbit inhabit forested river corridors of 
the eastern San Joaquin Valley. Conversion of habitat to agricultural, 
industrial, and urban uses has eliminated the listed, candidate, and 
species of concern from the majority of their historic ranges. The 
remaining natural communities are highly fragmented, and many are 
marginal habitats in which these species may not persist during 
catastrophic events, such as fire or drought.
    The objectives of this recovery plan are two-fold: (1) to delist 
the plants--California jewelflower, palmate-bracted bird's-beak, Kern 
mallow, Hoover's woolly-star, San Joaquin woolly-threads, Bakersfield 
cactus; and the animals--giant kangaroo rat, Fresno kangaroo rat, 
Tipton kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and San Joaquin kit 
fox by protecting, enhancing, restoring, and

[[Page 51129]]

appropriately managing their habitat; and (2) to ensure the long-term 
conservation of the three candidates and additional 20 species of 
concern by protecting, enhancing, restoring, and appropriately managing 
their habitat.

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. 97-25846 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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