[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51125-51126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25842]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Carbonate Endemic 
Plants for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability for 
public review of a draft recovery plan for five plant species endemic 
to carbonate substrates in montane southern California. Four of the 
plants, Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum (Cushenbury buckwheat), 
Astragalus albens (Cushenbury milk-vetch), Lesquerella kingii ssp. 
bernardina (San Bernardino Mountains bladderpod), and Oxytheca parishii 
var. goodmaniana (Cushenbury oxytheca), is endangered, and a fifth 
species, Erigeron parishii (Parish's daisy) is threatened. The five 
species were listed on August 24, 1994 (59 Federal Register 48652). The 
Service solicits review and comment from the public on this plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by December 29, 
1997 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor at the following address: 
Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker 
Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Telephone requests may be made 
by calling 619/431-9440. Comments and material received are available 
for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours at 
the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie Nelson or Jon Avery at the 
above address and telephone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Fish and Wildlife 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 
conservation of the species. Plans also establish criteria for the 
recovery levels necessary for downlisting or delisting the species. 
They also provide an estimation of time and cost of implementing the 
recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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.
    All five of the plant species addressed in the draft recovery plan 
are endemic to carbonate substrates of the San Bernardino Mountains, 
San Bernardino County, California. Erigeron parishii is also found in 
the Little San Bernardino Mountains, also in San Bernardino County. The 
five species occur on federal, state, and private lands. The plants are 
perennials except Oxytheca parishii var. goodmaniana, which is an 
annual. The five species occur in the understory of several plant 
communities, including Jeffrey pine-western juniper woodland, pinyon-
juniper woodland, pinyon woodland, and blackbush scrub. The primary 
threat to the five species is limestone mining. Protection and 
management of the species' habitat are the primary goals of the 
recovery effort.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All significant comments received by the date specified 
above will be considered prior to the approval of the plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)).


[[Page 51126]]


    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-25842 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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