[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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