[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2679]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC99


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 30-Day 
Extension and Reopening of Public Comment Period on the Proposed Rule 
To List 10 Plants From the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as 
Threatened or Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension and reopening of comment period on proposed 
rule.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of 
reopening of the comment period on the proposed endangered status for 
Brodiaea pallida (Chinese Camp brodiaea), Calyptridium puchellum 
(Mariposa pussypaws), Lupinus citrinus var. deflexus (Mariposa lupine) 
and Mimulus shevockii (Kelso Creek monkeyflower) and proposed 
threatened status for Allium tuolumnense (Rawhide Hill onion), 
Carpenteria californica (carpenteria), Clarkia springvillensis 
(Springville clarkia), Fritillaria striata (striped adobe lily), 
Navarretia setiloba (Piute Mountains navarretia), and Verbena 
californica (California vervain). The comment period is reopened to 
acquire new and updated information from interested parties on these 10 
plants.

DATES: The public comment period closes March 6, 1997. Any comments 
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision 
on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal 
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Field Office, 3310 
El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, California 95821-6340. 
Comments and materials received will be available for inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Fuller of the Sacramento Field 
Office (see ADDRESSES section) at (916) 979-2120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 4, 1994, the Service published a rule proposing 
endangered status for Brodiaea pallida, Calyptridium puchellum, Lupinus 
citrinus var. deflexus and Mimulus shevockii and proposed threatened 
status for Allium tuolumnense, Carpenteria californica, Clarkia 
springvillensis, Fritillaria striata, Navarretia setiloba, and Verbena 
californica. The original comment period closed on December 5, 1994. On 
December 29, 1994, the comment period was reopened and extended until 
February 13, 1995 (59 FR 67268) to accommodate the public hearing that 
was requested. Due to requests for additional time, the comment period 
was extended until June 4, 1995 (60 FR 8342).
    These 10 plants and their habitats are known from annual 
grasslands, chaparral, Joshua tree, pinyon-juniper, blue oak, and 
digger pine woodland communities in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada 
Mountains in central California. These plants are threatened by one or 
more of the following: agricultural land conversion, urbanization, 
logging, highway construction and road maintenance activities, 
inappropriate grazing, off-highway vehicle use, mining, insect 
predation, inadequate regulatory mechanisms, stochastic extinction from 
random natural events, and incompatible fire management activities.
    The Service was unable to make a final listing determination on 
these species because a moratorium on listing actions (Public Law 104-
6), which took effect on April 10, 1995, stipulated that no funds could 
be used to make final listing determinations or critical habitat 
determinations. With the lifting, on April 26, 1996, of the moratorium 
on final listing actions and the restoration of significant funding for 
listing through passage of the omnibus budget reconciliation law on, 
the Service is proceeding with a final determination for these species. 
Due to the length of time that has elapsed since the close of the last 
comment period, the comment period is being reopened. Changes in 
procedural and biological circumstances, and the need to consider the 
best scientific information available in this rulemaking process 
necessitate this action. The Service believes that updated threat 
information may be available that may significantly affect final 
listing determinations. For these reasons, the Service seeks 
information made available in the last 2 years concerning:
    (1) Biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any threats 
(or lack thereof) to any of these 10 species, but particularly for 
Calyptridium puchellum, Fritillaria striata, Lupinus citinus var. 
deflexus, and Navarretia setiloba;
    (2) Additional information on the size, number or distribution of 
populations; and
    (3) Specific information concerning the known or potential effects 
of fire suppression and general fire management practices on 
Carpenteria californica.
    Written comments may be submitted through March 6, 1997 to the 
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Ken Fuller (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 28, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-2679 Filed 2-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P