[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33082-33083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16240]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened and 
Endangered Status for Five Plants and a Lizard From Monterey County, 
California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed Rule; notice of public hearing and reopening of 
comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of a 
public hearing on the proposed endangered status for coastal dunes 
milkvetch (Astragalus tener var. titi), Yadon's piperia (Piperia 
yadonii), Hickman's potentilla (Potentilla hickmanii), Monterey clover 
(Trifolium trichocalyx) and the black legless lizard (Anniella pulchra 
nigra); and threatened status for Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana 
ssp. goveniana). In addition, the Service has reopened the comment 
period. All parties are invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: The public hearing will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on 
Wednesday, July 17, 1996, in Monterey, California. The public comment 
period now closes August 30, 1996. Any comments received by the closing 
date will be considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 
One Golf Course Road, Monterey, California. Written comments and 
materials concerning this proposal may be submitted at the hearing or 
sent directly to the Field Supervisor, Ventura Field Office, 2493 
Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. Comments and 
materials will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Connie Rutherford (see ADDRESSES section) or at 805/644-1766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Most of the habitat for the plants and lizard is found in coastal 
habitats in northern Monterey County. Coastal dunes milk-vetch and 
Monterey clover are restricted to private lands on the Monterey 
Peninsula. Hickman's potentilla is restricted to two populations: one 
on the Monterey

[[Page 33083]]

Peninsula, and one recently discovered near Devil's Slide in San Mateo 
County. Gowen cypress stands occur on the Monterey Peninsula, and at 
Point Lobos State Reserve five miles to the south. Yadon's piperia 
occurs primarily on private lands on the Monterey Peninsula, with other 
populations extending as far south as Palo Colorado Canyon, and as far 
north as Blohm Ranch north of Prunedale. The black legless lizard 
occurs on private and State Park lands between the Salinas and Carmel 
Rivers, on the Monterey Peninsula, and along Monterey Bay. A few 
populations of Yadon's piperia and the black legless lizard occur on 
Federal lands at Fort Ord.
    The five plant taxa and the lizard are threatened by one or more of 
the following: alteration, destruction, and fragmentation of habitat 
resulting from urban and golf course development; recreational 
activities; highway widening; military activities; competition with 
non-native species; and alteration of natural fire cycles. All taxa are 
also threatened with stochastic extinction due to the small numbers of 
populations or individuals.
    On August 2, 1995, the Service published a proposed rule on 
proposed endangered status for Astragalus tener var. titi, Piperia 
yadonii, Potentilla hickmanii, Trifolium trichocalyx, and the black 
legless lizard (Anniella pulchra nigra); and threatened status for 
Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana (60 FR 39326). 
Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that a public hearing be held if 
one is requested within 45 days of the publication of the proposed rule 
in the Federal Register. Public hearing requests were received within 
the allotted time period from Robert D. Thornton of Nossaman, Guthner, 
Knox, and Elliot in Irvine, California. Because a Congressional 
moratorium on the Service's activities associated with final listing 
actions was in effect from April 1995 to April 1996, scheduling of the 
hearing had been delayed. The Service has scheduled a public hearing on 
July 17, 1996, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, One Golf Course Road, 
Monterey, California.
    Anyone wishing to make statements for the record should bring a 
written copy of their statements to the hearing. Oral statements may be 
limited in length if the number of parties present at the hearing 
necessitates such a limitation. Oral and written comments receive equal 
consideration. The Service places no limits to the length of written 
comments or materials presented at the hearing or mailed to the 
Service. Legal notices announcing the date, time, and location of the 
hearing are being published in newspapers concurrently with this 
Federal Register notice.
    The comment period on the proposal was initially closed on October 
17, 1995. To accommodate the hearing, the public comment period is 
reopened upon publication of this notice. Written comments may now be 
submitted until August 30, 1996, to the Service office in the ADDRESSES 
section.

Authority

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

    Dated: June 19, 1996.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 96-16240 Filed 6-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M