[Federal Register: November 1, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 212)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66599-66600]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01no02-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AG96
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of
Critical Habitat for Delphinium bakeri and Delphinium luteum (Baker's
and Yellow Larkspur)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of availability of draft economic
analysis; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed
designation of critical habitat for Delphinium bakeri (Baker's
larkspur) and Delphinium luteum (yellow larkspur) located in Marin and
Sonoma counties, California. We are reopening the comment period for
the proposal to designate critical habitat for these species to allow
all interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule
and the associated draft economic analysis. Comments previously
submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the
public record as part of this extended comment period, and will be
fully considered in the final rule.
DATES: We will accept comments on both the draft economic analysis and
the proposed critical habitat designation until December 2, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be submitted to the
Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825.
For the electronic mail address, and further instructions on
commenting, refer to Public Comments Solicited section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glen Tarr, at the address above
(telephone 916/414-6600; facsimile 916/414-6710).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Delphinium bakeri and Delphinium luteum (Baker's and yellow
larkspur) are perennial herbs in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
endemic to (native and restricted to) Sonoma and Marin counties in
California. Delphinium bakeri produces dark blue or purplish flowers in
April and May, while D. luteum produces bright yellow flowers from
March to May.
We listed both plants as endangered species under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on
January 6, 2000 (65 FR 4156). On June 18, 2002, we proposed six
critical habitat units for the plants, totaling 1,786 hectares (ha)
(4,412 acres (ac)) (67 FR 41367). For Delphinium bakeri, we proposed
two units in Sonoma and Marin counties, California totaling 740 ha
(1,828 ac), while for D. luteum, we proposed four units in Sonoma and
Marin counties totaling 1,046 ha (2,584 ac). All of the area proposed
as critical habitat is in private ownership.
Critical habitat receives protection from destruction or adverse
modification through required consultation under section 7 of the Act
with regard to actions carried out, funded, or authorized by a Federal
agency. Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires that the Secretary of the
Interior shall designate or revise critical habitat based upon the best
scientific and commercial data available, after taking into
consideration the economic impact of specifying any particular area as
critical habitat.
The public comment period for the June 18, 2002, proposal
originally closed on August 19, 2002. We have prepared a draft economic
analysis on the effects of the proposed critical habitat designation,
and are now announcing its availability for review. The draft analysis
estimates the foreseeable economic impacts of the critical habitat
designation on government agencies and private businesses and
individuals. Reopening of the comment period will provide the public an
opportunity to evaluate and comment on both the proposed rule and the
draft economic analysis. Comments already submitted on the proposed
designation of critical habitat for Delphinium bakeri and D. luteum do
not need to be resubmitted as they will be fully considered in the
final determinations.
Public Comment Solicited
The final economic analysis concerning the designation of critical
habitat for Delphinium bakeri and D. luteum will consider information
and recommendations from all interested parties. We will accept written
comments and information during this reopened comment period. If you
wish to comment, you may submit your comments and materials concerning
this proposal by any of several methods:
You may mail or hand-deliver written comments and information to
the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, Sacramento, CA
95825. Hand deliveries must be made during normal business hours.
You may also send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to:
fw1bakers --yellow--larkspur@fws.gov.
Hand-delivered or mailed comments and information should be
submitted to the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, as found in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments and information submitted by e-mail should
be addressed to fw1bakers--yellow--larkspur@fws.gov. If you submit
comments by e-mail, please submit them as an ASCII file and avoid the
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also
include a return address in your e-mail message. If you do not receive
a confirmation from the system that we have received your e-mail
message, contact us directly by calling our Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office at telephone number 916/414-6600, during normal
business hours.
We solicit comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned
governmental agencies, tribes, the scientific community, industry, or
any other interested parties concerning the proposal or the draft
economic analysis. We particularly seek comments concerning:
[[Page 66600]]
(1) Plans or potential for development within the area proposed to
be designated, notwithstanding the comments of the county employee
contacted in preparing the economic analysis;
(2) Plans or potential for conversion of land within the area
proposed to be designated to other types of agricultural uses, such as
vineyards, which might require a permit under section 404 of the Clean
Water Act, or other types of Federal permits;
(3) The likelihood of ``stigma effects'' and costs associated with
the designation; and
(4) The likely effects and resulting costs arising from the
California Environmental Quality Act and other State laws as a result
of the designation.
Comments and materials received, as well as supporting
documentation used in preparation of the proposal to designate critical
habitat, will be available for inspection, by appointment, during
normal business hours at our office listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Copies of the draft economic analysis are available on the Internet at
www.r1.fws.gov or by writing or calling Glen Tarr or Susan Moore, at
the address or telephone number listed above.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Glen Tarr (see ADDRESSES
section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: October 23, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-27872 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P