[Federal Register: January 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 8)] [Notices] [Page 1976] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13ja98-62] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice To Extend the Public Comment Period for the Draft Recovery Plan for the Vernal Pools of Southern California AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the comment period announced in the September 26, 1997 notice of availability the Draft Recovery Plan for Vernal Pools of Southern California will be extended an additional 30 days. The Service experienced difficulty in distributing copies of the draft plan. This plan addresses the endangered Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii (San Diego button celery), Orcuttia californica (California Orcutt grass), Pogogyne abramsii (San Diego mesa mint), Pogogyne nudiuscula (Otay mesa mint), San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis) and Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus wootonii), and the proposed threatened Navarretia fossalis (spreading navarretia). These five plant species and two shrimp species collectively occur on scattered and limited habitat on Federal and private lands remaining on the coastal terraces of Goleta and Isla Vista in Santa Barbara County, California to the Simi Hills of eastern Ventura County and the Santa Clarita region of Los Angeles County, east through Orange and western Riverside Counties, and the more extensive vernal pool complexes of San Diego County. The Service extends the current 90-day comment period and solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan. DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by February 12, 1998 will be considered by the Service. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Telephone requests may be made by calling 760/431-9440. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Kreager 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels necessary to reclassify them from endangered to threatened or remove them from the list, and estimate the time and cost for implementing the needed recovery measures. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 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 a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other Federal agencies will take these comments into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. Southern California vernal pools are habitat to at least 12 endemic plants and three endemic fairy shrimp species. Six of the endemic species are federally endangered: Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii (San Diego button celery), Orcuttia californica (California Orcutt grass), Pogogyne abramsii (San Diego mesa mint), Pogogyne nudiuscula (Otay mesa mint), San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis) and the Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus wootonii); and one is proposed for threatened status: Navarretia fossalis (spreading navarretia). Vernal pool habitat in southern California has suffered extensive loss and degradation. The objective of this plan is to stabilize and protect existing populations of Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii, Pogogyne abramsii, Pogogyne nudiuscula, Orcuttia californica, Navarretia fossalis, and San Diego and Riverside fairy shrimps. It is also the intent of this plan to establish new protected populations within their historic ranges, so that the listed species may be considered for reclassification to threatened status and the proposed rule for Navarretia fossalis may be withdrawn. Public Comments Solicited The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan described herein. All comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior to approval of the plan. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: December 30, 1997. David L. McMullen, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland Oregon. [FR Doc. 98-749 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P