[Federal Register: February 2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 21)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5066-5067]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02fe99-78]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the San Benito Evening-
Primrose for Review and Comment

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 the San Benito evening-
primrose (Camissonia benitensis). This California plant occurs mostly 
on stream terraces whose soils are derived from serpentine rock near 
San Benito Mountain in southern San Benito County and western Fresno 
County.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by April 5, 1999 
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 location: Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 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 
K. 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.
    This annual herb is listed as endangered. It occurs largely on 
lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, where it is 
threatened by off-highway vehicle recreation and the resultant 
accelerated erosion in its habitat. Its habitat consists of mostly 
alluvial terraces in areas of serpentine rock. This rock type is rather 
toxic to most plants because it provides an unusual balance of plant 
nutrients. Serpentine areas generally have sparse vegetation. 
Serpentine dust is toxic to people because it contains asbestos.
    The objective of this plan is to conserve the plant so that 
protection by the Act is no longer necessary. Actions necessary to 
accomplish this objective include prevention of additional degradation 
and loss of the plant's habitat, partly by developing and

[[Page 5067]]

implementing an off-highway vehicle management plan. The plan also 
seeks to protect populations of the plant on private lands, protect 
populations from activities other than off-highway vehicular 
recreation, and to develop a public awareness program.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on this draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered 
prior to final 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: January 25, 1999.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office.
[FR Doc. 99-2375 Filed 2-1-99; 8:45 am]
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