# Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designations of Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Lanai, HI

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A02-29047

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Proposed Rule
- **Published:** November 15, 2002
- **Citation:** 67 FR 69176

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018—AH10
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designations of Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Lanai, HI

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the reopening of the public comment period for the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for 32 plants from the island of Lanai, Hawaii. We have received new information since the close of the comment period and the comment period is reopened to allow additional time for all interested parties to consider the information and submit written comments on the proposal. Comments already submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted as they already have been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final determination.

DATES:

The comment period for this proposal now closes on November 25, 2002. Any comments received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and information should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Henson, at the above address (telephone 808/541-3441; facsimile 808/541-3470).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 4, 2002, we published a revised proposed critical habitat rule for 32 of the 37 plant species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.
), known historically from the island of Lanai (67 FR 9806). The original comment period closed on May 3, 2002. The comment period was reopened on July 15, 2002 and closed on August 30, 2002. The current comment period closes on November 25, 2002.

A total of 37 species historically found on Lanai were listed as

endangered or threatened species under the Act between 1991 and 1999. Some of these species may also occur on other Hawaiian islands. Previously, we proposed that designation of critical habitat was prudent for 32 (
Abutilon eremitopetalum, Adenophorus periens, Bidens micrantha
ssp.
kalealaha, Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, Cenchrus agrimonioides, Centaurium sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia
ssp.
mauiensis, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana
ssp.
grimesiana, Cyanea lobata, Cyanea macrostegia
ssp.
gibsonii, Cyperus trachysanthos, Cyrtandra munroi, Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Gahnia lanaiensis, Hedyotis mannii, Hesperomannia arborescens, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Isodendrion pyrifolium, Mariscus fauriei, Neraudia sericea, Portulaca sclerocarpa, Sesbania tomentosa, Silene lanceolata, Solanum incompletum, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium remyi, Vigna o-wahuensis, Viola lanaiensis,
and
Zanthoxylum hawaiiense
) of the 37 species reported from the island of Lanai. No change is made to the 32 proposed prudency determinations in the March 4, 2002, revised proposed critical habitat rule for plants from Lanai. We previously proposed that designation of critical habitat was not prudent for
Phyllostegia glabra
var.
lanaiensis
because it had not been seen recently in the wild, and no viable genetic material of this species is known to exist (65 FR 82086). No change is made to this proposed prudency determination in the March 4, 2002, revised proposed critical habitat rule (67 FR 9806). In the March 4, 2002, revised proposed critical habitat rule, we proposed that designation of critical habitat is prudent for
Tetramolopium lepidotum
ssp.
lepidotum
, a species for which a prudency determination has not been made previously. We determined that designation of critical habitat was prudent for
Hedyotis schlechtendahliana
var.
remyi, Labordia tinifolia
var.
lanaiensis
, and
Melicope munroi
at the time of their listing in 1999.

We also proposed designation of critical habitat for 32 (
Abutilon eremitopetalum, Adenophorus periens, Bidens micrantha
ssp.
kalealaha, Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, Cenchrus agrimonioides, Centaurium sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia
ssp.
mauiensis, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana
ssp.
grimesiana, Cyanea lobata, Cyanea macrostegia
ssp.
gibsonii, Cyperus trachysanthos, Cyrtandra munroi, Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Gahnia lanaiensis, Hedyotis mannii, Hedyotis schlechtendahliana
var.
remyi, Hesperomannia arborescens, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Isodendrion pyrifolium, Labordia tinifolia
var.
lanaiensis, Melicope munroi, Neraudia sericea, Portulaca sclerocarpa, Sesbania tomentosa, Solanum incompletum, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium remyi, Vigna o-wahuensis,
and
Viola lanaiensis
) plant species. Critical habitat is not proposed for four (
Mariscus fauriei, Silene lanceolata, Tetramolopium lepidotum
ssp.
lepidotum,
and
Zanthoxylum hawaiiense
) of the 37 species which no longer occur on the island of Lanai, and for which we are unable to identify any habitat that is essential to their conservation on the island of Lanai. Critical habitat is not proposed for
Phyllostegia glabra
var.
lanaiensis
for the reasons given above. Eight critical habitat units, totaling approximately 7,853 hectares (19,405 acres), are proposed for designation on the island of Lanai. For locations of these proposed units, please consult the proposed rule (67 FR 9806).

Public Comments Solicited

Since the close of the comment period, we have received new information in the form of a draft conservation agreement (copy available upon request) from the owner of Unit D. The comment period is reopened to allow additional time for all interested parties to consider the information and submit written comments on the proposal. One possible outcome may be a decision to exclude this area from the final designation pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act.

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 the following methods:

(1) You may submit written comments and information to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001.

(2) You may hand-deliver comments to our Honolulu Fish and Wildlife Office at the address given above.

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 the address under (1) above. Copies of the draft document are available on the Internet at
http://pacificislands.fws.gov
or by request from the Field Supervisor at the address and phone number under (1 and 2) above.

Information regarding this proposal is available in alternative formats upon request.

Author

The primary author of this notice is Gina Shultz (see
ADDRESSES
section).

Authority:

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

Dated: November 5, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

[FR Doc. 02-29047 Filed 11-12-02; 3:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A02-29047. Public record. Not legal advice.
