Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Stephens' Kangaroo Rat for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Stephens'

Kangaroo Rat for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability for

public review of a draft recovery plan for the Stephens' kangaroo rat

(Dipodomys stephensi). The Stephens' kangaroo rat occurs on Federal,

State, local, and private lands in western Riverside County,

northwestern San Diego County, and possibly, southwestern San

Bernardino County, California. The Service solicits review and comment

from the public on this plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or

before August 22, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain

a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor at the following address:

Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730

Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Telephone requests may

be made by calling 619/431-9440. Comments and material received are

available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business

hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur Davenport 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 Fish and Wildlife 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

conservation of the species. Plans also establish criteria for the

recovery levels necessary for downlisting or delisting the species.

They also provide an estimation of time and cost of implementing the

recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Amended (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, to provide an opportunity for public

review and comment, be given during plan development. The Service will

consider all significant information presented during a public comment

period prior to the approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. The

Service and other Federal agencies also will take these comments into

account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.

The Stephens' kangaroo rat is associated with habitats that have

low to nonexistent perennial cover, forbs, and bare ground. This

species is known to currently occur in western Riverside County and

northwestern San Diego County. The species may also still occur in

southwestern San Bernardino County. The threats to the species include

habitat loss and degradation due to invasive exotic species. Protection

and management of its habitat are the primary goals of the recovery

effort.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan

described. All significant comments received by the date specified

above will be considered prior to the approval of the plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered

Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)).

Dated: April 23, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97-16325 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P