Notice to Extend the Public Comment Period for the Draft Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice to Extend the Public Comment Period for the Draft Recovery

Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the

comment period announced in the September 30, 1997, notice of

availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San

Joaquin Valley, California, will be extended an additional 60 days

until March 29, 1998. The Service experienced difficulty in

distributing copies of the draft plan. This recovery plan includes 34

species, of which 11 species are federally listed as endangered or

threatened. The draft plan includes recovery criteria and measures for

the plants--California jewelflower (Caulanthus californicus), palmate-

bracted bird's-beak (Cordylanthus palmatus), Kern mallow (Eremalche

kernensis), Hoover's woolly-star (Eriastrum hooveri), San Joaquin

woolly-threads (Lembertia congdonii), Bakersfield cactus (Opuntia

basilaris var. treleasei); and the animals--giant kangaroo rat

(Dipodomys ingens), Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis),

Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), blunt-nosed

leopard lizard (Gambelia sila), and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes

macrotis mutica). Long-term conservation of three candidate species,

the Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus), the riparian brush

rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius), and riparian woodrat (Neotoma

fuscipes riparia); and an additional 20 species of plants and animals

of concern to the Service are addressed in the draft recovery plan. The

Service extends the current 120-day comment period and solicits review

and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by March 29, 1998

will be considered by the Service.

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

a copy by contacting the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento,

California 95821-6340. Telephone requests may be made by calling 916/

979-2725.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Miller 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

needed recovery measures.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.) requires development of recovery plans for listed species

unless such a plan would not promote 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.

The 34 species of plants and animals covered in the draft recovery

plan are restricted primarily to the San Joaquin Valley of California.

The majority of the species occur in arid grasslands and scrublands of

the San Joaquin Valley and adjacent foothills and valleys. The riparian

woodrat and riparian brush rabbit inhabit forested river corridors of

the eastern San Joaquin Valley. Conversion of habitat to agricultural,

industrial, and urban uses has eliminated the listed candidate, and

species of concern from the majority of their historic ranges. The

remaining natural communities are highly fragmented, and many are

marginal habitats in which these species may not persist during

catastrophic events, such as fire or drought.

The objectives of this recovery plan are two-fold: (1) To delist

the plants--California jewelflower, palmate-bracted bird's-beak, Kern

mallow, Hoover's woolly-star, San Joaquin woolly-threads, Bakersfield

cactus; and the animals--giant kangaroo rat, Fresno kangaroo rat,

Tipton kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and San Joaquin kit

fox by protecting, enhancing, restoring, and appropriately managing

their habitat; and (2) to ensure the long-term conservation of the

three candidates and additional 20 species of concern by protecting,

enhancing, restoring, and appropriately managing their habitat.

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: January 26, 1998.

David L. McMullen,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 98-2678 Filed 2-3-98; 8:45 am]

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