Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the Riparian Brush Rabbit and Riparian Woodrat

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE40

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of

Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the

Riparian Brush Rabbit and Riparian Woodrat

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule, notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of

the reopening of the comment period for the proposed endangered status

for the riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius) and the

riparian woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes). The comment period has been

reopened to acquire additional information on the biology,

distribution, and status of the riparian brush rabbit and riparian

woodrat in the northern San Joaquin Valley, California.

DATES: Comments received by May 28, 1998, will be considered by the

Service.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, materials and data, and available reports

and articles concerning this proposal should be sent directly to the

Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and

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

California 95821. Comments and materials received will be available for

public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Windham, at the address listed

above (telephone 916/979-2725, facsimile 916/979-2723.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The riparian brush rabbit and the riparian woodrat are both

distinct subspecies that inhabit riparian communities along the lower

portions of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Rivers in the northern San

Joaquin Valley, California. Only a single remaining population of each

subspecies has been confirmed, at Caswell Memorial State Park.

Potential threats to these subspecies include flooding, wildfire,

predation, and other random factors. On November 21, 1997 (62 FR

62276), the Service published a proposed rule proposing endangered

status for the riparian brush rabbit and the riparian woodrat. The

original comment period closed January 21, 1998.

Today, riparian forests of the lower San Joaquin River and its

tributaries outside of Caswell Memorial State Park have nearly been

eliminated. The remaining habitat is small, narrow forest patches

confined within the levees. These areas flood completely during major

storm events. Due to the fact that these remaining areas of habitat are

small, isolated, and subject to periodic prolonged flooding, their

ability to support viable populations of these subspecies over the

long-term is of concern.

Since the close of the comment period, additional surveys for these

species have been conducted within their only known location at Caswell

Memorial State Park. The Service believes that, given the flood events

of 1997 and 1998, consideration of this and any other new information

is significant to make the final status determination for the riparian

brush rabbit and the riparian woodrat. For this reason, the Service

particularly seeks information concerning:

(1) The size, number, or distribution of populations of these

subspecies; and

(2) Other biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any

threat (or lack thereof) to these subspecies.

Written comments may be submitted until May 28, 1998, to the

Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

The primary author of this notice is Diane Windham (see ADDRESSES

section).

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered

Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: April 2, 1998.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Regional Director, Region 1.

[FR Doc. 98-9620 Filed 4-10-98; 8:45 am]

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