Notice of Availability of the Draft Conservation Agreement for the Wonderland Alice-flower (Gilia Caespitosa) for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Draft Conservation Agreement for

the Wonderland Alice-flower (Gilia Caespitosa) for Review and Comment

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of a

Draft Conservation Agreement for the Wonderland Alice-flower (Gilia

caespitosa). This species is a candidate for listing as endangered or

threatened under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973,

as amended. The Draft Conservation Agreement was developed jointly by

the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park

Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service as a collaborative and

cooperative effort. The agreement focuses on identifying, reducing and

eliminating significant threats to the species that warrant its

candidate status, and on enhancing and maintaining the species

population to ensure its long term conservation. The Fish and Wildlife

Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft

agreement.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Conservation Agreement must be received on

or before September 22, 1997 to be considered by the Fish and Wildlife

Service during preparation of the final Conservation Agreement and

prior to the Fish and Wildlife Service's determination of whether or

not it will be a signatory party to the agreement.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the Draft Conservation Agreement

may obtain a copy by contacting the Assistant Field Supervisor, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake

City, Utah 84115. Written comments and materials regarding the Draft

Conservation Agreement should also be directed to the same address.

Comments and materials received will be available on request for public

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

address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert D. Williams, Assistant

Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 801/524-5001).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Gilia caespitosa is a rare vascular plant of the phlox family

(Polemoniaceae). The species is restricted to limited area in Wayne

County, Utah primarily on Federal lands managed by the Richfield

District of the Bureau of Land Management and within Capitol Reef

National Park. Smaller occurrences are located within the Dixie and

Fishlake National Forests, on State of Utah Land, and on private

property.

Gilia caespitosa is currently a candidate species for listing under

the provisions of the Endangered Species Act, in the Fish and Wildlife

Service's most recent Notice of Review (61 FR 7596). The Agreement

focuses on the following goals: (1) Ensure that existing regulatory

mechanisms and agency funding is available to provide for the

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long-term management of G. Caespitosa. (2) Inventory potential habitat

for additional occurrences of the species. (3) Identify and establish

management guidelines which will ensure overall long term survivability

of the species.

Public Comments Solicited

The Fish and Wildlife Service will use information received during

the public comment period in its determination as to whether it should

be a signatory party to the agreements.

Comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned

governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other

interested party concerning the draft documents are hereby solicited.

All comments and materials received will be considered prior to the

approval of any final document.

Author: The primary author of this notice is John L. England (see

ADDRESSES section) (telephone 801/524-5001).

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered

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

Dated: August 15, 1997.

Elliott N. Sutta,

Acting Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR. 97-22312 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M