Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 19, 2006 / Notices 54837

education and interpretation. The CCP new hiking and canoe trails, a canoe the need to adaptively manage fire in will be reviewed and updated at least access ramp and wetland observation marsh ecosystems. every 15 years. deck, rebuilding the wildlife Dated: August 7, 2006. Established in 1933, Blackwater NWR observation tower, remodeling and Richard O. Bennett, is the oldest and largest in the complex. expanding the visitor center, updating It encompasses 23,686 acres and Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and the exhibits at the center, enhancing Wildlife Service, Hadley, Massachusetts. consists of extensive marshes, moist-soil signage, providing new hunting [FR Doc. E6–15507 Filed 9–18–06; 8:45 am] impoundments, and croplands that form opportunities for turkey, resident a mosaic of habitats important to Canada geese, and waterfowl, and BILLING CODE 4310–55–P migrating and wintering waterfowl. The providing many more outreach and forests of Blackwater NWR provide environmental education programs. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR unique and important habitats for a The Service solicited comments on variety of migratory songbirds, the bald the draft CCP/EA for Chesapeake Fish and Wildlife Service eagle, and the largest remaining Marshlands NWR Complex from May 3 population of the Federal-listed through July 15, 2005. We developed a Recovery Plan for endangered Delmarva fox squirrel. list of substantive comments that benitensis (San Benito evening- Martin NWR was established in 1954. It required responses. Editorial primrose) consists of 4,569 acres and is closed to suggestions and notes of concurrence the public. Tidal marsh, coves and with, or opposition to, certain proposals AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, creeks and vegetated ridges form a were noted and included in the decision Interior. habitat complex important to thousands making process, but did not receive ACTION: Notice of document availability. of migratory waterfowl and nesting formal responses. The final CCP songbirds. Susquehanna NWR was includes responses to all substantive SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and established in 1942 and consists of a 4- comments. Comments are considered Wildlife Service (Service), announce the acre island with scattered trees mixed in substantive if they: availability of the Recovery Plan for with grass and shrubs. Eastern Neck • Question, with reasonable basis, the Camissonia benitensis (San Benito NWR is a 2,286-acre refuge that was accuracy of the information in the evening-primrose). This species is established in 1962. This refuge is not document, found primarily in the Clear Creek included in this CCP, and will undergo • Question, with reasonable basis, the Management Area (CCMA) in San the planning process for a CCP at a later adequacy of the environmental analysis, Benito County, ; the CCMA is date. • Present reasonable alternatives managed by the Hollister Field Office of Our final CCP includes management other than those presented in the EA, the Bureau of Land Management. direction for each of the three refuges, • Cause changes or revisions in the ADDRESSES: Printed copies of this and includes habitat management and CCP, recovery plan will be available in 4 to public use goals and objectives based on • Provide new or additional 6 weeks by request from the Ventura the vision for the refuge that has been information relevant to the analysis. Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola developed as a part of the CCP process. Based upon the comments we Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003 Our adopted management direction received, we chose management (phone: 805/644–1766). An electronic represents adaptive management based alternative B to develop into the final copy of this recovery plan is now on the results of scientific survey and CCP, with the following modifications: available on the World Wide Web at • monitoring programs. It focuses on Land Protection: We received a http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/ restoring, enhancing, and maintaining mixed response to the proposed index.html#plans. ecological processes and natural boundary expansion. While there was a biological communities and degree of support, a number of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: biodiversity. It emphasizes managing comments expressed concern about the Connie Rutherford, botanist, at 805/ the complex for the benefit of all scope of the Land Protection Plan (LPP) 644–1766. migratory bird species, maintaining and and proposed boundary expansion. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: recovering endangered or threatened Some comments indicated a concern Background species, restoring submerged aquatic about the potential for condemnation of vegetation and wetlands, reducing or land by the Service. Restoring endangered or threatened eliminating invasive plant and animal We revised the LPP to include animals and to the point where species, and adding research and protection measures other than fee-title they are again secure, self-sustaining inventories, including those for acquisition for the Nanticoke Division of members of their ecosystems is a butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and Blackwater NWR. The use of easements primary goal of our endangered species fish. and management agreements, for program. The Endangered Species Act The final CCP includes the decision to example, is authorized for this division. (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act) requires expand the boundary of Blackwater Fee-title acquisition is authorized only the development of recovery plans for NWR, primarily through partnerships for the boundary expansion contiguous listed species unless such a plan would and easements, in two areas: 15,300 to the existing Blackwater NWR. not promote the conservation of a acres surrounding the refuge, and • Marshbird Habitat Improvement: particular species. Recovery plans help 16,000 acres east of the refuge along the We received comments that the CCP guide the recovery effort by describing Nanticoke River. All of that acreage should recognize the distinctness and actions considered necessary for the contains low-lying forest and marsh conservation value of the brackish conservation of the species, establishing habitats. marsh bird community and plan for its criteria for downlisting or delisting Finally, the CCP improves our ability long term management. listed species, and estimating time and to provide opportunities for compatible, We have added a new objective to cost for implementing the measures wildlife-dependent recreation. This Goal 1 to capture the significance of the needed for recovery. includes a new, accessible fishing pier brackish marsh bird community and Section 4(f) of the Act requires that and parking area at Key Wallace Bridge, future management strategies, including public notice and an opportunity for

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public review and comment be provided that support habitat for the species, (3) the development of recovery plans for during recovery plan development. In developing a species management plan listed species unless such a plan would fulfillment of this requirement, that includes needed research and not promote the conservation of a information presented during the public monitoring, (4) establishing an ex situ particular species. Recovery plans help comment period and comments from seed collection, and (5) developing and guide the recovery effort by describing peer reviewers have been considered in implementing a public outreach actions considered necessary for the the preparation of this final recovery program. conservation of the species, establishing plan, and are summarized in Appendix criteria for downlisting or delisting D to the recovery plan. We will forward Authority listed species, and estimating time and substantive comments regarding The authority for this action is section cost for implementing the measures recovery plan implementation to 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 needed for recovery. appropriate Federal or other entities so U.S.C. 1533(f). Section 4(f) of the ESA requires that they can take these comments into public notice, and an opportunity for Steve Thompson, account during the course of public review and comment, be implementing recovery actions. Manager, California-Nevada Operations provided during recovery plan Camissonia benitensis was listed as Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. development. We will consider all threatened in 1985 and is associated [FR Doc. E6–15508 Filed 9–18–06; 8:45 am] information presented during the public with serpentine-derived soils within the BILLING CODE 4310–55–P comment period prior to approval of San Benito serpentine body in the each new or revised recovery plan. southern Coast Ranges of California. Substantive comments on the recovery Populations of Camissonia benitensis DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR needs of the species or other aspects of are usually found on small streamside Fish and Wildlife Service recovery plan development may result terraces that have formed at the base of in changes to the recovery plan. slopes within watersheds that flow off Draft Recovery Plan for the Nosa Luta Substantive comments regarding of , which, at 5,247 or Rota Bridled White-eye (Zosterops recovery plan implementation may not feet (2,000 meters), is the highest point rotensis) necessarily result in changes to the in this stretch of the Coast Ranges. The recovery plan, but will be forwarded to entire range of the species spans an area AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, appropriate Federal or other entities so about 20 miles long and 5 miles wide. Interior. that they can take these comments into Camissonia benitensis is an ACTION: Notice of document availability account during the course of ephemeral annual species whose for review and comment. implementing recovery actions. numbers of individuals can fluctuate Individual responses to comments will drastically from year to year. While SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and not be provided. favorable climatic conditions in an Wildlife Service, announce the The Rota bridled white-eye, known as occasional year may result in tens of availability of the Draft Recovery Plan nosa Luta in Chamorro, is a bird thousands of individuals, more often for the Nosa Luta or Rota Bridled White- endemic to the island of Rota in the populations are small in numbers of eye (Zosterops rotensis), for public Mariana archipelago and was federally individuals and in the amount of review and comment. listed as endangered in 2004 (January acreage they occupy. DATES: Comments on the draft recovery 22, 2004, 69 FR 3022). In 1999, the The primary threat to Camissonia plan must be received on or before population was estimated to be benitensis is off-highway vehicle November 20, 2006. approximately 1,000 individuals, recreation activity in the CCMA. ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery representing a 90 percent decline since Although most terrace sites that support plan are available by request from the 1982, and the species’ core range occupied or suitable habitat for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific consisted of approximately 628 acres species have been administratively Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 (254 hectares) of forest above 490 feet closed and either wholly or partially Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3–122, Box (150 meters) elevation. Available fenced by the Bureau, off-highway 50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone: information indicates that habitat loss vehicles continue to access a certain 808/792–9400). Written comments and and degradation and predation by number of these sites and cause direct materials regarding this draft recovery introduced rats (Rattus spp.) and black damage to plants and their habitat. plan should be addressed to the Field drongos (Dicrurus macrocercus) are Other forms of recreation such as rock Supervisor at the above Honolulu having some impact on the nosa Luta collecting, hunting, and nature hiking address. An electronic copy of the draft population. Due to its restricted range are comparatively minor threats. In recovery plan is also available at and small population size, the species is addition, the natural erosion rate of the http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/ also highly susceptible to random serpentine slopes above the terraces is catastrophic events such as typhoons index.html#plans. exacerbated by human recreational and the accidental introduction of new activities that contribute to deposition FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred predators such as the brown treesnake on top of the terraces as well as erosion Amidon, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at (Boiga irregularis), and avian diseases of the terraces due to sediment loading the above Honolulu address. such as West Nile virus. of streams and subsequent flooding. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft recovery plan for the nosa The objective of a recovery plan is to Luta focuses on the following actions: provide a framework for the recovery of Background (1) Protecting and enhancing forests in the species so that protection by the Act Restoring endangered or threatened the species’ range; (2) determining the is no longer necessary. Actions animals and plants to the point where specific habitat requirements of the nosa necessary to accomplish this objective they are again secure, self-sustaining Luta to manage areas for the species’ include: (1) Protecting existing members of their ecosystems is a conservation; (3) assessing the impact of populations and suitable habitat, (2) primary goal of our endangered species predation by black drongos and rats, reducing or eliminating soil erosion and program. The Endangered Species Act and controlling these species as stream sedimentation in the watersheds (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) requires appropriate; (4) preventing the

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