Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 197 / Thursday, October 10, 2002 / Proposed Rules 63067

Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana, Anyone wishing to make an oral for a public hearing on the proposed Cyanea grimesiana ssp. obatae, Cyanea statement for the record is encouraged action. The comment period on this humboltiana, Cyanea koolauensis, to provide a written copy of their proposal now closes on November 30, Cyanea longiflora, Cyanea pinnatifida, statement and present it to us at the 2002. Written comments should be Cyanea st.-johnii, Cyanea superba, hearing. In the event there is a large submitted to the Service office listed in Cyanea truncata, Cyperus attendance, the time allotted for oral the ADDRESSES section. trachysanthos, Cyrtandra dentata, statements may be limited. Oral and Author Cyrtandra polyantha, Cyrtandra written statements receive equal subumbellata, Cyrtandra viridiflora, consideration. There are no limits to the The primary author of this notice is Delissea subcordata, Diellia erecta, length of written comments presented at Michelle Mansker (see ADDRESSES Diellia falcata, Diellia unisora, the hearing or mailed to us. Legal section). Diplazium molokaiense, Dubautia notices announcing the date, time, and Authority: The authority for this action is herbstobatae, Eragrostis fosbergii, location of the public hearing will be the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 Eugenia koolauensis, Euphorbia published in newspapers concurrently U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). haeleeleana, Flueggea neowawraea, with the Federal Register notice. Dated: October 1, 2002. Persons needing reasonable Gardenia mannii, Gouania meyenii, Paul Hoffman, Gouania vitifolia, Hedyotis coriacea, accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public hearing should Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Hedyotis degeneri, Hedyotis parvula, Wildlife and Parks. Hesperomannia arborescens, contact Patti Carroll at 503/231–2080 as [FR Doc. 02–25721 Filed 10–9–02; 8:45 am] Hesperomannia arbuscula, Hibiscus soon as possible. In order to allow brackenridgei, Isodendrion laurifolium, sufficient time to process requests, BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Isodendrion longifolium, Isodendrion please call no later than one week before pyrifolium, Labordia cyrtandrae, the hearing date. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Lepidium arbuscula, Lipochaeta lobata Information regarding this proposal is var. leptophylla, Lipochaeta tenuifolia, available in alternate formats upon Fish and Wildlife Service Lobelia gaudichaudii ssp. koolauensis, request. Lobelia monostachya, Lobelia Comments from the public regarding 50 CFR Part 17 niihauensis, Lobelia oahuensis, this proposed rule are sought, especially Lysimachia filifolia, Mariscus regarding: RIN 1018–AI26 pennatiformis, Marsilea villosa, (1) The reasons why critical habitat for any of these species is prudent or not Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Melicope pallida, Melicope saint-johnii, and Plants; Critical Habitat Myrsine juddii, Neraudia angulata, prudent as provided by section 4 of the Act and 50 CFR 424.12(a)(1); Designation for Four Vernal Pool Nototrichium humile, Pelea lydgatei, Crustaceans and Eleven Vernal Pool Peucedanum sandwicense, (2) The reasons why any particular area should or should not be designated Plants in California and Southern Phlegmariurus nutans, Phyllostegia Oregon hirsuta, Phyllostegia kaalaensis, as critical habitat for any of these Phyllostegia mollis, Phyllostegia species, as critical habitat is defined by AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, parviflora, Plantago princeps, section 3 of the Act; Interior. (3) Specific information on the Platanthera holochila, Pteris lidgatei, amount, distribution, and quality of ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public Sanicula mariversa, Sanicula purpurea, habitat for the 99 species, and what hearing. Schiedea hookeri, Schiedea kaalae, habitat is essential to the conservation Schiedea kealiae, Schiedea nuttallii, SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife of the species and why; Sesbania tomentosa, Silene lanceolata, Service (Service), provide notice that we (4) Land use practices and current or Silene perlmanii, Solanum are holding three public hearings to take planned activities in the subject areas, sandwicense, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, oral comments regarding the proposed and their possible impacts on proposed Stenogyne kanehoana, Tetramolopium rule to designate critical habitat for 4 critical habitat; crustaceans and 11 plants endemic to filiforme, Tetramolopium lepidotum (5) Any economic or other impacts vernal pools in California and southern ssp. lepidotum, Tetraplasandra resulting from the proposed Oregon. gymnocarpa, Trematalobelia singularis, designations of critical habitat, Urera kaalae, Vigna o-wahuensis, Viola including any impacts on small entities, DATES: We will hold public hearings chamissoniana ssp. chamissoniana, and energy development, low income and a public informational meeting at Viola oahuensis) plant species. Critical households, and local governments; the following dates and times: habitat is not proposed for Pritchardia (6) Economic and other potential October 22, 2002: munroi and Cyrtandra crenata for the values associated with designating San Luis Obispo, CA reasons given above. Twenty-five critical habitat for the above plant First public hearing: 1 p.m. until 3 critical habitat units, totaling species such as those derived from non- p.m.; registration begins at 12:30 approximately 45,067 hectares (111,364 consumptive uses (e.g., hiking, camping, p.m. Second public hearing: 6 p.m. acres), are proposed for designation on birding, enhanced watershed protection, until 8 p.m.; registration begins at the island of Oahu. increased soil retention, ‘‘existence 5:30 p.m. October 24, 2002: Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires values’’, and reductions in Sacramento, CA that a public hearing be held if it is administrative costs); and First public hearing: 1 p.m. until 3 requested within 45 days of the (7) Information for use, under section p.m.; registration begins at 12:30 publication of a proposed rule. In 4(b)(2) of the Act, in determining if the p.m. response to a request from a government benefits of excluding an area from Second public hearing: 6 p.m. until 8 agency of the State of Hawaii, we will critical habitat outweigh the benefits of p.m.; registration begins at 5:30 hold a public hearing on the date and specifying the area as critical habitat. p.m. at the address described in the DATES Reopening of the comment period Medford, OR and ADDRESSES sections above. will enable us to respond to the request Public informational meeting: 1:30

VerDate 0ct<02>2002 23:11 Oct 09, 2002 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10OCP1.SGM 10OCP1 63068 Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 197 / Thursday, October 10, 2002 / Proposed Rules

p.m. until 3:30 p.m. biological characteristics essential to the pool crustaceans and 11 vernal pool Public hearing: 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.; conservation of a threatened or plants. We intend our final critical registration begins at 5:30 p.m. endangered species. The designation of habitat designation to identify as Written comments on the proposed critical habitat does not establish a accurately and effectively as possible rule (67 FR 59884) must still be received preserve or regulate purely private uses those areas possessing characteristics by the date published in the proposed of land. However, the Act does require essential to the conservation of the rule. Federal agencies to avoid taking actions species. We will also take into account ADDRESSES: The public hearings and that are likely to result in the any economic or other impacts which public informational meeting will be destruction or adverse modification of this designation might cause. Therefore, held at the following locations: critical habitat and to consult with us we request comments and additional San Louis Obispo, CA: Embassy Suites, regarding how to best to avoid such information from the general public, 333 Madonna Road. destruction or adverse modification. other concerned governmental agencies, Sacramento, CA: Radisson Hotel, 500 Critical habitat designations also inform the scientific community, industry, or Leisure Lane. the public regarding areas of special any other interested party concerning Medford, OR: Red Lion Hotel, 200 N. importance for the conservation of the this proposed rule. Comments are Riverside Avenue. threatened or endangered species particularly sought concerning: Written comments and materials involved. (1) The reasons why any habitat concerning the proposed critical habitat The four vernal pool crustaceans should or should not be determined to designation for 4 vernal pool involved in this critical habitat be critical habitat as provided by section crustaceans and 11 vernal pool plants in designation are the Conservancy fairy 4 of the Act, including whether areas California and Southern Oregon (67 FR shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio), under consideration require additional 59884) should be sent to Wayne S. longhorn fairy shrimp (Branchinecta special management; White, Field Supervisor, Sacramento longiantenna), vernal pool fairy shrimp (2) Specific information on the Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and (Branchinecta lynchi) and vernal pool amount and distribution of any of the Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi). vernal pool crustaceans or vernal pool Room W–2605, Sacramento, CA 95825. The eleven vernal pool plant species are plants and what habitat is essential to Written comments may also be sent by Butte County meadowfoam (Limnanthes the conservation of these species and facsimile to 916/414–6713 or through floccosa ssp. californica), Contra Costa why; the internet to [email protected]. goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens), (3) Land use designations and current You may also hand-deliver written Hoover’s spurge (Chamaesyce hooveri), or planned activities in the subject areas comments to our Sacramento Fish and succulent (or fleshy) owl’s-clover and their possible impacts on proposed Wildlife Office, at the above address, or (Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta), critical habitat; in particular, in Oregon, at any of the public hearings mentioned Colusa grass (Neostapfia colusana), we seek information related to potential above. Greene’s tuctoria (Tuctoria greenei), of selected parcels to contribute to the Comments and materials received, as hairy Orcutt grass (Orcuttia pilosa), species recovery, considering their well as supporting documentation used Sacramento Orcutt grass (Orcuttia zoning, adjacent land uses, watershed in the preparation of the proposed viscida), San Joaquin Valley Orcutt grass integrity, and potential for edge effects critical habitat designation rule, will be (Orcuttia inaequalis), slender Orcutt (related to shape of parcel); available for public inspection, by grass (Orcuttia tenuis), and Solano grass (4) Any foreseeable economic or other appointment, during normal business (Tuctoria mucronata). We are proposing impacts resulting from the proposed hours, at the above address. You may a total of 128 units of critical habitat for designation of critical habitat, in obtain copies of the proposed rule from these 15 species, totaling approximately particular, any impacts on small entities the above address, by calling 916/414– 672,920 hectares (ha) (1,662,762 acres or families; 6600, or from our Web site at http:// (ac)) in 36 counties in California and (5) Economic and other values sacramento.fws.gov. one county in Oregon. associated with designating critical All the species listed above live in habitat for vernal pool crustaceans and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: vernal pools (shallow depressions that vernal pool plants such as those derived Arnold Roessler or Susan Moore at the hold water seasonally), swales (shallow from non-consumptive uses (e.g., above address (telephone 916/414–6600, drainages that carry water seasonally), hiking, camping, bird-watching, facsimile 916/414–6713 or visit our Web and ephemeral freshwater habitats. enhanced watershed protection, site at http://sacramento.fws.gov/). None are known to occur in riverine improved air quality, increased soil Information regarding this proposal is waters, marine waters, or other retention, ‘‘existence values,’’ and available in alternative formats upon permanent bodies of water. The vernal reductions in administrative costs); request. pool habitats of these species have a (6) Whether any areas should be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: discontinuous distribution west of the excluded pursuant to section 4(b)(2); Sierra Nevada that extends from and Background southern Oregon through California into (7) Whether our approach to critical On September 24, 2002, we published northern Baja California, Mexico. The habitat designation could be improved a proposed rule to designate critical species have all adapted to the generally or modified in any way to provide for habitat, pursuant to the Endangered mild climate and seasonal periods of greater public participation and Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) inundation and drying which help make understanding, or to assist us in for 4 vernal pool crustaceans and 11 the vernal pool ecosystems of California accommodating public concern and vernal pool plants (67 FR 59884). The and southern Oregon unique. comments. purpose of the public hearings Anyone wishing to make an oral announced here is to take oral Public Comments Solicited comment or statement for the record at comments on the proposed critical We solicit additional information and any of the hearings listed above is habitat designation. comments that may assist us in making encouraged (but not required) to also Critical habitat consists of specific a final decision on the proposed rule to provide a written copy of the statement areas on which are found physical or designate critical habitat for 4 vernal and to present it to us at the hearing.

VerDate 0ct<02>2002 23:11 Oct 09, 2002 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10OCP1.SGM 10OCP1 Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 197 / Thursday, October 10, 2002 / Proposed Rules 63069

Oral comments will be transcribed. In contact Patti Carroll at 503/231–2080 as Comments and materials received will the event there is a large attendance, the soon as possible. In order to allow be available for public inspection, by time allotted for oral statements may be sufficient time to process requests, appointment, during normal business limited. Oral and written statements please call no later than one week before hours at the Sacramento Fish and receive equal consideration. There are the hearing date. Wildlife Office, at the above address. no limits to the length of written Previously submitted written Author comments presented at the hearing or comments on this proposal need not be mailed, faxed or emailed to us. Legal resubmitted. Please submit electronic The primary author of this notice is notices announcing the date, time, and mail comments as an ASCII file and Glen Tarr (see ADDRESSES section). location of the public hearings will be avoid the use of special characters and published in newspapers concurrently any form of encryption. Please also Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 with this Federal Register notice. We include ‘‘Attn: [RIN 1018–AI26]’’ and U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). will hold public informational meetings your name and return address in your in various locations in California and electronic message. If you do not receive Dated: October 1, 2002. will publicize the dates and locations in a confirmation from our system that we Paul Hoffman, the local news media. have received your e-mail message, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Persons needing reasonable contact us directly by calling our Wildlife and Parks. accommodations in order to attend and Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at [FR Doc. 02–25720 Filed 10–9–02; 8:45 am] participate in the public hearing should telephone number 916/414–6600. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

VerDate 0ct<02>2002 23:11 Oct 09, 2002 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\10OCP1.SGM 10OCP1