70526 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 2003 / Notices canopy may be present (Bakeman 1997). locations. Research has been conducted, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR When present, the shrub canopy is often such as radio-telemetry studies on Salix spp. (willow), although shrub habitat use and movements by Preble’s Fish and Wildlife Service species including Symphoricarpus spp. that has added to current knowledge Draft Recovery Plan for Deinandra (snowberry), Prunus virginiana about the species’ biology. There is new conjugens (Otay Tarplant) (chokecherry), Crataegus spp. information verifying differences in (hawthorn), Quercus gambelli (Gambel’s morphological characteristics between AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, oak), Alnus incana (alder), Betula Zapus hudsonius preblei and related Interior. fontinalis (river birch), Rhus trilobata taxa (Connor and Shenk, in press). ACTION: Notice of document availability (skunkbrush), Prunus americana (wild plum), Amorpha fruticosa (lead plant), Information is available on the for review and comment. presence of and possible increases in Cornus sericea (dogwood), and others SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife threats to Preble’s and its habitat also may occur (Bakeman 1997; Shenk Service (‘‘we’’), announces the and Eussen 1998). throughout a large portion of the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan Additional research on the species’ species’ range, as evidenced by—(1) for Deinandra conjugens (Otay Tarplant) habitat has supported and refined the section 7 consultations conducted to for public review. This draft recovery definition of habitat used in the 1998 address adverse effects to the Preble’s plan includes specific criteria and listing rule. This recent information from Federal actions and (2) measures to be taken in order to indicates that, although Preble’s have applications by private parties for effectively recover the species to the rarely been trapped in uplands adjacent permits to take Preble’s. The Service is point where delisting is warranted. We to riparian areas (Dharman 2001), in the process of preparing a recovery solicit review and comment from the detailed studies of the Preble’s plan for the Preble’s and is involved in public and local, State, and Federal movement patterns using radio- section 7 consultations on Federal agencies on this draft recovery plan. telemetry found Preble’s feeding and activities as well as assisting with the resting in adjacent uplands and DATES: Comments on the draft recovery development of Habitat Conservation traveling considerable distances along plan must be received on or before streams, as far as 1.6 km (1.0 mi) in one Plans addressing many private March 2, 2004 to receive our evening (Shenk and Sivert 1999a; Shenk activities. Through these efforts, we are consideration. continually reviewing and considering and Sivert 1999b; Ryon 1999; Schorr ADDRESSES: Hard copies of the draft 2001). These studies suggest that the all newly available information recovery plan will be available in 2 to Preble’s uses uplands at least as far out regarding the species’ abundance and 4 weeks. An electronic copy of this draft as 100 m (330 ft) beyond the 100-year the threats it faces. plan is now available at http:// floodplain (Ryon 1999; Tanya Shenk, Finding www.pacific.fws.gov/ecoservices/ Colorado Division of Wildlife, in litt. endangered/recovery/default. Written 2002). The Service has reviewed the request for copies of the draft recovery The third petitioner also raised petitions, the material submitted with plan and submission of written several issues specifically dealing with the petitions and subsequent to the comments regarding the plan should be stated increased costs or private petitions, and additional information in addressed to the Field Supervisor, U.S. property takings or life, health, and the Service’s files. On the basis of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish safety issues, including disease carried best scientific and commercial data and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley by deer mice. The Code of Federal available, the Service finds that the Road, Carlsbad, California 92009. Regulations (50 CFR 424.11(b)) states petitions and information in the Supporting documents are available for that the Service must make inspection, by appointment, during determinations based on the basis of the Service’s files do not present substantial information that delisting the Preble’s normal business hours at the above best available scientific and commercial address. information regarding a species’ status, meadow jumping mouse in Colorado without reference to possible economic and Wyoming may be warranted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: or other impacts of such determination. Kelly Goocher, Fish and Wildlife References Cited Biologist, at the above Carlsbad address New Information Available in the (telephone: 760–431–9440). Service’s Files A complete list of all references cited in this finding is available, upon SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to considering information request, from the Lakewood, Colorado Background provided by the petitioners, if any, the Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES Service also must consider the section). Recovery of endangered or threatened information readily available at the time animals and plants is a primary goal of of this finding. Additional information Authority our endangered species program and the on the Preble’s has become available Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. since the species was listed in 1998 and The authority for this action is section 1531 et seq.). Recovery means since the petitions were received. As 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 improvement of the status of listed cited earlier, numerous surveys have (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). species to the point at which listing is been undertaken throughout the species’ Dated: December 11, 2003. no longer appropriate under the criteria range in suitable habitat areas where the Steve Williams, set out in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. species was presumed to occur but had Recovery plans describe actions not been documented. Some of these Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. considered necessary for the surveys provided verification of Preble’s [FR Doc. 03–31255 Filed 12–17–03; 8:45 am] conservation of the species, establish presence at the survey locations; others BILLING CODE 4310–55–P criteria for downlisting or delisting did not. The survey results indicate that listed species, and estimate time and the species may persist at or may have cost for implementing the measures been extirpated from individual survey needed for recovery. VerDate jul<14>2003 00:05 Dec 18, 2003 Jkt 203001 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18DEN1.SGM 18DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 2003 / Notices 70527 The Act requires the development of framework, and protecting key SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife recovery plans for listed species unless populations. Additional measures Service (‘‘we’’) announces the such a plan would not promote the outlined in the draft recovery plan will availability of a draft revised recovery conservation of a particular species. enhance the species’ ability to achieve plan for the ‘Alala¯, or Hawaiian Crow Section 4(f) of the Act requires that recovery. (Corvus hawaiiensis) for public review. public notice and an opportunity for This draft recovery plan recognizes This endemic Hawaiian bird, a member public review and comment be provided efforts by the local jurisdictions to of the family Corvidae, is now believed during recovery plan development. We conserve Deinandra conjugens under to be extinct in the wild and survives will consider all information presented the MSCP, and includes additional only in captivity. The ‘Alala¯ was listed during the public comment period prior conservation measures designed to as an endangered species in 1967 (32 FR to approval of each new or revised ensure D. conjugens will continue to 4001). The original recovery plan for the recovery plan. Substantive technical exist, distributed throughout its extant ‘Alala¯ was published in 1982. comments may result in changes to the and historic range. Recovery is DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan. Substantive comments dependent upon the conservation of recovery plan must be received on or regarding recovery plan implementation sufficient habitat to sustain populations before February 17, 2004 to receive our may not necessarily result in changes to of D. conjugens, as well as populations consideration. the recovery plan, but will be forwarded of its primary pollinators; maintaining ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised to appropriate Federal or other entities genetic variability within the species; recovery plan are available for so that they can take these comments and connect conserved populations to inspection, by appointment, during into account during the course of ensure gene flow (through cross normal business hours at the following implementing recovery actions. pollination). locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Individual responses to comments will The ultimate goal of this recovery Service, Pacific Islands Fish and not be provided. plan is to delist Deinandra conjugens Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Deinandra conjugens is an annual through implementation of a variety of Boulevard, Room 3–122, Honolulu, plant in the family Asteraceae. It was recovery actions including: (1) federally listed as a threatened species Hawaii 96850 (telephone 808–792–