[Federal Register: November 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 221)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 69176-69177]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no02-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018--AH10
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designations of
Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Lanai, HI
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the
reopening of the public comment period for the proposed rule to
designate critical habitat for 32 plants from the island of Lanai,
Hawaii. We have received new information since the close of the comment
period and the comment period is reopened to allow additional time for
all interested parties to consider the information and submit written
comments on the proposal. Comments already submitted on the proposed
rule need not be resubmitted as they already have been incorporated
into the public record and will be fully considered in the final
determination.
DATES: The comment period for this proposal now closes on November 25,
2002. Any comments received by the closing date will be considered in
the final decision on this proposal.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be submitted to the
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands
Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu,
HI 96850. Comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Henson, at the above address
(telephone 808/541-3441; facsimile 808/541-3470).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 4, 2002, we published a revised proposed critical habitat
rule for 32 of the 37 plant species listed under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), known
historically from the island of Lanai (67 FR 9806). The original
comment period closed on May 3, 2002. The comment period was reopened
on July 15, 2002 and closed on August 30, 2002. The current comment
period closes on November 25, 2002.
A total of 37 species historically found on Lanai were listed as
[[Page 69177]]
endangered or threatened species under the Act between 1991 and 1999.
Some of these species may also occur on other Hawaiian islands.
Previously, we proposed that designation of critical habitat was
prudent for 32 (Abutilon eremitopetalum, Adenophorus periens, Bidens
micrantha ssp. kalealaha, Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, Cenchrus
agrimonioides, Centaurium sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia ssp.
mauiensis, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana,
Cyanea lobata, Cyanea macrostegia ssp. gibsonii, Cyperus trachysanthos,
Cyrtandra munroi, Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Gahnia
lanaiensis, Hedyotis mannii, Hesperomannia arborescens, Hibiscus
brackenridgei, Isodendrion pyrifolium, Mariscus fauriei, Neraudia
sericea, Portulaca sclerocarpa, Sesbania tomentosa, Silene lanceolata,
Solanum incompletum, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium remyi,
Vigna o-wahuensis, Viola lanaiensis, and Zanthoxylum hawaiiense) of the
37 species reported from the island of Lanai. No change is made to the
32 proposed prudency determinations in the March 4, 2002, revised
proposed critical habitat rule for plants from Lanai. We previously
proposed that designation of critical habitat was not prudent for
Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis because it had not been seen
recently in the wild, and no viable genetic material of this species is
known to exist (65 FR 82086). No change is made to this proposed
prudency determination in the March 4, 2002, revised proposed critical
habitat rule (67 FR 9806). In the March 4, 2002, revised proposed
critical habitat rule, we proposed that designation of critical habitat
is prudent for Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. lepidotum, a species for
which a prudency determination has not been made previously. We
determined that designation of critical habitat was prudent for
Hedyotis schlechtendahliana var. remyi, Labordia tinifolia var.
lanaiensis, and Melicope munroi at the time of their listing in 1999.
We also proposed designation of critical habitat for 32 (Abutilon
eremitopetalum, Adenophorus periens, Bidens micrantha ssp. kalealaha,
Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, Cenchrus agrimonioides, Centaurium
sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia ssp. mauiensis, Ctenitis
squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana, Cyanea lobata, Cyanea
macrostegia ssp. gibsonii, Cyperus trachysanthos, Cyrtandra munroi,
Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Gahnia lanaiensis, Hedyotis
mannii, Hedyotis schlechtendahliana var. remyi, Hesperomannia
arborescens, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Isodendrion pyrifolium, Labordia
tinifolia var. lanaiensis, Melicope munroi, Neraudia sericea, Portulaca
sclerocarpa, Sesbania tomentosa, Solanum incompletum, Spermolepis
hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium remyi, Vigna o-wahuensis, and Viola
lanaiensis) plant species. Critical habitat is not proposed for four
(Mariscus fauriei, Silene lanceolata, Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp.
lepidotum, and Zanthoxylum hawaiiense) of the 37 species which no
longer occur on the island of Lanai, and for which we are unable to
identify any habitat that is essential to their conservation on the
island of Lanai. Critical habitat is not proposed for Phyllostegia
glabra var. lanaiensis for the reasons given above. Eight critical
habitat units, totaling approximately 7,853 hectares (19,405 acres),
are proposed for designation on the island of Lanai. For locations of
these proposed units, please consult the proposed rule (67 FR 9806).
Public Comments Solicited
Since the close of the comment period, we have received new
information in the form of a draft conservation agreement (copy
available upon request) from the owner of Unit D. The comment period is
reopened to allow additional time for all interested parties to
consider the information and submit written comments on the proposal.
One possible outcome may be a decision to exclude this area from the
final designation pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act.
We will accept written comments and information during this
reopened comment period. If you wish to comment, you may submit your
comments and materials concerning this proposal by any of the following
methods:
(1) You may submit written comments and information to the Field
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300
Ala Moana Blvd., P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001.
(2) You may hand-deliver comments to our Honolulu Fish and Wildlife
Office at the address given above.
Comments and materials received, as well as supporting
documentation used in preparation of the proposal to designate critical
habitat, will be available for inspection, by appointment, during
normal business hours at the address under (1) above. Copies of the
draft document are available on the Internet at http://
pacificislands.fws.gov or by request from the Field Supervisor at the
address and phone number under (1 and 2) above.
Information regarding this proposal is available in alternative
formats upon request.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Gina Shultz (see ADDRESSES
section).
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: November 5, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-29047 Filed 11-12-02; 3:04 pm]
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