Endangered and threatened species: owl and Huachuca water umbel,

[Federal Register: April 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 72)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 18596-18597]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr15ap99-28]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF36, 1018-AF37

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Periods and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analyses on Proposed Critical Habitat Determinations for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and the Huachuca Water Umbel, a Plant

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment periods and notice of availability of draft economic analyses.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of draft economic analyses of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the plant Lilaeopsis schaffneriana ssp. recurva (Huachuca water umbel) and the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum). We also provide notice of the reopening of the comment periods for the two proposals to allow all interested parties to submit written comments on the proposals and on the draft economic analyses. We have received some comments on the proposals after the close of the original comment periods. Those comments will be incorporated into the public records as a part of these reopenings and do not need to be resubmitted.

DATES: The original comment periods for both critical habitat proposals closed on March 1, 1999. The comment periods are reopened and we will accept comments until May 15, 1999. Comments must be received by the closing date. Any comments that are received after the closing date may not be considered in the final decisions on these proposals.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft economic analyses are available on the Internet at http://ifw2irm2.irm1.r2.fws.gov/ or by writing to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, Arizona 85021. Written comments should be sent to the Field Supervisor. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above Service address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Gatz, Endangered Species Coordinator, at the above address (telephone 602-640-2720 ext. 240; facsimile 602-640-2730).

[[Page 18597]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl is one of four subspecies of the ferruginous pygmy-owl. It occurs from lowland central Arizona south through western Mexico to the States of Colima and Michoacan, and from southern Texas south through the Mexican States of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. Only the Arizona population of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl is listed as an endangered species. We proposed designation of approximately 730,565 acres of riverine riparian and upland habitat as critical habitat for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Proposed critical habitat is in Pima, Cochise, Pinal, and Maricopa counties, Arizona as described in the proposed rule (63 FR 71820; December 30, 1999).

The Huachuca water umbel is a plant found in cienegas (desert marshes), streams and springs in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico, typically in mid-elevation wetland communities often surrounded by relatively arid environments. These communities are usually associated with perennial springs and stream headwaters, have permanently or seasonally saturated highly organic soils, and have a low probability of flooding or scouring. We proposed critical habitat including a total of 83.9 km (52.1 mi) of streams or rivers in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona (63 FR 71838; December 30, 1999).

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires that the Secretary shall designate or revise critical habitat based upon the best scientific data available and after taking into consideration the economic impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. Based upon the previously published proposals to designate critical habitat for the Huachuca water umbel and the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl and comments received during previous comment periods, we have conducted a draft economic analysis of each proposed critical habitat designation. The draft economic analyses are available at the above Internet and mailing addresses. In order to accept the best and most current scientific data regarding the critical habitat proposals and the draft economic analyses of the proposals, we reopen the comment periods at this time.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has previously conducted and recorded three public hearings on these critical habitat designation proposals as required under Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Due to the expeditious treatment of these proposed critical habitat determinations under Federal District Court order as described in the proposed rules, we will not conduct additional hearings and will accept only written comments during these reopened comment periods. Previously submitted oral or written comments on either of these critical habitat proposals need not be resubmitted.

The current comment period on this proposal closes on May 15, 1999. Written comments may be submitted to the Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

The primary author of this notice is Jeffrey A. Humphrey (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).

Dated: April 7, 1999. Charlie Sanchez Jr., Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 99-9153Filed4-14-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P