[Federal Register: March 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 54)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 13663-13664]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20mr03-31]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AI21
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of
Critical Habitat for Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus
(Ventura marsh milk-vetch)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and notice of
availability of draft economic analysis.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening
of the comment period for the proposed designation of critical habitat
for the threatened Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus (Ventura
marsh milk-vetch) in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California,
and the availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed
designation of critical habitat. We are reopening the comment period to
allow all interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed
rule and the associated draft economic analysis. Comments previously
submitted on the proposed critical habitat rule that was published in
the Federal Register on October 9, 2002 (67 FR 62926), need not be
resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the public record as part
of this reopened comment period and will be fully considered in the
final rule.
DATES: We will accept public comments until April 21, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments and information should be sent to the Field
Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. Written
comments may also be sent by fax to 805/644-3958 or hand-delivered to
our office at the above address. You may also send comments by
electronic mail (e-mail). For instructions, see Public Comments
Solicited under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Farris or Anna Toline of the
Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at 805/644-1766.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 9, 2002, we proposed to designate approximately 170 ha
(420 ac) of land in three units in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties
as critical habitat for Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus (67
FR 62926). We accepted public comments on this proposed rule until
December 9, 2002. Private lands comprise approximately 33 percent of
the proposed critical habitat, and State lands comprise 67 percent. No
Federal lands are proposed for inclusion. No federally listed animal
species are known to occur on the proposed critical habitat units.
Critical habitat receives protection from destruction or adverse
modification through required consultation under section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), with regard to
actions carried out, funded, or authorized by a Federal agency. Section
4(b)(2) of the Act requires that we designate or revise critical
habitat on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data
available, after taking into consideration the economic and any other
relevant impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat.
Based upon the previously published proposal to designate critical
habitat for Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus, we have
prepared a draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat
designation. The economic analysis shows that the proposed designation
is not likely to result in any consultation costs pursuant to section 7
of the Act. As a result, the analysis concluded that the potential
economic cost attributed to the proposed designation is expected to be
$0. The draft analysis is available on the Internet and from the
mailing address in the ADDRESSES section above. We are reopening the
comment period to allow all interested parties to comment
simultaneously on the proposed rule and the associated draft economic
analysis.
Public Comments Solicited
We have reopened the comment period at this time in order to accept
the best and most current scientific and commercial data available
regarding the proposed critical habitat determination for Astragalus
pycnostachyus var. lanosissimus, and the draft economic analysis
associated with the designation of critical habitat. Previously
submitted written comments on the critical habitat proposal need not be
resubmitted. 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 several
methods:
You may mail or hand-deliver written comments and information to
the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section). Hand deliveries must be
made during normal business hours.
You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to:
fw1venturamilkvetch@fws.gov. If you submit comments by e-mail, please
submit them as an ASCII file and avoid the use of any special
characters and any form of encryption. Also, please include ``Attn: RIN
1018-AI21'' and your name and return address in your e-mail message. If
you do not receive a confirmation from the system that we have received
your e-mail message, contact the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at
805/644-1766.
Comments and materials received, as well as supporting
documentation used in preparation of the proposal to designate critical
habitat and the draft economic analysis, will be available for
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address
above. You may obtain copies of the draft economic analysis on the
Internet at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.r1.fws.gov. or by writing to the Field
Internet at http://http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=www.r1.fws.gov. or by writing to the Field
Supervisor at the address above.
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold
their home address, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law.
There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a
respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold
your name and/or address, you must state this request prominently at
the beginning of your comments. However, we will not consider anonymous
comments. To the extent consistent with applicable law, we will make
all submissions for organizations or businesses, and from individuals
[[Page 13664]]
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
Comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above
address.
We solicit comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned
governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, industry, or
any other interested parties concerning the proposal or the draft
economic analysis. We particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) Does the analysis accurately capture and discuss plans or
potential for development or conversion to agriculture within the area
proposed to be designated;
(2) Does the analysis adequately address the indirect effects e.g.:
property tax losses due to reduced home construction, losses to local
business due to reduced construction activity
(3) Does the analysis accurately define and capture opportunity
costs.
(4) Does the analysis adequately address the likelihood of ``stigma
effects'' and costs associated with the designation; and
(5) Does the analysis adequately address the likely effects and
resulting costs arising from the California Environmental Quality Act
and other State laws as a result of the designation.
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited herein, as well as others
used in the development of the proposed critical habitat and draft
economic analysis, is available upon request from the Ventura Fish and
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Author
The primary author of this notice is Rick Farris (see ADDRESSES
section)
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: March 7, 2003.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 03-6292 Filed 3-19-03; 8:45 am]
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