Jump to main content.

Availability of the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) Draft Revised Recovery Plan

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 

[Federal Register: January 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 16)]
[Notices]
[Page 3973]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja00-61]

[[Page 3973]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys heermanni
morroensis) Draft Revised Recovery Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of
the Morro Bay kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) draft
revised recovery plan for public review. This kangaroo rat is believed
to exist at one site in San Luis Obispo County, California.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan received by March
27, 2000 will be considered by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available for
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
following location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road,
Suite B, Ventura, California 93003 (phone: 805/644-1766). The draft
revised recovery plan will also be available at the San Luis Obispo
County Public Library. Requests for copies of the draft revised
recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan
should be addressed to the Field Supervisor, at the above Ventura
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Mc Calvin, at the above
Ventura address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or
delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery
measures.
    The Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
(Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed species
unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular
species. Section 4(f) of the Act as amended in 1988 requires that
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be
provided during recovery plan development. The Service considers all
information presented during the public comment period prior to
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. Substantive technical
comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments
regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in
changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate
Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into
account during the course of implementing recovery actions.
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
    The Morro Bay kangaroo rat is listed as endangered (35 FR 16047).
This species is restricted to less than 200 acres. It is currently
known from one site. The Morro Bay kangaroo rat is threatened by
habitat loss from development. In addition, the very low numbers of
individuals and populations of this species puts it at great risk of
extinction due to random naturally-occurring (stochastic) events.
    The objective of this revised plan is to provide a framework for
the recovery of the Morro Bay kangaroo rat so that protection by the
Endangered Species Act is no longer necessary. Actions necessary to
accomplish this objective include protecting species habitat through
acquisition, conservation easements, and Habitat Conservation Plans;
managing species habitat; conducting management-oriented research on
the ecology and biology of the species; reviewing and revising
management and recovery guidelines; locating additional populations;
and establishing new populations within the historic range of the
species.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on this draft revised
recovery plan. All comments received by the date specified above will
be considered prior to approval of this plan.

    Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: January 19, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting, California/Nevada Operations Manager, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Region 1, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 00-1715 Filed 1-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.