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• Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for Cirsium loncholepis (La Graciosa Thistle)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for Cirsium loncholepis (La Graciosa Thistle)

PDF Version (42 pp, 868K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: August 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 152)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45805-45846]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au08-28]
[[Page 45806]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2008-0078; 99210-1117-0000-B4]
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AV03

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation 
of Critical Habitat for Cirsium loncholepis (La Graciosa Thistle)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to
revise the currently designated critical habitat for Cirsium
loncholepis (La Graciosa thistle) pursuant to the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 38,447 acres
(ac) (15,559 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of this proposed
revised critical habitat designation. The proposed revision is to
critical habitat located in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties,
California.

DATES: We will accept comments from all interested parties until
October 6, 2008. We must receive requests for public hearings, in
writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by September 22,
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: [FWS-R8-ES-2008-0078]; Division of Policy and Directives
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
    We will not accept e-mail or faxes. We will post all comments on
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section
below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane K. Noda, Field Supervisor,
Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura,
California, 93003 (telephone 805/644-1766; facsimile 805/644-3958). If
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend any final action resulting from this proposal to be as
accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request comments
or suggestions on this proposed rule. We particularly seek comments
concerning:
    (1) The reasons why we should or should not revise the designation
of habitat as ``critical habitat'' under section 4 of the Act (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), including whether the benefit of designation
would outweigh threats to the species caused by the designation, such
that the designation of critical habitat is prudent;
    (2) Specific information on:
     The amount and distribution of Cirsium loncholepis habitat,
     The importance of including habitat that provides
connectivity between extant populations of C. loncholepis to the
species' conservation and recovery, and the amount and distribution of
such habitat;
     Which areas within the geographical area occupied at the
time of listing that contain features essential to the conservation of
the species we should include in the designation and why, and
     Which areas not within the geographical area occupied at
the time of listing that are essential for the conservation of the
species and why;
    (3) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the
subject areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat;
    (4) Any foreseeable economic, national security, or other relevant
impacts resulting from the proposed revised designation, and, in
particular, any impacts on small entities, and the benefits of
including or excluding areas that exhibit these impacts;
    (5) This proposed designation's revised criteria for determining
essential features and critical habitat boundaries; and
    (6) The existence of any conservation or management plans being
implemented by California State Parks, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular
Recreation Area; Vandenberg Air Force Base; County of Santa Barbara,
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park; Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National
Wildlife Refuge; or other public or private land management agencies or
owners that we should consider for exclusion from the designation
pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Please include information on
any benefits (educational, regulatory, etc.) of including or excluding
lands from this proposed revised designation.
    (7) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating
critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation
and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and comments;
    (8) Whether there are areas that were previously designated as
critical habitat that we are now removing from designation in this
proposed rule, that should remain as critical habitat in the rule.
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed
rule by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We will not
consider comments sent by e-mail or fax or to an address not listed in
the ADDRESSES section.
    If you submit a comment via www.regulations.gov, your
entire comment--including any personal identifying information--will be
posted on the Web site. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes
personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your
document that we withhold this information from public review. However,
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all
hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov.

Background

    It is our intent to discuss only those topics directly relevant to
this proposed revised designation of critical habitat. Additional
background information covering the general ecology of Cirsium
loncholepis was published in the final listing rule on March 20, 2000
(65 Federal Register (FR) 14888), the proposed rule to designate
critical habitat published on March 30, 1998 (63 FR 15164), and the
final designation of critical habitat for C. loncholepis on March 17,
2004 (69 FR 12553).

Species Description and Reproduction

    Cirsium loncholepis is a biennial to short-lived monocarpic
perennial (a plant that blooms once, then dies) (Hendrickson 1990, pp.
20-22; Teed 2003, p. 1). It is a spreading, mound-like or erect plant
in the Asteraceae (sunflower family) that is well armored with spines
on the leaves and flower heads. The plants range from 4 to 39
(occasionally up to 59) inches (in) (10 to 100 (occasionally up to 150)
centimeters (cm)) tall, with one or more stems. The lower leaves are 4
to 12 in (10 to 30 cm) long, with spiny petioles (leaf stalks), and are
usually deeply lobed with secondary lobes or teeth. The leaves are
wavy-margined. The leaf bases of the middle and upper leaves form
short, spiny wings along the petiole. Flowering heads are 0.8 to 1.6 in
(2 to 4 cm) wide in tight clusters at the tips

[[Page 45807]]

of the stems. The corollas (flowers) are 1 to 1.2 in (25 to 30
millimeters (mm)) long and are nearly white with a purplish tube
containing purple anthers. The achenes (fruit) are 0.01 to 0.02 in (3
to 4 mm) long and topped by an umbrella of long awns (0.6 to 1.0 in (15
to 25 mm)) that are ideal for wind dispersal (Keil and Turner 1993, pp.
232-239). Large individuals produce more flowering heads and more seeds
per head (average = 473 seeds per plant) than smaller individuals
(average = 168 seeds per plant), and therefore contribute disproportionately 
to the future seedbank of the population (Lea 2001a, unpaginated).

Taxonomy

    In 2006, Dr. David Keil revised the treatment for the genus Cirsium
in North America for the Flora of North America north of Mexico by
taking a broad view of the genus and the overlap in ranges of variation
in morphologic characters (visible plant characteristics) (Keil 2006a,
pp. 1, 57, 66, 82, 83, 93, 95-160). Dr. Keil synonymized (lumped) C.
loncholepis with C. scariosum var. citrinum (La Graciosa thistle, same
common name as the listed entity), a more widespread taxon whose
distribution encompasses the following areas: The distribution of the
C. loncholepis, at the mouth of the Santa Maria River; C. scariosum
populations in the San Emigdio Mountains (Kern and Ventura Counties);
and C. scariosum populations in the uplands and lowlands of the
Peninsular Ranges of southern California (Riverside and San Diego
Counties) that continue down into northern Baja California, Mexico
(Keil 2006a, pp. 1, 57, 66, 82, 83, 93, 95-160). Dr. Keil has since
informed us that he is re-recognizing C. loncholepis as a distinct
entity as a subtaxon of C. scariosum and that he will publish it in a
journal article and in the upcoming second edition of The Jepson
Manual: Higher Plants of California. (Keil 2007a, unpaginated; 2007b,
unpaginated). We consider this to be the best available scientific and
commercial information. Accordingly, we continue to recognize C.
loncholepis as a distinct entity.

Distribution

    Below, we define various terms that are used for different
assemblages of plants that we use in discussing the status of Cirsium
loncholepis. In this rule we use the term ``occurrence'' to be
consistent with the definition used by the California Natural Diversity
Database (CNDDB): A grouping of plants within 0.25 mile (mi) (0.4
kilometer (km)) of each other (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). There may be
(and occasionally are) one or more discrete polygons of plants within a
single ``occurrence.'' We use the term ``population'' to refer to a
group of interbreeding individuals, in the biological sense of the
word. There may be (and usually are) one or more ``occurrences'' within
a single population. Our use of the term ``location'' in previous rules
for C. loncholepis was interchangeable with ``occurrence'' and
``population.'' In this rule ``location'' refers only to a particular
site, area, or region, as in ``at that location,'' with no relation to
an assemblage of plants (e.g., polygon, occurrence, population). The
terms ``site,'' ``area,'' and ``region'' refer to physical places.
    Cirsium loncholepis historically was found in mesic areas (areas
with intermediate or medium moisture conditions that are neither very
wet nor very dry) in back dune and coastal wetlands along a 32-mi (52-
km) stretch of the coastal region of central California between Arroyo
Grande Creek in San Luis Obispo County to the north and the Santa Ynez
River in Santa Barbara County to the south. In this range, it occurred
up to 16 mi (26 km) inland where it was documented at the Cañada
de las Flores area on the south side of the Solomon Hills. Most of the
known occurrences are associated with mesic sites in two dune complexes
(the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex and the Santa Ynez Valley Dune
Complex) and along the drainages and tributaries of four major
watersheds in this area (from north to south: Arroyo Grande Creek,
Santa Maria River, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River).
    Historically, Cirsium loncholepis has been reported or documented
from a total of 25 occurrences that are grouped among 11 populations
ranging from the dunes near Pismo Beach inland to hillside seeps at
Cañada de las Flores south to the floodplains of the Santa Ynez
River (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium of California Herbaria 2008,
unpaginated). These 11 populations are: Oceano, northern Callender Dune
Lakes, southern Callender Dune Lakes, Oso Flaco, southern Guadalupe
Dunes, Santa Maria River, Guadalupe, La Graciosa (type locality--the
geographical location for the collection of the type specimen or the
specimen that fixes a name to a species), Cañada de las Flores,
San Antonio Terrace, and Santa Ynez River. See: 63 FR 15164, March 30,
1998; 65 FR 14888, March 20, 2000; 66 FR 57560, November 15, 2001; and
69 FR 12553, March 17, 2004; and Hendrickson (1990, pp. 1-25) for more
in-depth discussions on the historical habitats, distribution, and
range of C. loncholepis.
    At the time of the listing in 2000, there were 17 recorded
occurrences. After reviewing the historical records, we determined that
11 of the 17 occurrences were extant (still in existence). These 11
extant occurrences were distributed among 7 populations. At the time of
listing, the extant occurrences ranged from the northern Callender Dune
Lakes in the Callender Dunes in the north to the seeps at Cañada
de las Flores in the south (65 FR 14888, March 20, 2000; CNDDB 1998,
unpaginated). Since the time of listing, Cirsium loncholepis has
experienced considerable declines throughout its range. Currently, C.
loncholepis is considered to be extant at seven occurrences that are
distributed among four populations: Southern Callender Dune Lakes, Oso
Flaco, southern Guadalupe Dunes, and Santa Maria River. The seven
extant occurrences consist of five occurrences that were identified in
the final listing rule in 2000 as well as two new occurrences that have
been identified since that time (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2006,
unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated). The extant occurrences currently
range from the southern Callender Dune Lakes in the north to the Santa
Maria River in the south. See Figure 1 for the current versus
historical distribution of C. loncholepis. The points in this figure
represent locations of polygons of C. loncholepis plants. Some C.
loncholepis occurrences contain more than one polygon.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45808]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.000

    The Service has reviewed the most current information regarding
occupancy at Cirsium loncholepis historically known to have been
occupied, or occupied at time of listing. Cirsium loncholepis may still
be extant

[[Page 45809]]

at Cañada de las Flores. It was last observed at this site in
1989 (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25). Based on this information at the
time of listing, we considered Cañada de las Flores to be
occupied. Since the time of listing, there have still been no
observations of C. loncholepis at Canada de las Flores. No plants were
observed during surveys in 1990 (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25), and no
plants were observed by Mark A. Elvin and Jeanette Sainz when they
visited the site in November 2007. This visit was conducted outside the
optimal time of year to observe this plant in a dry year, and it was
not an exhaustive survey (Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). While C.
loncholepis may still be at Canada de las Flores, we are considering
Cañada de las Flores to be unoccupied for the purposes of this
rule based on the continued lack of observation of C. loncholepis since
2000. Cirsium loncholepis has not been observed at the northern
Callender Dune Lakes population (in the dunes just south of Pismo Beach
and Oceano) since 1988, but no surveys have been conducted here since
1988 to our knowledge. Cirsium loncholepis may still be extant at this
population. Cirsium loncholepis has not been observed at the Santa Ynez
River population since 1958 (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium of
California Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp.
153-154; Santa Barbara Botanical Garden Herbarium 2007, unpaginated).
Surveys were conducted by the Biological Sciences Department at
California Polytechnic State University between 1992 and 1994, but no
plants were found (Keil and Holland 1998, pp. 83-84); no other surveys
are known to have been conducted. Therefore, C. loncholepis is not
currently known to occur along the Santa Ynez River. San Antonio
Terrace is centrally located within the range of C. loncholepis. It is
south of the Guadalupe and Callender Dune Sheets and the Santa Maria
River, west of Canada de las Flores, and north of the Santa Ynez River.
San Antonio Terrace supports numerous dune wetlands and swales and has
the same physical and geological features, habitats, and vegetation as
the Callender and Guadalupe Dune Sheets (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72; CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Consortium of California Herbaria 2008, unpaginated;
Google Earth 2008, unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis is reported from
the dune swales on San Antonio Terrace, but it has never been
documented here with a voucher specimen (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated;
Henningson et al. 1980, pp. 15-120; Consortium of California Herbaria
2008, unpaginated). San Antonio Terrace is directly adjacent to the
mouth of San Antonio Creek which, according to some researchers, is the
most likely site for the type locality for C. loncholepis (Keil and
Holland 1998, pp. 83-84; Oyler et al. 1995, pp. 1-76; Hendrickson 1990,
pp. 1-25; Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-154). The type locality is
the geographical location for the collection of the type specimen or
the specimen that fixes a name to a species. In the case of C.
loncholepis, we do not know the exact location of the type locality of
``La Graciosa''. There is a consensus among researchers that La
Graciosa was at one of two places, one of which is the mouth of San
Antonio Creek and the other along Orcutt Creek (see the final listing
rule for a discussion on this location). Cirsium brevistylum has been
documented at San Antonio Terrace. Some researchers speculate that the
reports of C. loncholepis from the San Antonio Terrace population were
pre-flowering C. brevistylum plants, which are very similar to pre-
flowering C. loncholepis plants (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium of
California Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; Keil
and Holland 1998, p. 82).
    In addition to the apparent loss of occurrences and populations,
there has been a decline in the status of the species and the number of
individuals reported at the remaining extant sites identified in the
listing rule (Chesnut 1998a, unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 1-40;
Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). Most notably,
Service staff visited the western portion of the Santa Maria River
population in November 2006, and fewer than 10 individuals were
observed (Elvin 2006, unpaginated). While this was outside the optimal
time of year, Cirsium loncholepis was fruiting and observable. This
population (which includes two occurrences) was estimated to contain
6,000 individuals in 1986 (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated), more than 50,000
individuals in 1990 (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25), and 500 individuals
in the western portion in 2001 (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). Specific
survey conditions are not known for these reports. Reports also
indicate declines in status and numbers of individuals at the northern
Guadalupe Dunes population with estimates in the 25-50 range for the
1980s and early 1990s down to 7 individuals in 1998 (Chesnut 1998a,
unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 1-40; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB
2007, unpaginated). Reports for the southern Guadalupe Dunes population
have been fluctuating between 30 and 137 individuals with Service staff
noting greater than 50 individuals in November of 2006 (CNDDB 2007,
unpaginated; Elvin 2006, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25).
    In summary, Cirsium loncholepis may not currently be present at the
Oceano, northern Callender Dune Lakes, Guadalupe, La Graciosa,
Cañada de las Flores, San Antonio Terrace, and Santa Ynez River
populations. This species has declined from 11 extant occurrences
identified at the time of listing to 7 remaining extant occurrences (in
4 populations). The seven extant occurrences consist of five
occurrences that were identified in the final listing rule in 2000 as
well as two new occurrences that have been identified since that time.
We believe that C. loncholepis may not persist if the Santa Maria
Valley Dune Complex occurrences (including those along the Santa Maria
River) are the only ones remaining. However, we believe that C.
loncholepis could be conserved and recovered if additional populations
exist or new populations arise in habitat with features (described
below) that allow the populations to remain connected throughout the two 
dune complexes and four major watersheds where it once was known to occur.

Previous Federal Actions

    A proposed rule to list Cirsium loncholepis and three other species
as endangered was published on March 30, 1998 (63 FR 15164). Cirsium
loncholepis was listed as endangered under the Act in 2000 due to
threats from groundwater pumping, oil field development, oil field
remediation, competition from non-native plants, and grazing from
cattle (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; California Department of Fish and
Game (CDFG) 1992, pp. 111-112; 65 FR 14888, March 20, 2000). The State
of California listed this species as threatened in 1990 (CDFG 1992, pp.
111-112). The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for C.
loncholepis and two other species was published in the Federal Register
on November 15, 2001 (66 FR 57560). In August 2002, we received a 1-
year extension beyond the statutory time limit on the publication date
of a final rule for C. loncholepis critical habitat due to its
taxonomic uncertainty. In September 2003, we sought an additional
extension due, in part, to the continued uncertainty regarding its
taxonomic status, but the court denied that request. We published a
final rule designating critical habitat for C. loncholepis on March 17,
2004 (69 FR 12553), in compliance with the court's order. Please refer
to the final listing

[[Page 45810]]

rule published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2000 (65 FR 14888),
and to the final designation of critical habitat published on March 17,
2004 (69 FR 12553), for additional or more complete information on
previous Federal actions prior to that time. In the 2004 final critical
habitat rule we designated approximately 41,089 acres (ac) (16,628
hectares (ha)) of land in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties,
California, as critical habitat for C. loncholepis. The final critical
habitat rule also contains information regarding the litigation history
related to the listing and designation of critical habitat for this
species (Southwest Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service et al. (No. C99-2992 (N.D.Ca.)).
    On March 30, 2005, the Homebuilders Association of Northern
California, et al., filed a complaint against the Service (Home
Builders Association of N. Cal., et al. v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, et al., No. 2:05-01363, E.D. Cal.) alleging that the final
rule designating critical habitat for Cirsium loncholepis (and 26 other
species) violated the Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the
National Environmental Policy Act. In March 2006, a settlement was
reached to re-evaluate five final critical habitat designations, which
included the 2004 critical habitat designation for C. loncholepis. The
settlement stipulated that proposed revisions to the C. loncholepis
designation would be submitted to the Federal Register on or before
July 27, 2007. On May 17, 2007, the court approved a modification to
the settlement timeframe to require that a proposed rule regarding any
revisions to the C. loncholepis critical habitat designation would be
submitted to the Federal Register on or before July 27, 2008, and a
final decision regarding any proposed rule would be submitted on or
before July 27, 2009. This revised proposed rule complies with the May
17, 2007, court order.

Critical Habitat

    Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
    (1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a
species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which
are found those physical or biological features
    (a) essential to the conservation of the species and
    (b) which may require special management considerations or
protection; and
    (2) Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas
are essential for the conservation of the species.
    Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means the use
of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring any
endangered species or threatened species to the point at which the
measures provided under the Act are no longer necessary.
    Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act
through the prohibition against Federal agencies carrying out, funding,
or authorizing the destruction or adverse modification of critical
habitat. Section 7 of the Act requires consultation on Federal actions
that may affect critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat
does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness,
reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. Such designation does
not allow the government or public to access private lands. Such
designation does not require implementation of restoration, recovery,
or enhancement measures by the landowner. Where the landowner seeks or
requests federal agency funding or authorization that may affect a
listed species or critical habitat, the consultation requirements of
section 7 would apply, but even in the event of a destruction or
adverse modification finding, the landowner's obligation is not to
restore or recover the species, but to implement reasonable and prudent
alternatives to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical
habitat.
    For inclusion in a critical habitat designation, habitat within the
geographical area occupied by the species at the time it was listed
must contain features that are essential to the conservation of the
species. Critical habitat designations identify, to the extent known
using the best scientific data available, habitat areas that provide
essential life cycle needs of the species (areas on which are found the
primary constituent elements, as defined at 50 CFR 424.12(b)). Occupied
habitat that contains the features essential to the conservation of the
species meets the definition of critical habitat only if those features
may require special management considerations or protection. Under the
Act, we can designate critical habitat in areas outside the
geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed only
when we determine that those areas are essential for the conservation
of the species.
    Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on
the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.
Further, our Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered
Species Act (published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR
34271)), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L.
106-554; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality
Guidelines, provide criteria, establish procedures, and provide
guidance to ensure that our decisions are based on the best scientific
data available. They require our biologists, to the extent consistent
with the Act and with the use of the best scientific data available, to
use primary and original sources of information as the basis for
recommendations to designate critical habitat.
    When we are determining which areas should be proposed as critical
habitat, our primary source of information is generally the information
developed during the listing process for the species. Additional
information sources may include the recovery plan for the species,
articles in peer-reviewed journals, conservation plans developed by
States and counties, scientific status surveys and studies, biological
assessments, or other unpublished materials and expert opinion or
personal knowledge.
    Habitat is often dynamic, and species may move from one area to
another over time. Furthermore, we recognize that critical habitat
designated at a particular point in time may not include all of the
habitat areas that we may eventually determine, based on scientific
data not now available to the Service, are necessary for the recovery
of the species. For these reasons, a critical habitat designation does
not signal that habitat outside the designated area is unimportant or
may not be required for recovery of the species.
    Areas that support populations, but are outside the critical
habitat designation, will continue to be subject to conservation
actions we implement under section 7(a)(1) of the Act. They are also
subject to the regulatory protections afforded by the section 7(a)(2)
jeopardy standard, as determined on the basis of the best available
scientific information at the time of the agency action. Federally
funded or permitted projects affecting listed species outside their
designated critical habitat areas may still result in jeopardy findings
in some cases. Similarly, critical habitat designations made on the
basis of the best available information at the time of designation will
not control the direction and substance of future recovery plans,
habitat conservation plans (HCPs), or other species conservation
planning efforts if new information available to these planning efforts
calls for a different outcome.

[[Page 45811]]

Methods

    As required by section 4(b) of the Act, we used the best scientific
and commercial data available in determining specific areas within the
geographical area occupied at the time of listing that contain physical
or biological features essential to the conservation of Cirsium
loncholepis and specific areas outside the geographical area occupied
at the time of listing that are essential for the conservation C.
loncholepis. This includes information from the final listing rule in
2000 and final critical habitat designation in 2004; data from research
and survey observations published in peer-reviewed articles; data from
research and survey observations included in reports and other
manuscripts (i.e., theses, monitoring reports); written and oral
communications from species and other physical science experts; reports
and survey forms prepared for Federal, State, and local agencies, and
private corporations; regional Geographic Information System layers,
including soil, species, aerial imagery, and wetlands coverages;
information from herbarium specimens at the following institutions:
University of California Santa Barbara Herbarium, University of
California Berkeley Herbarium, the Jepson Herbarium at the University
of California Berkeley, University of Minnesota Saint Paul Herbarium,
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Herbarium, Herbarium of the California
Academy of Sciences, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Herbarium, Santa Barbara Botanical Garden Herbarium, San Diego Natural
History Museum Herbarium, Robert F. Hoover Herbarium at California
Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, University of California
Riverside Herbarium, and University of California Irvine Herbarium;
site visits by Service biologists to several population sites of C.
loncholepis in 2006 and 2007; and data submitted to the CNDDB. We have
also reviewed available information that pertains to the ecology, life
history, and habitat requirements for this species. This material
included information and data in peer-reviewed articles; reports of
monitoring and habitat characterizations; reports submitted during section 
7 consultations; and information received from local species experts.

Primary Constituent Elements

    In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at
50 CFR 424.12, in determining which areas within the geographical area
occupied at the time of listing to propose as critical habitat, we
consider the physical and biological features that are essential to the
conservation of the species to be the primary constituent elements
(PCEs) laid out in the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement for
conservation of the species. These include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Space for individual and population growth and for normal behavior;
    (2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or
physiological requirements;
    (3) Cover or shelter;
    (4) Sites for breeding, reproduction, rearing, or development of
offspring; and
    (5) Habitats that are protected from disturbance or are
representative of the historical, geographical, and ecological
distributions of a species.
    We derive the specific PCEs required for the Cirsium loncholepis
from its biological needs.

Space for Individual and Population Growth

    Cirsium loncholepis generally grows in association with mesic areas
on the margins of dune swales, dune lakes, marshes, estuaries, coastal
meadows, seeps, springs, intermittent streams, creeks, and rivers
(CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium of California Herbaria 2008,
unpaginated; Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated, 2007b,
unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis occurs in a series of dynamic systems
of dunes and riparian floodplains. Cirsium loncholepis can appear and
disappear from particular sites appearing to ``move'' from place to
place in areas with suitable habitat on a fairly regular basis (this
has been observed several times over the past 50 or more years (CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Chesnut 1998a, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-
25)). New suitable sites are continuously created throughout the
dynamic ecosystems where C. loncholepis grows over time (i.e., floods
remove vegetation and create new sites; dunes move and suitable sites
open up). The conservation of C. loncholepis depends not only on
maintaining suitable sites for germination and growth as they exist at
the present, but it also depends on maintaining the dynamic nature of
the habitat (the dune and riparian complexes) where it grows, which
will ensure that suitable sites for germination and growth will develop
in the future.

Nutritional and Physiological Requirements Including Soils,
Communities, and Dispersal

Soils
    Soils where Cirsium loncholepis are found are somewhat variable,
but include a large component of sand. Coastal populations occur on
dune sands, Oceano sands, Camarillo sandy loams, riverwash, and sandy
alluvial soils at elevations of less than 31 meters (m) (100 feet (ft))
(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2001, unpaginated, 2007,
unpaginated). Occasionally, individuals have been found on dune slopes
or ridges, rather than in the more typical dune swale habitat; more
stable dunes have been shown to act as reservoirs of moisture, and
these individuals may be tapping into this moisture (Thomas 2001,
unpaginated). Plants at an inland population have been found on Camarillo 
sandy loam at an elevation of 183 m (600 ft) (CNDDB 2001, unpaginated).
Communities
    The vegetation communities associated with Cirsium loncholepis are
rather diverse and include central dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal
scrub, freshwater seeps and springs, coastal and valley freshwater
marsh and fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, willow scrub),
riparian forest, chaparral, oak woodland, intermittent streams, and
other wetland communities (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2007,
unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis is often growing in and amongst a mat
of low-growing, herbaceous, wetland plants including Juncus spp.
(rush), Scirpus spp. (tule), Carex praegracilis (sedge), Distichlis
spicata (salt grass), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), Trifolium
wormskioldii (clover), Anemopsis californica (yerba mansa), Potentilla
anserina (silverweed), and Lotus corniculatus (birdfoot trefoil)
(Langford 2001, unpaginated; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b,
pp. 1-40; Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated; Reed 1988, pp.
15-51). Other closely associated riparian plants include Salix spp.
(willow), Rubus (blackberry), and Baccharis douglasii (Douglas'
baccharis) (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Chesnut 1998b, pp. 1-40; Elvin
2006, unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated, 2007b, unpaginated; Reed 1988,
pp. 15-51). Upland plants that occur adjacent to or nearby include
Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison oak), Baccharis pilularis (coyote
brush), Solidago californica (California goldenrod), Isocoma menziesii
(coast goldenbush), and Corethrogyne filaginifolia (California aster)

[[Page 45812]]

(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2006,
unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated, 2007b, unpaginated). Plants at the
most inland site for Cirsium loncholepis have been found primarily
around gently sloping hillside seeps within a grassland community, at
the edge of willows around a seep bordering an oak woodland community
(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25, Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). Cirsium
loncholepis does occasionally occur in non-mesic conditions such as on
ridges or dune tops such as in the Guadalupe Dunes (Elvin 2006,
unpaginated) or throughout meadows (temporally and spatially) on flat
valley bottoms, which are rather dry compared to the mesic seeps in
these area (Elvin 2007b, unpaginated).
Dispersal
    Genetic material can move both within a population or between
different populations. In plants this can be accomplished through the
movement of pollen, seeds, plants, or plant parts to other plants or
sites within the same population or to another population. For Cirsium
loncholepis, the main agents for gene flow are pollen and seeds.
Pollinators move pollen from one flower to another. Most pollinators
move pollen within the same population, but it can be moved to another
population if it is close enough and the pollinator is capable of
moving the pollen across that distance. Cirsium loncholepis seeds are
capable of being moved within the same population and to another
population by animals, wind, and water.
    Pollinators: Cirsium loncholepis is capable of both self-
fertilization (pollination events on the same individual) and cross-
fertilization (pollination events between two individuals). Other
similar, riparian, monocarpic Cirsium species self- and cross-pollinate
(Hamzo and Jolls 2000, pp. 141-153). Cirsium loncholepis flowers
produce nectar and copious quantities of pollen and are visited by
birds and a wide variety of insects (Keil 2008, unpaginated). Cirsium
loncholepis and other Cirsium taxa with similar heads are pollinated by
bees (i.e., solitary, mining, (families Andrenidae and Anthophoridae),
mason (Osmia sp.), carpenter (Xylocopa sp.), and leaf cutter bees
(family Megachilidae) and the introduced honeybee (Apis mellifera)),
butterflies (order Lepidoptera), flies (order Diptera), beetles (order
Coleoptera (e.g., darkling ground beetles (family Tenebrionidae))),
black ants (family Formicidae), and hummingbirds (family Trochilidae)
(Keil 2001, unpaginated, 2008, unpaginated; Moldenke 1976, pp. 305-361;
Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2, pp. 1751-2209; Lea. 2001b, unpaginated).
Specialist-feeding bees (solitary bees, which are known to visit
Cirsium species (Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2 pp. 1751-2209)) commonly
develop co-evolutionary relationships with particular host plants
(Moldenke 1976, pp. 305-361). While we do not have comprehensive
information on the home ranges and species fidelity of these
pollinators, we do have some data. A number of the insects noted above
that are known to visit Cirsium flowers (i.e., ants, some beetles,
butterflies, flies, and many bee taxa) live, nest, and reproduce in
upland habitats (e.g., coastal dune scrub, coastal scrub, chaparral,
oak woodland, grassland) within the range of C. loncholepis (Moldenke
1976, pp. 305-361; Hogue 1993, 446 pp.; Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2
pp. 1751-2209; Thorp et al. 1983, pp. 1-79). Alternative pollen source
plants may be necessary for the persistence of these insects when C.
loncholepis is not in flower seasonally or annually because of poor
environmental conditions.
    The main dispersal vectors for Cirsium loncholepis pollen include
ants, beetles, butterflies, flies, bees, and hummingbirds. Some of
these visitors (e.g., bumble bees, hummingbirds) can fly large
distances and are therefore capable of transferring pollen longer
distances, from plants in one population to plants in another
population. Studies to quantify the distance that bees will fly to
pollinate their host plants are limited in number, but the few that
exist show that some bees will routinely fly from 328 to 984 ft (100 to
500 m) to pollinate plants (Thorp and Leong 1995, pp. 3-7; Schulke and
Waser 2001, pp. 239-245). In a study of experimental isolation and
pollen dispersal of Delphinium nuttallianum (Nuttall's larkspur),
Schulke and Waser (2001, pp. 239-245) report that adequate pollen loads
were dispersed by bumblebees within control populations and in isolated
experimental ``populations'' from 328 to 1,312 ft (100 m to 400 m)
distant from the control populations. One of the several pollinator
taxa effective at 1,312 ft (400 m) was Bombus (bumblebee), which has
also been documented to visit Cirsium (Ascher 2006, unpaginated).
Studies by Steffan-Dewenter and Tscharntke (2000, pp. 288-296)
demonstrated that it is possible for bees to fly as far as 3,280 ft
(1,000 m) to pollinate flowers, and at least one study suggests that
bumblebees may forage many kilometers from a colony (Sugden 1985, pp.
299-312). Hummingbirds can fly long distances while foraging for nectar
or food or migrating. Using area rather than distance, an Anna's
hummingbird (Calypte anna), for example, will hold a core territory of
about 0.25 ac (0.1 ha) and a ``buffer zone'' of variable size, but
usually 10-15 ac (4-6 ha) (Russell 1996, pp. 1-13). Hummingbirds are
not restricted to these territories, but may venture greater distances
crossing through neighboring territories to feed. Additionally, because
extant populations of C. loncholepis are located within the Pacific
flyway for migratory birds, while migrating, hummingbirds could forage
in one population one day, and in another population later that day or
the next day, thereafter, until either reaching their breeding or
wintering grounds, or traveling beyond the range of C. loncholepis.
    Seed Dispersal Vectors: According to Craddock and Huenneke (1997,
pp. 215-219), Cirsium seeds are usually wind-dispersed, but birds and
small mammals also disperse Cirsium seeds (Burton and Black 1978, pp.
383-390; Bent 1940, pp. 332-352, 1968, pp. 447-466). According to Keil
and Turner (1993, pp. 232-239), wind is a likely dispersal vector for
C. loncholepis seeds based on the architecture of their achenes, which
are topped by an umbrella of long awns that are ideal for wind
dispersal. The distribution of plants within a population (often an
elongated pattern) is consistent with seed dispersal caused by the
prevailing coastal winds (Lea 2002, pp. 1-84; Teed 2003, pp. 1-58).
Additional dispersal vectors for C. loncholepis include small mammals
and birds. Several small mammals that feed on seed of Cirsium species
and move them among their seed caches live in the range of C.
loncholepis. These include such species as kangaroo rats (Dipodomys
spp.), pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae), California ground squirrels
(Spermophilus beecheyi), and pocket mice (Perognathus spp.) (Blecha et
al. 2007, pp. 1-354; Burton and Black 1978, pp. 383-390). Some small
mammals, such as mice, use Cirsium tufts or down (the achene and
pappus) as nest material (Root 2008, unpaginated). Various mammals such
as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and cattle occur in the Callender-
Guadalupe Dunes and have been documented grazing on thistle here
(Nellis and Ross 1969, pp. 191-195; Theo et al. 2000, pp. 73-80; Blecha
et al. 2007, pp. 1-354; Elvin 2007a, unpaginated). Some bird species,
such as American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) and hummingbirds, some
of which live within the range of C.

[[Page 45813]]

loncholepis, use its tufts (or down) for nest construction (Bent 1940,
pp. 332-352, 1968, pp. 447-466; Weydemeyer 1923, pp. 117-118; Blecha et
al. 2007, pp. 1-354).
    Water has been shown to be an important dispersal vector for seeds
in another thistle, C. vinaceum, which also occurs in spring and
streamside habitats (Craddock and Huenneke 1997, pp. 215-219). Cirsium
seeds disperse via water ``considerable distances along streams''
(Craddock and Huenneke 1997, pp. 215-219). Cirsium loncholepis
populations have been documented from the upper reaches of drainages
and watersheds outlined below to suitable sites near the mouths of the
rivers and creeks (within 1,000 ft (300 m)) of the Pacific Ocean (CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Herbarium 2007,
unpaginated; University of California Santa Barbara Herbarium 2007,
unpaginated).

Sites for Reproduction, Population Growth, and Dispersal

    Cirsium loncholepis has been reported from one or more polygons
within 25 occurrences that are part of 11 populations distributed
throughout 2 dune complexes and 4 drainages. All of these groupings are
connected to each other in one or more ways. Cirsium loncholepis is
closely associated with wetlands and mesic sites on the margins along
four drainages that end in the Pacific Ocean (Arroyo Grande Creek,
Santa Maria River, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River) (CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Consortium of California Herbaria 2008,
unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis has not been seen along Arroyo Grande
Creek since 1910, so this area is not considered to be essential and
will not be discussed further in this rule. The dynamic nature of these
drainages is an essential part of the life cycle for C. loncholepis.
The habitat along these creeks and rivers is constantly changing. It is
under a constant state of succession and renewal. A mosaic of habitat
occurs along these drainages with new suitable sites being created with
every storm or flow event. The flows of water are also an important
mechanism to move seeds from currently occupied sites to these newly
created suitable sites.
    Orcutt Creek runs from the southeast to the northwest parallel with
wind direction in the area. The headwaters for Orcutt Creek are
southeast of the town of Orcutt on the northwest face of Graciosa
Ridge. The stretch of Orcutt Creek near the town of Orcutt is one of
the two likely sites where the type specimens were collected (see
discussion in Background section). Orcutt Creek flows to the northwest
and enters into the Santa Maria River near the Pacific Ocean. Cirsium
loncholepis seeds that are deposited in the waters of Orcutt Creek
would flow downstream from Orcutt toward the Santa Maria River. This
stretch of the Santa Maria River has historically contained the largest
population of C. loncholepis. Most of the records for C. loncholepis are 
from within the historical boundaries of the Santa Maria River floodplain.
    Graciosa Ridge is the dividing line between the headwaters of
Orcutt Creek (in the Santa Maria River watershed) and Cañada de
las Flores (in the San Antonio Creek watershed). Because the prevailing
winds in this area are from the northwest, Cirsium loncholepis seed in
the Orcutt area would likely be blown over Graciosa Ridge toward
Cañada de las Flores, which is southeast of the headwaters of
Orcutt Creek. Cañada de las Flores, which flows south, is the
headwaters for one of the tributaries of San Antonio Creek which flows
to the Pacific Ocean. The estuary system (lagoon) at the mouth of San
Antonio Creek was described by Fray Juan Crespi as La Graciosa in 1769
(Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-154) and is the other of the two
most likely sites where the type specimen of C. loncholepis was
collected (see discussion in Background section).
    The Santa Ynez River flows from east to west where it empties into
the Pacific Ocean. The prevailing, strong winds in this area, from the
west, would move Cirsium loncholepis seeds eastward, which is further
upriver. Any resulting seed from upriver C. loncholepis populations
that are deposited in the waters of the Santa Ynez River would then
flow downstream toward the estuary system at the mouth of the river.
Seed from any occurrence in the Santa Ynez River population would
likely be dispersing to other occurrences in the Santa Ynez River
(e.g., seed from upriver plants dispersing to the estuary plants via
water and seed from estuary plants dispersing to the upriver plants via
wind).

Habitats That Are Representative of the Historical, Geographical, and
Ecological Distributions of Cirsium loncholepis

    Cirsium loncholepis has throughout time had a limited distribution
in southwestern San Luis Obispo County and northwestern Santa Barbara
County, California, within a unique geomorphic area known as the Santa
Maria Basin (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). See Figure 2 for a map containing
the locations of place and feature names in this region. The Santa
Maria Basin stretches along a 39-mi (63-km) section of the coastal
region of central California that is dominated by a system of dune
complexes that are interspersed with several major drainages. The Santa
Maria Basin is comprised of the Santa Maria Valley, in the north, and
the Santa Ynez Valley, in the south. The Santa Maria Valley is located
between the hills northeast of Pismo and the Casmalia and Solomon Hills
that end at Point Sal in the west. The Santa Ynez Valley is located
between the Casmalia and Solomon Hills and the Santa Ynez Mountains (on
the south side of the Santa Ynez River). The Santa Maria Basin is
dominated by moderate to strong winds from the northwest (categorized
as greater than 7.47 miles per hour (mph) (12.02 kilometers per hour
(kph))) most of the time and throughout the year (USDA NRCS 2008,
unpaginated; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Western
Regional Climate Center (NOAA) 2007, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp.
1-25). These prevailing northwest winds are a major factor in shaping
the terrain and creating the dunes such that the active dune and swale
systems are aligned with these winds (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). Deflation
areas (the swales between two parallel dunes and behind the foredunes)
are often at or near the water table, creating the wetlands and back-
dune lakes (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). This terrain, the parallel ridges and
swales, and the physical features that created and maintain it are
essential for the conservation of C. loncholepis.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45814]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.001
[[Page 45815]]

Santa Maria Valley

    The Santa Maria Valley contains one major dune complex (the Santa
Maria Valley Dune Complex) and three major riparian systems (or
drainages): Arroyo Grande Creek, the Santa Maria River, and Orcutt
Creek. The Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex contains five Dune Sheets
(or associated sand depositional episodes): Callender, Nipomo Mesa,
Guadalupe, Mussel Rock, and Orcutt Terrace. Individual dune sheets
represent sequential and spatially overlapped depositional episodes
within contiguous areas of any particular dune complex. Arroyo Grande
Creek and its floodplain are at the northern edge of the Callender Dune
Sheet (specifically) and the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex (in
general) (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). The junction of Arroyo Grande Creek and
the Callender Dune Sheet also marks the northern limit for Cirsium
loncholepis, which occurred here in the low ``grassy'' areas among the
sand hills at the junction of the dunes and Arroyo Grande Creek
(University of California [Berkeley] Herbarium 2007, unpaginated). The
Callender Dune Sheet reaches Oso Flaco Creek and Oso Flaco Lake at its
southern extent. Cirsium loncholepis has occurred at numerous sites
throughout the Callender Dunes (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2007,
unpaginated). The Guadalupe Dune Sheet extends from Oso Flaco Lake to
the Santa Maria River. Cirsium loncholepis has occurred at numerous
sites throughout the Guadalupe Dunes (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB
2007, unpaginated). The Santa Maria Valley is a broad floodplain that
is bounded by Orcutt Creek along its southern edge and by the Callender
Dune Sheet and the Nipomo Dune Sheet (including Nipomo Mesa) along its
northern edge. Between the city of Santa Maria and the coast 12 mi (19
km) to the west, the valley floor has historically been dotted with
small settlements and a few oil fields, but the vast majority of the
land has been converted to agriculture. A member of the Gaspar de
Portola expedition to Monterey in 1769 noted that the expedition had
difficulty getting through the Santa Maria Valley because of all the
marshes (Companys 1983, pp. 105-344). As has been typical along the
central coast of California, however, many of the valley's wetlands
have been drained or filled to maximize agricultural production; old
maps show lakes such as Lake Guadalupe that no longer exist. Cirsium
loncholepis has occurred at numerous mesic sites throughout the Santa
Maria River floodplain and the Guadalupe Dunes (Hendrickson 1990, pp.
1-25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated). Orcutt Creek and the Santa Maria River
mark the northern edge of the Mussel Rock Dune Sheet, which has had
multiple C. loncholepis occurrences (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB
2007, unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis most likely had a more
widespread distribution within this area, but may have been eliminated
from most of the locations in this area by the vast conversion of this
area to agriculture before it could be documented. However, even with
such conversion, current aerial photos and topographic maps show the
persistence of numerous, small marshes, wetlands, and drainages in this
area; some of these may still harbor small populations of C. loncholepis.

Santa Ynez Valley

    The Santa Ynez Valley contains one major dune complex (the Santa
Ynez Valley Dune Complex) and two major riparian systems (or
drainages): San Antonio Creek and the Santa Ynez River. The Santa Ynez
Valley Dune Complex contains three Dune Sheets: San Antonio, Burton
Mesa, and Lompoc Terrace. The San Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet is at the
northern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex. It supports
numerous dune wetlands and swales and is very similar in habitat,
physical, and geological features to the Callender and Guadalupe Dune
Sheets (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72; Google Earth 2008, unpaginated). San
Antonio Creek is downwind on the southern edge of the San Antonio
Terrace Dune Sheet. The mouth of San Antonio Creek is one of the two
most likely sites for the type locality (La Graciosa) for Cirsium
loncholepis (Keil and Holland 1998, pp. 83-84; Oyler et al. 1995, pp.
1-76; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-
154) and still harbors numerous small marshes and wetlands that are
apparent in aerial imagery (Google Earth 2008, unpaginated). Historical
collections indicate that C. loncholepis used to occur along the Santa
Ynez River, somewhere between the towns of Surf and Lompoc, at the
current edge of Vandenberg Air Force Base (University of Minnesota
Saint Paul Herbarium 2007, unpaginated; Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Herbarium 2007, unpaginated; Santa Barbara Botanical Garden Herbarium
2007, unpaginated; University of California Riverside Herbarium 2007,
unpaginated). Collections of the plant were made here in 1958; however,
by 1988 when surveys were conducted to relocate this population, none
could be found (Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25). Over the years, some, but
not all, habitat for C. loncholepis in the floodplain for the river has
been altered. According to Smith's notes, agricultural fields have been
plowed to the banks of the drainage, willows have been bulldozed, and
herbicides were sprayed to eradicate C. vulgare (bull thistle) (Smith
1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-154). Because this area historically
supported the southernmost, documented C. loncholepis populations and
because some habitat still remains today, it is considered to be an
important area for the conservation of C. loncholepis (Morey 1990, pp.
1-13; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2008, unpaginated).
    Historically, Cirsium loncholepis has been reported or documented
from a total of 25 occurrences as parts of 11 populations ranging from
the dunes near Pismo Beach inland to hillside seeps at Cañada de
las Flores south to the floodplains of the Santa Ynez River (CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Consortium of California Herbaria 2008,
unpaginated). At the time of the listing in 2000, there were 17 known
occurrences of which 11 were extant. These 11 extant occurrences were
distributed among 7 populations (65 FR 14888, March 20, 2000; CNDDB
1998, unpaginated). Since the time of listing in 2000, C. loncholepis
has experienced considerable declines throughout its range in the
number of both occurrences and populations and in the number of
individuals within each of the remaining occurrences and populations.
Currently, C. loncholepis is considered to be extant at seven
occurrences that are distributed among four populations. The seven
extant occurrences consist of five occurrences that were identified in
the final listing rule in 2000 as well as two new occurrences that have
been identified since that time (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2006,
unpaginated, 2007a, unpaginated). Cirsium loncholepis does not
currently occur at the following populations: Oceano, northern
Callender Dune Sheet Lakes, Guadalupe, La Graciosa, Cañada de
las Flores, San Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet, and Santa Ynez River. Since
the time of listing, the loss of known polygons, occurrences, and
populations has outpaced the discovery of new polygons, occurrences,
and populations.
    In habitats that are fragmented and/or isolated, the trend for
native plant species is one of decline (Soule et al. 1992, pp. 39-47).
This supports the equilibrium theory of island biogeography (MacArthur
and Wilson, 1963, pp. 373-387, 1967) that predicts that species with
populations that are isolated and have more extirpation events than re-
colonization events will

[[Page 45816]]

decline to zero (extinction). Recent research on species that are long-
distance dispersers (such as Cirsium loncholepis) determined that when
the distances between suitable habitat sites for a species become
greater than its dispersal distance (such as due to habitat
fragmentation); its long-term survival will be threatened unless the
long-distance dispersal between the sites can be re-established
(Trakhtenbrot et al. 2005, pp. 173-181). The study by Trakhtenbrot et
al. (2005, pp. 173-181) regarding long-distance dispersal species
supports the study by Soule et al. (1992, pp. 39-47) and the
equilibrium theory of island biogeography (MacArthur and Wilson 1963,
pp. 373-387, 1967). Based on these studies and our current
understanding of this species and its decline, we believe that
conserving solely the areas with the remaining known occurrences and
populations of C. loncholepis is not sufficient to conserve or recover
the species. The additional habitat that would provide connectivity
between occurrences and populations is essential for the conservation
and recovery of C. loncholepis. This is supported by Damschen et al.
(2006, pp. 1284-1286), who showed that habitat patches that were
connected by corridors benefitted wildlife and plants.

Primary Constituent Elements for Cirsium loncholepis

    For areas within the geographical area occupied by Cirsium
loncholepis at the time of listing, we must identify the PCEs that may
require special management considerations or protection. Based on the
above needs and our current knowledge of the life history, biology, and
ecology of the species, we have determined the PCEs for C. loncholepis are:
    1. Mesic areas associated with: (a) Margins of dune swales, dune
lakes, marshes, and estuaries that are associated with dynamic
(changing) dune systems including the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex
and Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex; (b) margins of dynamic riparian
systems including the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Rivers and Orcutt and
San Antonio Creeks; and (c) freshwater seeps and intermittent streams
found in other habitats, including grassland, meadow, coastal scrub,
chaparral, and oak woodland. These areas provide space needed for
individual and population growth including sites for germination,
reproduction, seed dispersal, seed bank, and pollination.
    2. Associated plant communities including: Central dune scrub,
coastal dune, coastal scrub, freshwater seep, coastal and valley
freshwater marsh and fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, willow
scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, intermittent streams, and other
wetland communities, generally in association with the following
species: Juncus spp. (rush), Scirpus spp. (tule), Salix spp. (willow),
Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison oak), Distichlis spicata (salt
grass), Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush), and B. douglasii (Douglas'
baccharis).
    3. Soils with a sandy component including but not limited to dune
sands, Oceano sands, Camarillo sandy loams, riverwash, and sandy
alluvial soils.
    4. Features that allow dispersal and connectivity between
populations, particularly: (a) Natural riparian drainages in Santa
Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River that
are not channelized or confined by barriers or dams, such that they
have soft bottoms and sides and a natural flood plain (allowing
uninterrupted water flows); and (b) natural aeolian geomorphology in
the Santa Maria Dune Complex and Santa Ynez Dune Complex, and along the
Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez
River drainages that is not confined by barriers or wind-blocks such as
large man-made structures, tree rows, or wind-breaks (allowing
uninterrupted winds across these areas).
    We believe that C. loncholepis could be conserved and recovered if
populations in habitat with essential features remain connected
throughout the two dune complexes and four major watersheds where it
once was known to occur. With this proposed revision of critical
habitat, we intend to identify the physical and biological features
that are essential to the conservation of the species, through the
identification of the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement of
the PCEs sufficient to support the life history functions of the
species. Each of the areas proposed in this rule have been determined
to contain at least one PCE to provide for the life history functions
of C. loncholepis. Units are proposed for designation based on one or
more PCEs being present to support one or more of the species' life
history functions.

Special Management Considerations or Protections

    When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the occupied
areas contain the physical or biological features essential to the
conservation of the species, and whether these features may require
special management considerations or protection. It is recognized that
numerous activities in and adjacent to the unit designated as critical
habitat, as described in this proposed rule, may affect one or more of
the PCEs found in that unit. These activities include, but are not
limited to, those listed in the Application of the ``Adverse
Modification'' Standard section as activities that may destroy or
adversely modify critical habitat. We summarize here the primary
threats to the physical and biological features essential to the
conservation of the species.
    Many of the known occurrences of Cirsium loncholepis are threatened
by direct and indirect effects from energy-related operations (i.e.,
maintenance activities, hazardous waste cleanup); development that
results in additional habitat modification (i.e., agricultural and
urban development); facility accidents by oil companies or Vandenberg
Air Force Base; groundwater extraction in the Guadalupe Dunes and
vicinity; hydrological alterations; direct and indirect effects from
off highway vehicle (OHV) activity; and small population size; and
habitat fragmentation and loss through the invasion of aggressive
nonnative weeds such as Ammophila arenaria (European beach grass),
Carpobrotus spp. (iceplant), Ehrharta calycina (veldt grass), and
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (crystalline iceplant) (Davis et al.
1988, pp. 169-195; Zedler and Schied 1988, pp. 196-201; Morey 1989, pp.
1-16; Odion et al. 1992, pp. 1-2; CNDDB 1998, unpaginated, 2008,
unpaginated; Chesnut 1998a, unpaginated, 1998b, pp. 1-40; Smith 1976,
p. 282; Smith 1998, pp. 153-154; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CDFG 1992,
pp. 111-112; Keil 2006b, unpaginated). These threats may require
special management to ensure the long-term conservation of C.
loncholepis. Threats specific to individual units are described in the
unit descriptions below.

Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat

    We analyzed the biology, life history, ecology, and distribution
(historical, at the time of listing, and current) of Cirsium
loncholepis. Based on this information, we are proposing to designate
critical habitat in areas within the geographical area occupied by C.
loncholepis at the time of listing in 2000. We also propose some
specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by C. loncholepis
at the time of listing, which although are currently unoccupied, are
within the historical range of the species, and because we have
determined that such areas are

[[Page 45817]]

essential for the conservation of C. loncholepis.
    To delineate proposed revised critical habitat, we first determined
occupancy within the extant range of Cirsium loncholepis. Occupancy
status was determined using occurrence data from research and survey
observations included in reports and other manuscripts (i.e., theses,
monitoring reports); data from research and survey observations
published in peer-reviewed articles; data submitted to the CNDDB;
reports and survey forms prepared for Federal, State, and local
agencies, and private corporations; written and oral communications
from species and physical science experts; information from herbarium
specimens; scientific information in our draft recovery outline for C.
loncholepis (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2008, unpaginated); and
visits by Service biologists to C. loncholepis populations. Areas or
sites containing data indicating occupancy from 1988 or later (within
approximately the past 20 years) were considered currently occupied. We
then determined which areas were occupied at the time of listing by
comparing survey and collection information to descriptions of occupied
areas in the final listing rule published in the Federal Register on
March 20, 2000 (65 FR 14888).
    Based on these studies, our current understanding of the status of
Cirsium loncholepis since the time of listing is that it continues to
decrease in the number of populations, in the number of occurrences
within populations, and in the number of individuals within the
remaining occurrences and populations. Therefore, we determined that
the areas in which the extant populations are distributed are alone not
sufficient to conserve or recover it. Based on its decline, its
biology, and new scientific information on the biological conditions
necessary for long-distance dispersal species (such as C. loncholepis),
we have determined that habitat providing connectivity between the
areas containing the extant populations is also essential for its
conservation and recovery.
    Once we determined the extant range of the species, we analyzed
areas outside the geographical area occupied by Cirsium loncholepis at
the time of listing, but within the historical range of the species,
for areas that are essential. We first looked for large, continuous
blocks of suitable habitat, such as the numerous mesic areas and seeps
in and surrounding the lower reaches of the Santa Ynez River. We then
looked for important corridors of suitable habitat that connect the
large, continuous areas based on their abilities to disperse seed or
pollen, such as the area along Orcutt Creek between the Guadalupe Dunes
and Cañada de las Flores. We then analyzed the presence and
characteristics of other features that are important to maintain the
metapopulation dynamics for C. loncholepis in these areas (e.g., winds
and their relationship to the formation of geographic features,
movement patterns for various dispersal agents, watersheds, geology).
Using all the information above, we were able to discern areas that are
potentially important for the recovery of C. loncholepis. From this, we
then selected the extent of those areas that we consider to be
essential to the conservation and recovery of the species. All of the
areas that we are proposing to designate as critical habitat that are
currently not known to be occupied by the species are essential for its
conservation.
    To map the proposed revised critical habitat units (both those
occupied at the time of listing and those outside the geographical area
occupied by the species at the time of listing), we overlaid Cirsium
loncholepis occurrences (current and historical) on soil series,
vegetation types, and watershed/wetland data to determine appropriate
polygons that would contain one or more PCEs in the quantity and
spatial arrangement necessary to provide the features essential to the
conservation of C. loncholepis. This taxon is closely associated with
dynamic ecosystems such as dune and riparian watershed systems and with
the presence of sandy soil types and mesic conditions, but it also
occurs in adjacent upland habitats and areas. Units were delineated by
first mapping the occurrences (current and historical) and continuous
and intervening suitable habitat, then considering other geographical
features such as developed, urban, and agriculture (e.g., row crops)
areas that are continuously maintained or utilized and removing areas
with these features that did not contain the appropriate quantity and
spatial arrangement of the PCEs essential to the conservation of the
species.
    When determining the proposed revisions to critical habitat
boundaries within this proposed rule, we made every effort to avoid
including developed areas, such as buildings, paved areas, and other
structures, as well as tilled fields and row crops that lack the PCEs
for Cirsium loncholepis. The scale of the maps prepared under the
parameters for publication within the Code of Federal Regulations may
not reflect the exclusion of such developed areas. Any such areas
inadvertently left inside critical habitat boundaries shown on the maps
of this proposed revision to critical habitat have been excluded by
text in the proposed revision and are not proposed for designation as
critical habitat. Therefore, Federal actions limited to these areas
would not trigger section 7 consultation with respect to critical
habitat and the requirement of no adverse modification unless the
specific action may affect adjacent critical habitat.
    Using the above criteria, we identified six units that contain the
necessary features essential to the conservation of Cirsium
loncholepis. These six units are located near the Pacific Coast in
southwestern San Luis Obispo and northwestern Santa Barbara Counties.
The northern-most unit consists of the dune system from Pismo Beach to
the Santa Maria River in San Luis Obispo County. The second unit
consists of the lower reaches of the Santa Maria River in San Luis
Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties and of Orcutt Creek in Santa Barbara
County. The remaining units are all within Santa Barbara County: one at
Cañada de las Flores, one along the lower reaches of San Antonio
Creek, one that encompasses the San Antonio Dunes, and one along the
lower reaches of the Santa Ynez River.
    We are proposing to revise the critical habitat designation on
lands that meet the first prong of the definition of critical habitat
and, therefore, were determined to be occupied at the time of listing
and contain the physical and biological features essential for the
conservation of the species. We are also proposing to revise the
critical habitat designation to include lands that meet the second
prong of the definition of critical habitat and, therefore, consist of
specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at
the time it is listed that are essential for the conservation of the
species. The proposed revision to critical habitat is designed to
provide sufficient habitat to maintain self-sustaining populations of
Cirsium loncholepis throughout its range and provide the necessary
features that are essential for the conservation of the species. The
essential features include: (1) Space for individual and population
growth, including sites for germination, pollination, reproduction,
pollen and seed dispersal; (2) areas that allow gene flow and provide
connectivity between occupied areas; and (3) areas that provide basic
requirements for growth, such as appropriate soil type and openings
within vegetation cover. All proposed revised critical habitat units were

[[Page 45818]]

delineated based on the appropriate quantity and spatial arrangement of
PCEs being present to support C. loncholepis life processes essential
to the conservation of the species.
    Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act authorizes us to issue permits for
the take of listed animal species incidental to otherwise lawful
activities. An incidental take permit application must be supported by
a habitat conservation plan (HCP) that identifies conservation measures
that the permittee agrees to implement for the species to minimize and
mitigate the impacts of the requested incidental take. We often exclude
non-Federal public lands and private lands that are covered by an
existing operative HCP and incidental take permit under section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act from designated critical habitat because the
benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion as discussed
in section 4(b)(2) of the Act. We are currently unaware of any areas
within this critical habitat proposal that fall into this category.

Summary of Changes From Previously Designated Critical Habitat

    The areas identified in this proposed rule constitute a proposed
revision from the areas we designated as critical habitat for Cirsium
loncholepis on March 17, 2004 (69 FR 12553). The main differences
include the following:
    1. The 2004 critical habitat rule consisted of two units comprising
a total of 41,090 acres (16,629 ha). This proposed revision includes
six units comprising a total of 38,447 ac (15,559 ha). Units 4, 5, and
6 are considered to be unoccupied currently and at the time of listing.
In the 2004 final designation, Unit 2 Cañada de las Flores (Unit
3 in the current revised proposed designation) was considered to be
occupied at the time of listing and occupied in the final designation
of critical habitat in 2004. For this revised proposed designation, we
are considering it to currently be unoccupied All six units are within
the historical range of the species. The decrease in acreage is due
primarily to the removal of large areas of agriculture fields under
private ownership that do not contain the appropriate spatial
arrangement, quantity, or quality of the features essential to the
conservation of the species.
    2. We revised the PCEs. The 2004 critical habitat rule listed three
PCEs that we determined were important to maintaining populations of
Cirsium loncholepis where they occur (soils, plant communities, low
cover of non-native species, and physical processes that support
natural dune dynamics). In our proposed revision of critical habitat,
we list five PCEs in an effort to emphasize areas that are important
for the long-distance dispersal of this species and for its
metapopulation dynamics.
    3. We included three areas in this proposal that were not included
in the final designation. These areas include San Antonio Creek, San
Antonio Terrace Dunes, and Santa Ynez River. They are outside of the
geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing, but
are within the historical range of the species (See Figure 1 and Index
Map), and are essential to the conservation and recovery of the species
because the current areas where extant populations of Cirsium
loncholepis are distributed are not sufficient to conserve or recover
it. The resulting proposed critical habitat is more accurately mapped
to include those areas that contain the PCEs and that are essential for
the conservation and recovery of C. loncholepis.

Proposed Revisions to the Critical Habitat Designation

    We are proposing six critical habitat units for Cirsium
loncholepis. These units, if finalized, would entirely replace the
current critical habitat designation for C. loncholepis in 50 CFR
17.95(a). The critical habitat units described below constitute our
best assessment at this time of: (1) Specific areas within the
geographical area determined to be occupied by C. loncholepis at the
time of listing that contain the physical and biological features that
may require special management, and (2) additional specific areas
outside the geographical area occupied by C. loncholepis at the time of
listing that are essential for its conservation. The six proposed
critical habitat units are: Callender-Guadalupe Dunes Unit 1, Santa
Maria River-Orcutt Creek Unit 2, Cañada de las Flores Unit 3,
San Antonio Creek Unit 4, San Antonio Terrace Dunes Unit 5, and Santa
Ynez River Unit 6.
    The approximate area encompassed within each proposed critical
habitat unit is shown in Table 1.

                                            Table 1--Critical Habitat Units Proposed for Cirsium Loncholepis.
                                      [Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit boundaries] \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 State lands          Private lands       County and other        Federal lands       Estimate of total
                                           --------------------------------------------  local jurisdictions ----------------------       acreages
                 Unit name                                                             ----------------------                      ---------------------
                                              Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares    Acres     Hectares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Callender-Guadalupe Dunes..............      2,414        977      5,138      2,079        349        141      2,428        983     10,329      4,180
2. Santa Maria River-Orcutt Creek.........        329        133     12,433      5,032        465        188          0          0     13,227      5,353
3. Cañada de las Flores............          0          0        740        299          0          0          0          0        740        299
4. San Antonio Creek......................          0          0        186         75          0          0      4,149      1,679      4,335      1,754
5. San Antonio Terrace Dunes..............          0          0         52         21          0          0      7,282      2,947      7,334      2,968
6. Santa Ynez River.......................          0          0         43         18         38         15      2,401        972      2,482      1,005
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximate Total.........................      2,743      1,110     18,592      7,524        852        344     16,260      6,581     38,447     15,559
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Approximate acres have been converted to hectares (1 ha = 2.47 ac). Totals are sums of units.

[[Page 45819]]

                  Table 2--Occupancy of Critical Habitat Units Proposed for Cirsium loncholepis
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Occupied at the time
            Unit Name               Within areas occupied at      critical habitat        Known to be occupied
                                      the time of listing?           designated?               currently?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Callender-Guadalupe Dunes.....  Yes......................  Yes.....................  Yes
2. Santa Maria River-Orcutt Creek  Yes......................  Yes.....................  Yes
3. Cañada de las Flores...  Yes......................  Yes.....................  No \1\
4. San Antonio Creek.............  No.......................  No......................  No
5. San Antonio Terrace Dunes.....  No.......................  No......................  No
6. Santa Ynez River..............  No.......................  No......................  No
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ We are not considering this unit to be occupied, but the population may still be extant. Plants have not
  been seen since 1989, but sufficient surveys have not been conducted since 1990.

    We present descriptions of all units, and reasons why they meet the
definition of critical habitat for Cirsium loncholepis below.

Unit 1: Callender-Guadalupe Dunes (10,329 ac (4,180 ha))

    Unit 1 is located in the southwestern corner of San Luis Obispo
County, California. It stretches along 8.5 mi (13.5 km) of coast from
Arroyo Grande Creek south to the Santa Maria River. This unit is south
of Pismo Beach, west of Nipomo and north of Guadalupe. Unit 1 was
occupied at the time of listing, is currently occupied, and contains
the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of
the species (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2006, unpaginated, 2007b,
unpaginated; 65 FR 14888, March 20, 2000). Unit 1 is essential because
it contains three of the four remaining C. loncholepis populations, the
populations represent the northern-most occurrences of the species, and
it includes the largest block of native habitat still occupied by C.
loncholepis. While maintaining all of these three remaining populations
(six occurrences) and the 10,329 ac (4,180 ha) of habitat in this unit
is essential for this species to survive, it does not appear to be
sufficient to maintain this species for the long term because four
occurrences (of eight known at the time of listing) within the three
populations in this unit have been lost since the listing of this plant
in 2000.
    Unit 1 is comprised of 2,428 ac (983 ha) of Federal lands; 2,414 ac
(977 ha) of State lands; 349 ac (141 ha) of County and other local
jurisdiction land; and 5,138 ac (2,079 ha) of private land (162 ac (65
ha) of which belongs to non-governmental organizations (NGOs)). Unit 1
includes a portion of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife
Refuge, Pismo Dunes State Preserve, Oceano Dunes State Vehicular
Recreation Area, and privately owned lands. Unit 1 is located within
the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). This dune
complex contains numerous mesic areas on the margins of dune swales,
dune lakes, marshes, and estuaries within the dynamic (changing)
Callender and Guadalupe Dune Sheets (PCE 1). Unit 1 is dominated by
moderate to strong winds from the northwest most of the time throughout
the year. These winds are a major factor in creating the dunes and
shaping the terrain, such as the parallel ridges and swales that are
essential for the conservation of Cirsium loncholepis (PCE 4).
    The geomorphological processes that shaped/developed the terrain
features in the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex are intact and continue
to rejuvenate and maintain the dynamic dune and riparian features and
processes of the constantly shifting mosaic of terrain, vegetation, and
wetlands (PCE 4). The vegetation in the dunes includes central dune
scrub, coastal dune, coastal scrub, coastal freshwater marsh and fen,
riparian scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland (PCE 2) (Cooper 1967, pp.
75-90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; CNPS 2008,
unpaginated; Holland 1986, pp. 1-156). The soils throughout the dunes
are dominated by sand (PCE 3). The dunes support a wide diversity of
flora and fauna including numerous insects, many of which are
pollinators for Cirsium loncholepis, and hummingbirds (Keil 2008,
unpaginated; Martin et al. 1951, pp. 92-277; Krombein et al. 1979, Vol.
2 pp. 1751-2209; Blecha et al. 2007, pp. 1-354). The dunes also support
numerous small mammal and bird species (Blecha et al. 2007, pp. 1-354)
that act as dispersal vectors for C. loncholepis seed (PCE 4). This
unit contains large tracts of undeveloped land including dunes,
wetlands, and upland areas occupied by the species and its pollinators
(PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). The dynamic geomorphological processes, mosaic
of habitats, and diversity of flora and fauna provide for and enhance
the dispersal of genetic material of C. loncholepis between and among
the various populations (and occurrences) within this dune complex and
provide adjacent uplands for pollinators (PCEs 1, 3, and 4).
    The prevailing, strong wind patterns blow southeast across the
lower Santa Maria River Valley, up Orcutt Creek, past the town of
Orcutt, and beyond Graciosa Ridge to Cañada de las Flores. These
winds are an essential dispersal vector that help move plants/seeds
from the Cirsium loncholepis populations in the Callender and Guadalupe
Dunes to populations in the Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, and
Cañada de las Flores and are essential in maintaining
connectivity between populations in the Santa Maria River Valley and
those in the San Antonio Creek and Santa Ynez River Valleys.
    The essential features found in Unit 1 may require special
management considerations or protection in Unit 1 resulting from: (1)
Direct and indirect effects from energy-related operations (i.e.,
maintenance activities, hazardous waste cleanup, facility accidents);
(2) ground water extraction which lowers the water table and dries the
wetlands; (3) stochastic (i.e., random) extirpation/extinction events
that occur because the population size is small or isolated; (4)
trampling and grazing from trespass of cattle; (5) competition from
invasive, aggressive, nonnative weeds (e.g., Ammophila arenaria,
Carpobrotus spp., Ehrharta calycina, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum);
and (6) direct and indirect effects from OHV activity (Davis et al.
1988, pp. 169-195; Zedler and Schied 1988, pp. 196-201; Morey 1989, pp.
1-16; Odion et al. 1992, pp. 1-2; CNDDB 1998, unpaginated, 2008,
unpaginated; Chesnut 1998a, unpaginated, 1998b, pp. 1-40; Smith 1976,
p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-154; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CDFG 1992 pp.
111-112; Elvin 2006, unpaginated; Keil 2006b, unpaginated).

[[Page 45820]]

Unit 2: Santa Maria River-Orcutt Creek (13,227 ac (5,353 ha))

    Unit 2 is located along the lower 5 mi (8 km) of the Santa Maria
River and along the length of Orcutt Creek (approximately 13 mi (21
km)) in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, California. Unit 2
was occupied at the time of listing, is currently occupied, and
contains the physical and biological features essential to the
conservation of the species (CNDDB 2007; 65 FR 14888, March 20, 2000).
Unit 2 is essential because it contains the last Cirsium loncholepis
population in riparian habitat. Unit 2 also contains what has
historically been recognized as the largest C. loncholepis population
with an estimated 54,000 individuals being reported in 1990 (CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25). However, only about 25
plants were observed in the lower 0.9 mi (1.5 km) stretch of the Santa
Maria River when visited in November 2006 (Elvin 2006, unpaginated).
This unit contains large blocks of intact riparian habitat along the
Santa Maria River and the southwest side of Orcutt Creek. Unit 2 is
also essential as a dispersal corridor between the Santa Maria Valley
and the Santa Ynez Valley.
    Unit 2 is comprised of 329 ac (133 ha) of State land; 465 ac (188
ha) of County and other local jurisdiction land; and 12,433 ac (5,032
ha) of private lands. Unit 2 includes Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Park in
Santa Barbara County. Unit 2 is located within the broad Santa Maria
Valley, in the floodplains of the lower Santa Maria River and Orcutt
Creek. Unit 2 is also within the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex (Hunt
1993, pp. 5-72). It skirts the edges of the Guadalupe Dune Sheet to the
north of the Santa Maria River, the Mussel Rock Dune Sheet to the
southeast of Orcutt Creek and the Santa Maria River, and the Orcutt
Terrace Dune Sheet to the northeast of the upper reaches of Orcutt
Creek (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). These drainages and the adjacent dune
sheets contain numerous mesic areas on the margins and floodplains of
the river and creek and freshwater seeps and in grasslands, coastal
scrub, and chaparral in the adjacent dune sheets (PCEs 1, 2, 3 and 4).
    The geomorphological processes (fluvial and aeolian) that shaped
and developed the terrain features in the Santa Maria Valley Dune
Complex are intact and continue to affect the dynamic dune and riparian
features and processes and their associated habitats in this unit (PCEs
1, 2, 3, and 4). The more interior portions of this unit are primarily
within the lower portion of the Santa Maria River Valley where
conversion to agricultural production to the edges of the river and the
northeastern edge of the creek has occurred. The lower 5 mi (8 km) of
the Santa Maria River remain intact with riparian scrub vegetation,
sandy alluvial soils (PCEs 2 and 3), and dynamic fluvial
geomorphological processes, which allow it to operate as a dynamic
riparian system with uninterrupted water flows (PCEs 1 and 4). Pockets
of numerous small marshes, wetlands, and drainages are still
interspersed within the agricultural fields along Orcutt Creek, and the
dynamic processes that rejuvenate and maintain the ever-changing mosaic
of coastal scrub and riparian habitats are still largely intact (PCEs
1, 2, and 3). Additionally, areas to the southwest of Orcutt Creek
contain large blocks of intact habitat (PCEs 1, 2, and 3) including
suitable upland habitat areas between the intermittent streams and
freshwater seeps (PCE 1) that provide habitat for pollinators and other
dispersal vectors (PCE 4) such as birds and small mammals that move
Cirsium seed. The vegetation in this unit includes central dune scrub,
coastal dune, coastal scrub, freshwater seep, coastal and valley
freshwater marsh and fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, willow
scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, and intermittent streams (PCE 2)
(CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated; Holland 1986, pp. 1-
156; Elvin 2006, unpaginated). The soils in this unit are predominantly
sandy (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation
Service (USDA NRCS) 2000, unpaginated; 2005, unpaginated) (PCE 3).
    Unit 2 is dominated by the prevailing, moderate to strong winds
from the northwest that blow southeast along the length of Orcutt
Creek, which would then function as a dispersal corridor for Cirsium
loncholepis seed from the dunes to Cañada de las Flores. These
winds help move seeds from the populations in the Callender and
Guadalupe Dunes to pocket wetlands along Orcutt Creek, to seeps and
intermittent drainages southwest of the creek (along the Mussel Rock
Dune Sheet), and eventually to the C. loncholepis population at
Cañada de las Flores (PCEs 1 and 4). Orcutt Creek also acts as a
dispersal vector by carrying seed from upstream plants down to the
Santa Maria River population (PCE 1 and 4). These intermittent wetland
sites or ``pocket wetlands'' and the intervening habitat areas are
essential to maintain connectivity between more distant populations
(Trakhtenbrot et al. 2005, pp. 173-181; Higgins and Richardson 1999,
pp. 464-475), particularly between those in the Santa Maria Valley and
those in the San Antonio Creek and Santa Ynez Valleys. These pocket
wetlands also act as important core areas for C. loncholepis.
    The essential features found in Unit 2 may require special
management considerations for or protection from: (1) Nutrient inputs
in the water systems that are above concentrations known to adversely
affect freshwater ecosystems and cause adverse ecological effects
including altering the composition of the plant community and inducing
biostimulation; (2) stochastic (i.e., random) extirpation/extinction
events that occur because the population size of some occurrences is
small or isolated; (3) trampling and grazing from cattle; or (4)
competition from invasive, aggressive, nonnative weeds (e.g., Ammophila
arenaria, Carpobrotus spp., Ehrharta calycina, Mesembryanthemum
crystallinum) (California State Water Resources Control Board 2006, pp.
1-71; Central Coastal Ambient Monitoring Program 2002, pp. 1-60; Dodds
et al. 1998, pp. 1455-1462; Davis et al. 1988, pp. 169-195; Zedler and
Schied 1988, pp. 196-201; Morey 1989, pp. 1-16; Odion et al. 1992, pp.
1-2; CNDDB 1998, unpaginated, 2007, unpaginated; Chesnut1998a,
unpaginated, 1998b, pp. 1-40; Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-154;
Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; CDFG 1992, pp. 111-112; Elvin 2006,
unpaginated; Keil 2006b, unpaginated).

Unit 3: Cañada de las Flores (740 ac (299 ha))

    Unit 3 is located approximately 5 mi (8 km) northwest of the town
of Los Alamos and southwest of the Solomon Hills in Santa Barbara
County, California. Unit 3 was considered to be occupied at the time of
the listing and at the time critical habitat was designated for this
species in 2004. Cirsium loncholepis may still be extant at
Cañada de las Flores. It was last observed at this site in 1989
(Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25). Since the time of listing and at the time
critical habitat was designated, there have still been no observations
of C. loncholepis here. While C. loncholepis may still be at
Cañada de las Flores, we are considering Cañada de las
Flores to be unoccupied for the purposes of this rule based on the
continued lack of observation of C. loncholepis since 2000 (Hendrickson
1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium of California
Herbaria 2008, unpaginated; Elvin 2007a, unpaginated; 65 FR 14888,
March 20, 2000). The population in Unit 3 represents the eastern-most and

[[Page 45821]]

farthest-inland location at which Cirsium loncholepis has been
documented. Additionally, Unit 3 occurs at a pivotal location for the
species as a whole; it is down-wind from populations in the Santa Maria
Valley and upstream from populations in the San Antonio Valley (e.g.,
the mouth of San Antonio Creek (one of the potential type locality
sites for C. loncholepis) and San Antonio Terrace Dunes). Therefore,
the Cañada de las Flores location is essential to maintain
connectivity between populations in the Santa Maria Valley and
populations in the San Antonio Creek and Santa Ynez Valleys (PCE 4)
    Unit 3 is comprised of 740 ac (299 ha) of private land at the head
of La Cañada de las Flores in Santa Barbara County, California.
Unit 3 contains mesic areas at the edge of freshwater seep, marsh,
meadow, grassland, chaparral, and oak woodland habitats (PCEs 1 and 2).
We consider the two Cirsium loncholepis occurrences that have been
recorded (and may still occur) here to be part of one population that
has expanded at times to represent one large polygon of plants (CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2007b, unpaginated). Cañada de las
Flores has slightly different environmental conditions than the coastal
areas; specifically, it is at a higher elevation (200 ft (61 m)) and
has a warmer climate. Preserving any genetic variability within the
species that has allowed it to adapt to these slightly different
environmental conditions would be important for the long-term survival
and conservation of the species. Cañada de las Flores is mapped
as Camarillo sandy loam with sand visible on the surface throughout the
floor and lower portions of the surrounding hills/ridges in the canyon
(PCE 3) (U.S. Soil Conservation Service 1972, unpaginated; Hendrickson
1990, pp. 1-25; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2007b, unpaginated).

Unit 4: San Antonio Creek (4,335 ac (1,754 ha))

    Unit 4 is located in the northwestern portion of Santa Barbara
County, California. Unit 4 stretches along the lower 11 mi (17 km) of
San Antonio Creek. Unit 4 was not considered to be occupied at the time
of listing, and is currently considered to be unoccupied, although it
is within the historical distribution of the species. The mouth of San
Antonio Creek is one of the two most likely locations for the type
locality for Cirsium loncholepis (Smith 1976, p. 282, 1998, pp. 153-
154; Hendrickson 1990, pp. 1-25; Oyler et al. 1995, pp. 1-76;
California Academy of Sciences Herbarium 2007, unpaginated).
    Unit 4 is comprised of 4,149 ac (1,679 ha) of Federal lands and 186
ac (75 ha) of private lands. The majority of Unit 4 lands occur on
Vandenberg Air Force Base. Most of the mission-critical projects and
activities on Vandenberg Air Force Base are confined to areas outside
of wetlands in general, and San Antonio Creek in particular. The few
known land uses in and immediately adjacent to San Antonio Creek
consist of agriculture leases and transportation and communications
crossings (SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35). There are many sensitive
resources along San Antonio Creek including jurisdictional wetlands,
cultural resources, and sensitive species (SRS Technologies 2003, pp.
1-1 to 9-14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35). Management activities
for these resources may also benefit Cirsium loncholepis. Unit 4 is
located within the Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex, and San Antonio
Creek is one of the two major drainages in it (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72).
San Antonio Creek is the geological feature that separates the San
Antonio Dune Sheet and the Burton Mesa Dune Sheet. This drainage and
the adjacent dune sheets contain numerous mesic areas on the margins of
the creek and its floodplain; in freshwater marshes (e.g., Barka
Slough); and in freshwater seeps in adjacent grasslands, coastal scrub,
chaparral, and the adjacent dune sheets that allow for dispersal (PCEs
1, 3, and 4) (Dial 1980, pp. 1-100; Cooper 1967, pp. 75-90; Hunt 1993,
pp. 5-72; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated).
    The geomorphological processes (fluvial and aeolian) that shaped
and developed the terrain features in the San Antonio Valley are intact
and continue to affect the dynamic riparian and adjacent dune features
and processes in this unit (PCEs 1 and 4). The lower 10 mi (16 km) of
San Antonio Creek remain intact with riparian scrub, woodland, and
forest vegetations (PCE 2); sandy alluvial soils (PCE 3); and dynamic
fluvial geomorphological processes, which allow it to operate as a
dynamic riparian system with uninterrupted flows of water (PCEs 1 and
4). Numerous small marshes, wetlands, and intermittent tributary
drainages still occur naturally along this stretch of San Antonio Creek
and the dynamic processes that rejuvenate and maintain the riparian
habitats are still largely intact here (PCEs 1 and 4) (Keil 1997, pp.
1-12; Dial 1980, pp. 1-100; SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; SRS
Technologies 2007 pp. 1-35; Google Earth 2008, unpaginated).
Additionally, areas adjacent to the creek on both sides still contain
large blocks of intact habitat (PCEs 1, 2 and 4) including suitable
upland habitat areas between the intermittent streams and freshwater
seeps (PCEs 1 and 2) that provide habitat for pollinators and other
dispersal vectors (PCE 4) such as birds and small mammals that move
Cirsium seed (SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35). The vegetation in this
unit includes central dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal scrub,
freshwater seep, coastal and valley freshwater marsh and fen, riparian
scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, willow scrub), chaparral, oak woodland,
and intermittent streams (PCE 2) (SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35; Keil
1997, pp. 1-12; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated;
Holland 1986, pp. 1-156; Elvin 2007c, unpaginated). The soils in this
unit are predominantly sandy (USDA NRCS 2005, unpaginated; SRS
Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14) (PCE 3).
    This unit is dominated by the prevailing, moderate to strong winds
from the northwest that blow southeast across the San Antonio Dune
Sheet and up San Antonio Creek (USDA NRCS 2008, unpaginated; NOAA 2007,
unpaginated). These winds are an essential dispersal vector that help
disperse seeds from the San Antonio Dunes and the estuary at the mouth
of San Antonio Creek to suitable habitat sites upstream along San
Antonio Creek (PCE 4). The uninterrupted flow of water from the
headwaters of San Antonio Creek and its tributaries down to its mouth
is essential to facilitate the dispersal of Cirsium loncholepis seeds
from and maintain connectivity between upstream populations such as
Cañada de las Flores to other suitable mesic habitat sites
downstream along San Antonio Creek and to mesic areas in the adjacent
dune sheets (PCE 4).
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Unit 4 is
essential to the conservation of the species because it contains lands
along San Antonio Creek that can function as a core area and dispersal
corridor for Cirsium loncholepis. Unit 4 is essential as a core area
for C. loncholepis and would decrease fragmentation for the species. It
contains many intermittent wetlands along the length of the creek and
in the estuary at the mouth of the San Antonio Creek and is capable of
supporting populations for long periods of time. These intermittent
wetland sites (PCE 1) and the intervening habitat areas are also
essential to maintain connectivity between more distant C. loncholepis
populations (Trakhtenbrot et al. 2005, pp. 173-181; Higgins and
Richardson 1999, pp. 464-475), such as those in the upper watershed of
San Antonio Creek and those in the lower reaches of the

[[Page 45822]]

creek and the adjacent San Antonio Terrace Dunes. Unit 4 is more easily
managed for the species than many other areas in the historical
distribution of the species because there are fewer pressures for
commercial or agricultural development.

Unit 5: San Antonio Terrace Dunes (7,334 ac (2,968 ha))

    Unit 5 is located in western Santa Barbara County, California. Unit
5 stretches along 4 mi (6.5 km) of the coast north from San Antonio
Creek. This unit is southwest of the town of Casmalia. Unit 5 was not
considered to be occupied at the time of listing and is currently
considered to be unoccupied; it is within the historical distribution
of the species. Cirsium loncholepis has been reported from wetlands in
the San Antonio Terrace Dunes, but has not been officially documented
with a herbarium specimen (CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Consortium of
California Herbaria 2008, unpaginated).
    Unit 5 is comprised of 7,282 ac (2,947 ha) of Federal lands on
Vandenberg Air Force Base and 52 ac (21 ha) of private lands. Most of
the projects and activities on Vandenberg Air Force Base are confined
to areas outside of wetlands. The few known land uses in the San
Antonio Terrace consist of ``improved areas,'' launch facilities,
transportation and communications facilities, recreational activities,
and remediation and restoration programs (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-
1 to 9-14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35). There are numerous
sensitive resources on San Antonio Terrace including jurisdictional
wetlands, cultural resources, and sensitive species (SRS Technologies
2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35). Management
activities for some of the resources may also benefit Cirsium
loncholepis. Unit 5 is located within the Santa Ynez Valley Dune
Complex (Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72). The San Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet is
the primary physiographic feature in Unit 5. San Antonio Creek is one
of the two major drainages in the Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex (Hunt
1993, pp. 5-72). This dune complex contains numerous mesic areas on the
margins of dune swales, dune lakes, and marshes within the dynamic
(changing) San Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet (PCEs 1 and 3). Unit 5 is
dominated by strong winds from the northwest throughout the majority of
the year that are a major factor in creating the dunes and shaping the
terrain, such as the parallel ridges and the swales and other dune
wetlands that are so important for Cirsium loncholepis (PCE 4) (USDA
NRCS 2008, unpaginated; NOAA 2007, unpaginated; Hendrickson 1990, pp.
1-25).
    The geomorphological processes that shaped and developed the
terrain features in the Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex are intact and
continue to rejuvenate and maintain the dynamic dune and riparian
features and processes of the constantly shifting mosaic of terrain,
vegetation, and wetlands (PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). The vegetation in the
dunes includes central dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal strand,
coastal scrub, coastal freshwater marsh and fen, riparian scrub,
chaparral, and oak woodland (PCE 2) (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to
9-14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35; Cooper 1967, pp. 75-90; CNDDB
2007, unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated; Holland 1986, pp. 1-156).
The soils throughout these dunes are dominated by sand (PCE 3) (Cooper
1967, pp. 75-90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72; USDA NRCS 2005, unpaginated).
Dunes in the vicinity of Vandenberg Air Force Base support a wide
diversity of flora and fauna including numerous insects and
hummingbirds, many of which are pollinators for Cirsium loncholepis
(SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; Keil 2008, unpaginated; Martin
et al. 1951, pp. 92-277; Krombein et al. 1979, Vol. 2 pp. 1751-2209;
Blecha et al. 2007, pp. 1-354). The dunes also support numerous small
mammal and bird species (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; Blecha
et al. 2007, pp. 1-354) that act as dispersal vectors for C.
loncholepis seed (PCE 4). This unit contains large tracts of
undeveloped land including dunes, wetlands, and upland areas utilized
by the species and its pollinators (PCEs 1, 2, 3, and 4). The dynamic
geomorphological processes, mosaic of habitats, and diversity of flora
and fauna provide for and enhance the dispersal of genetic material of
Cirsium loncholepis between and among the various wetlands within this
dune complex and provide adjacent uplands for pollinators (PCEs 1, 2,
3, and 4).
    The prevailing, strong wind patterns from the northwest, greater
than 7.47 mph (12.02 kph) most of the time throughout the year, blow
southeast across the San Antonio Terrace Dunes to areas up San Antonio
Creek, across the Burton Mesa Dune Sheet, and along the Santa Ynez
River. These winds are an essential dispersal vector that would help
disperse Cirsium loncholepis seeds from the San Antonio Dunes to
suitable habitat sites upstream along San Antonio Creek, in the Burton
Mesa Dunes, and along the Santa Ynez River (PCE 4). The uninterrupted
flow of these winds is essential to facilitate this dispersal and to
maintain connectivity between C. loncholepis populations that might
occur in these areas (PCEs 1 and 3) (USDA NRCS 2008, unpaginated; NOAA
2007, unpaginated; SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14).
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Unit 5 is
essential as a core area for C. loncholepis in that the many mesic
areas and intermittent wetlands within the dune system are capable of
supporting C. loncholepis populations for long periods of time. The San
Antonio Terrace Dune Sheet supports numerous dune wetlands and swales
and is very similar in habitat, physical, and geological features to
the Callender and Guadalupe Dune Sheets (Cooper 1967, pp. 75-90; Hunt
1993, pp. 5-72; Google Earth 2008, unpaginated). These wetland sites
and the intervening upland habitat areas are essential to maintain
connectivity within this dune system and between more distant C.
loncholepis populations (Trakhtenbrot et al. 2005, pp. 173-181; Higgins
and Richardson 1999, pp. 464-475), such as along San Antonio Creek and
those in and along the Santa Ynez River or those between the Santa
Maria Valley (specifically in the Santa Maria Valley Dune Complex and
the Santa Maria River drainage system) and those downwind in the Santa
Ynez Valley. Unit 5 is more easily managed for the species than many
other areas in the historical distribution of the species because there
are fewer pressures for commercial or agricultural development.

Unit 6: Santa Ynez River (2,482 ac (1,005 ha))

    Unit 6 is located in the western portion of Santa Barbara County,
California. This unit consists of the lower 4 mi (3.5 km) of the Santa
Ynez River, most of which is on Vandenberg Air Force Base. Unit 6 is
west of Lompoc and east of Surf. Unit 6 was not considered to be
occupied at the time of listing, and is currently considered to be
unoccupied. Unit 6 is within the historical distribution of the species.
    Unit 6 is comprised of 2,401 ac (972 ha) of Federal lands, 38 ac
(15 ha) of county and other local jurisdiction land, and 43 ac (18 ha)
of private land. The majority of Unit 6 lands occur on Vandenberg Air
Force Base. Most of the mission-critical projects and activities on
Vandenberg Air Force Base are confined to areas outside of wetlands in
general, and the Santa Ynez River in particular. The few known land
uses in and immediately adjacent to the Santa Ynez River consist of
grazing and agriculture programs, transportation and communications
facilities, recreational programs, and several restoration

[[Page 45823]]

programs (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; SRS Technologies
2007, pp. 1-35). There are many sensitive resources along San Antonio
Creek including jurisdictional wetlands, cultural resources, and
sensitive species (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; SRS
Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35). Management activities for these resources
may also benefit Cirsium loncholepis. The Santa Ynez River is one of
the two major drainages in the Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex (Hunt
1993, pp. 5-72). The Santa Ynez River is the geological feature that
separates the Burton Mesa Dune Sheet and the Lompoc Terrace Dune Sheet.
This drainage and the adjacent uplands contain numerous mesic areas on
the margins of the river and its floodplain; in freshwater marshes; in
intermittent streams that are tributaries; and in freshwater seeps in
adjacent grasslands, coastal scrub, and chaparral (PCEs 1, 2, and 3)
(Google Earth 2008, unpaginated; CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; Elvin 2008,
unpaginated).
    The geomorphological processes (fluvial and aeolian) that shaped
and developed the terrain features in the Santa Ynez Valley are intact
and continue to affect the dynamic dune and riparian features and
processes and their associated habitats in this unit (PCEs 1 and 4).
The lower 4 mi (6.4 km) of the Santa Ynez River remains mostly intact
with some adjacent agriculture; adjacent riparian scrub vegetation and
sandy alluvial soils (PCE 2); and dynamic fluvial geomorphological
processes, which allow it to operate as a dynamic riparian system with
uninterrupted water flows (PCEs 1 and 4). Additionally, areas to the
north and south of the river contain large blocks of intact habitat
(PCEs 1 and 4), including suitable upland habitat areas between the
intermittent streams and freshwater seeps (PCE 1) that provide habitat
for pollinators and other dispersal vectors (PCE 4) such as birds and
small mammals that move Cirsium seed. The vegetation in this unit
includes central dune scrub, coastal dune, coastal scrub, freshwater
seep, coastal and valley freshwater marsh and fen, riparian scrub
(e.g., mule fat scrub, willow scrub), chaparral, and intermittent
streams (PCEs 1, and 2) (Cooper 1967, pp. 75-90; Hunt 1993, pp. 5-72;
CNDDB 2007, unpaginated; CNPS 2008, unpaginated; Holland 1986, pp. 1-
156; SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp.
1-35; Elvin 2007c, unpaginated; Elvin 2008, unpaginated). The soils in
this unit are predominantly sandy (USDA NRCS 2008, unpaginated; SRS
Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14; SRS Technologies 2007, pp. 1-35;
Elvin 2007c, unpaginated; Elvin 2008, unpaginated) (PCE 3).
    In Unit 6, as in Unit 5, the prevailing, strong wind patterns from
the northwest, greater than 7.47 mph (12.02 kph) most of the time
throughout the year, blow southeast across the San Antonio Terrace
Dunes to areas up San Antonio Creek, across the Burton Mesa Dune Sheet,
and along the Santa Ynez River. These winds are an essential dispersal
vector that would help disperse Cirsium loncholepis seeds from the San
Antonio Dunes to suitable habitat sites upstream along San Antonio
Creek, in the Burton Mesa Dunes, and along the Santa Ynez River (PCE
4). The uninterrupted flow of these winds is essential to facilitate
this dispersal and to maintain connectivity between C. loncholepis
populations that might occur in these areas (PCEs 1 and 4) (USDA NRCS
2008, unpaginated; NOAA 2007, unpaginated; SRS Technologies 2003, pp.
1-1 to 9-14). These strong winds also blow from the lower portion of
the Santa Ynez River along the north base of the Santa Ynez Mountains,
more or less upstream along the Santa Ynez River and to the numerous
seeps along the north base of the Santa Ynez Mountains. These winds are
an essential dispersal vector that would help move any Cirsium
loncholepis seeds from San Antonio Terrace Dunes to the Santa Ynez
River (and its ancillary, adjacent wetlands) and from the lower reaches
of the Santa Ynez River to the pocket wetlands along the river and
upstream. These uninterrupted winds are essential to maintain
connectivity between population areas in the Santa Ynez Valley (PCEs 1
and 4) (USDA NRCS 2008, unpaginated; NOAA 2007, unpaginated; SRS
Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14). The Santa Ynez River also acts as
a dispersal vector by carrying seed from upstream plants down to the
mouth (PCE 1 and 4). The uninterrupted flow of water from up-river
along the Santa Ynez River to the wetlands at its mouth is essential to
maintain the connectivity between occurrences in Unit 6 (PCE 4). The
lower reaches of the Santa Ynez River contain numerous pocket wetlands,
intermittent streams/tributaries, marshes, and estuaries. Several
hillside seeps also occur in this stretch of the river (PCE 1).
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Unit 6 is
essential as a core area for C. loncholepis in that the many
intermittent wetlands and freshwater seeps within the dynamic river
system are capable of supporting C. loncholepis populations for long
periods of time. The wetlands and the intervening upland habitat areas
in Unit 6 are essential to maintain connectivity within and throughout
this riparian system as a core area for C. loncholepis. Unit 6 is more
easily managed for the species than many other areas in the historical
distribution of the species because a large part of this unit has fewer
pressures for commercial or agricultural development.

Effects of Critical Habitat Designation

Section 7 Consultation

    Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies, including the
Service, to ensure that actions they fund, authorize, or carry out are
not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Decisions
by the 5th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeals have invalidated our
definition of ``destruction or adverse modification'' (50 CFR 402.02)
(see Gifford Pinchot Task Force v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 378
F. 3d 1059 (9th Cir 2004) and Sierra Club v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service et al., 245 F.3d 434, 443 (5th Cir 2001)), and we do not rely
on this regulatory definition when analyzing whether an action is
likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Under the
statutory provisions of the Act, we determine destruction or adverse
modification on the basis of whether, with implementation of the
proposed Federal action, the affected critical habitat would remain
functional (or retain the current ability for the PCEs to be
functionally established) to serve its intended conservation role for
the species.
    Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to confer with
us on any action that is likely to jeopardize the continued existence
of a species proposed for listing or result in destruction or adverse
modification of proposed critical habitat. Conference reports provide
conservation recommendations to assist the agency in eliminating
conflicts that may be caused by the proposed action. We may issue a
formal conference report if requested by a Federal agency. Formal
conference reports on proposed critical habitat contain an opinion that
is prepared according to 50 CFR 402.14, as if critical habitat were
designated. We may adopt the formal conference report as the biological
opinion when the critical habitat is designated, if no significant new
information or changes in the action alter the content of the opinion
(see 50 CFR 402.10(d)). The conservation recommendations in a
conference report are advisory.

[[Page 45824]]

    If we list a species or designate critical habitat, section 7(a)(2)
of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities they
authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of the species or to destroy or adversely modify
its critical habitat. Activities on State, Tribal, local, or private
lands requiring a Federal permit (such as a permit from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps) under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33
U.S.C. 1251 et seq. ) or a permit from us under section 10 of the Act)
or involving some other Federal action (such as funding from the
Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, or the
Federal Emergency Management Agency) are subject to the section 7(a)(2)
consultation process. Federal actions not affecting listed species or
critical habitat, and actions on State, Tribal, local, or private lands
that are not federally funded, authorized, or carried out, do not
require section 7(a)(2) consultations. If a Federal action may affect a
listed species or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency
(action agency) must enter into consultation with us. As a result of
this consultation, we document compliance with the requirements of
section 7(a)(2) through our issuance of:
    (1) A concurrence letter for Federal actions that may affect, but
are not likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat;
or
    (2) A biological opinion for Federal actions that may affect, and
are likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat.
    When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat, we also provide
reasonable and prudent alternatives to the project, if any are
identifiable. We define ``Reasonable and prudent alternatives'' at 50
CFR 402.02 as alternative actions identified during consultation that:
    (1) Can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended
purpose of the action,
    (2) Can be implemented consistent with the scope of the Federal
agency's legal authority and jurisdiction,
    (3) Are economically and technologically feasible, and
    (4) Would, in the Director's opinion, avoid jeopardizing the
continued existence of the listed species or destroying or adversely
modifying critical habitat.
    Reasonable and prudent alternatives can vary from slight project
modifications to extensive redesign or relocation of the project. Costs
associated with implementing a reasonable and prudent alternative are
similarly variable.
    When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is not
likely to jeopardize a listed species or adversely modify critical
habitat, but may result in incidental take of listed animals, we
provide an incidental take statement that specifies the impact of such
incidental taking on the species. We then define ``Reasonable and
Prudent Measures'' considered necessary or appropriate to minimize the
impact of such taking. Reasonable and prudent measures are binding
measures the action agency must implement to receive an exemption to
the prohibition against take contained in section 9 of the Act. These
reasonable and prudent measures are implemented through specific
``Terms and Conditions'' that must be followed by the action agency or
passed along by the action agency as binding conditions to an
applicant. Reasonable and prudent measures, along with the terms and
conditions that implement them, cannot alter the basic design,
location, scope, duration, or timing of the action under consultation
and may involve only minor changes (50 CFR 402.14). The Service may
provide the action agency with additional conservation recommendations,
which are advisory and not intended to carry binding legal force.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require Federal agencies to reinitiate
consultation on previously reviewed actions in instances where we have
listed a new species or subsequently designated critical habitat that
may be affected and the Federal agency has retained discretionary
involvement or control over the action (or the agency's discretionary
involvement or control is authorized by law). Consequently, Federal
agencies may sometimes need to request reinitiation of consultation
with us on actions for which formal consultation has been completed, if
those actions with discretionary involvement or control may affect
subsequently listed species or designated critical habitat.

Application of the ``Adverse Modification'' Standard

    The key factor related to the adverse modification determination is
whether, with implementation of the proposed Federal action, the
affected critical habitat would continue to serve its intended
conservation role for the species, or would retain its current ability
for the PCEs to be functionally established. Activities that may
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat are those that alter the
physical and biological features, or other conservation role and
function of the affected designated area, to an extent that appreciably
reduces the conservation value of critical habitat for Cirsium
loncholepis. Generally, the conservation role of C. loncholepis
critical habitat units is to support viable core populations and
corridors, which support temporal populations that maintain
connectivity between core area populations.
    Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us to briefly evaluate and
describe, in any proposed or final regulation that designates critical
habitat, activities involving a Federal action that may destroy or
adversely modify such habitat, or that may be affected by such designation.
    Activities that, when carried out, funded, or authorized by a
Federal agency, may affect critical habitat and therefore should result
in consultation for Cirsium loncholepis include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Actions that would degrade or destroy native maritime
chaparral, dune, and oak woodland communities, including but not
limited to, livestock grazing, clearing, disking, introducing or
encouraging the spread of non-native plants, and heavy recreational
use;
    (2) Actions that would appreciably diminish habitat value or
quality through indirect effects (e.g., edge effects, invasion of non-
native plants or animals, or fragmentation), such as livestock grazing;
clearing vegetation; disking; introducing or encouraging the spread of
non-native plants; heavy recreational use; fragmentation of habitat
blocks, the creation of barriers or dams; channelizing rivers, creeks,
or drainages; or the introduction or creation of barriers or wind-
blocks such as large man-made structures, developments, tree rows, or
windbreaks.
    (3) Actions that would appreciably interrupt or alter water flows
in the Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, or Santa
Ynez River (such as channelization or confinement of the water flows by
barriers or dams or converting them from soft bottoms and sides to a
lined, channelized drainage).
    (4) Actions that would appreciably interrupt or alter winds across
the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Dune Complexes and along the
Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez
River watershed areas such that the natural aeolian geomorphology in
the Santa Maria Dune Complex and Santa Ynez Dune Complex, and along the
Santa Maria

[[Page 45825]]

River, Orcutt Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River drainages
would be blocked or altered by barriers or wind-blocks such as large
man-made structures, developments, tree rows, or windbreaks.

Exemptions and Exclusions

Application of Section 4(a)(3) of the Act

    The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub.
L. 108-136) amended the Act to limit areas eligible for designation as
critical habitat. Specifically, section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act (16
U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)(i)) now provides: ``The Secretary shall not
designate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical areas
owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its
use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management
plan [INRMP] prepared under section 670a of this title, if the
Secretary determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit to
the species for which critical habitat is proposed for designation.''
    The Sikes Improvement Act of 1997 (Sikes Act) (16 U.S.C. 670a)
required each military installation that includes land and water
suitable for the conservation and management of natural resources to
complete, by November 17, 2001, an INRMP. An INRMP integrates
implementation of the military mission of the installation with
stewardship of the natural resources found on the base. Each INRMP
includes an assessment of the ecological needs on the installation,
including the need to provide for the conservation of listed species; a
statement of goals and priorities; a detailed description of management
actions to be implemented to provide for these ecological needs; and a
monitoring and adaptive management plan. Among other things, each INRMP
must, to the extent appropriate and applicable, provide for fish and
wildlife management, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement or
modification, wetland protection, enhancement, and restoration where
necessary to support fish and wildlife and enforcement of applicable
natural resource laws.
    Lands at Vandenberg Air Force Base are not discussed in this
section because Vandenberg Air Force Base only has a draft INRMP for
2003-2008 (SRS Technologies 2003, pp. 1-1 to 9-14). This draft does not
currently include management guidelines for Cirsium loncholepis. We are
currently working with Vandenberg Air Force Base on a programmatic
consultation for base-wide activities.

Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary must designate
and revise critical habitat on the basis of the best available
scientific data after taking into consideration the economic impact,
national security impact, and any other relevant impact, of specifying
any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may exclude an
area from critical habitat if he determines that the benefits of such
exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such area as part of the
critical habitat, unless he determines, based on the best scientific
data available, that the failure to designate such area as critical
habitat will result in the extinction of the species. In making that
determination, the statute, as well as its legislative history, is
clear that the Secretary has broad discretion regarding which factor(s)
to use and how much weight to give to any factor.
    Pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we must consider relevant
impacts in addition to economic ones. We anticipate no impact to
national security, Tribal lands, or HCPs from this proposed revision to
the current critical habitat designation. Based on the best available
information, we believe that all of the proposed revised units contain
the features essential to Cirsium loncholepis or are otherwise
essential for the conservation of this species. As such, we have
considered but are not proposing to exclude any lands from this
designation based on the potential impacts to these or other factors.
However, during the development of a final designation, we will be
considering economic impacts, public comments, and other new
information, and areas may be excluded from the final critical habitat
designation under section 4(b)(2) and our implementing regulations at
50 CFR 424.19.

Economic Analysis

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act allows the Secretary to exclude areas
from critical habitat for economic reasons if the Secretary determines
that the benefits of such exclusion exceed the benefits of designating
the area as critical habitat. However, this exclusion cannot occur if
it will result in the extinction of the species concerned.
    We are preparing an analysis of the economic impacts of this
proposed revision to critical habitat for Cirsium loncholepis. We will
announce the availability of the draft economic analysis as soon as it
is completed, at which time we will seek public review and comment. At
that time, copies of the draft economic analysis will be available for
downloading from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, or by
contacting the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office directly (see ADDRESSES
section). We may exclude areas from the final rule based on the
information in the economic analysis.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our joint policy published in the Federal
Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we are requesting the expert
opinions of at least three appropriate independent specialists
regarding this proposed rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure
that our critical habitat designation is based on scientifically sound
data, assumptions, and analyses. We have invited these peer reviewers
to comment during this public comment period on our specific
assumptions and conclusions in this proposed revised designation of
critical habitat.
    We will consider all comments and information we receive during the
comment period on this proposed rule during our preparation of a final
determination. Accordingly, our final decision may differ from this
proposal.

Public Hearings

    The Act provides for one or more public hearings on this proposal,
if we receive any requests for hearings. We must receive your request
for a public hearing within 45 days after the date of this Federal
Register publication. Send your request to the person named in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. We will schedule public hearings
on this proposal, if any are requested, and announce the dates, times,
and places of those hearings, as well as how to obtain reasonable
accommodations, in the Federal Register and local newspapers at least
15 days before the first hearing.

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review--Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this
rule is not significant and has not reviewed this rule under Executive
Order (E.O.) 12866. OMB bases its determination upon the following four
criteria:
    (1) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector,
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
    (2) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other Federal
agencies' actions.
    (3) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants,
user fees,

[[Page 45826]]

loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their recipients.
    (4) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.
    At this time, we lack the available economic information necessary
to determine whether the rule would have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more or affect the economy in a material way.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency must publish a notice of
rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that
describes the effects of the rule on small entities (small businesses,
small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). However, no
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of the agency
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended RFA to require
Federal agencies to provide a statement of the factual basis for
certifying that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
    At this time, we lack the available economic information necessary
to provide an adequate factual basis for the required RFA finding.
Therefore, we defer the RFA finding until completion of the draft
economic analysis prepared under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and E.O.
12866. This draft economic analysis will provide the required factual
basis for the RFA finding. Upon completion of the draft economic
analysis, we will announce availability of the draft economic analysis
of the proposed designation in the Federal Register and reopen the
public comment period for the proposed designation. We will include
with this announcement, as appropriate, an initial regulatory
flexibility analysis or a certification that the rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
accompanied by the factual basis for that determination. We have
concluded that deferring the RFA finding until completion of the draft
economic analysis is necessary to meet the purposes and requirements of
the RFA. Deferring the RFA finding in this manner will ensure that we
make a sufficiently informed determination based on adequate economic
information and provide the necessary opportunity for public comment.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, we make the
following findings:
    (1) This rule will not produce a Federal mandate. In general, a
Federal mandate is a provision in legislation, statute, or regulation
that would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal
governments, or the private sector, and includes both ``Federal
intergovernmental mandates'' and ``Federal private sector mandates.''
These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-(7). ``Federal
intergovernmental mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose
an enforceable duty upon State, local, or [T]ribal governments'' with
two exceptions. It excludes ``a condition of Federal assistance.'' It
also excludes ``a duty arising from participation in a voluntary
Federal program,'' unless the regulation ``relates to a then-existing
Federal program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided annually
to State, local, and [T]ribal governments under entitlement
authority,'' if the provision would ``increase the stringency of
conditions of assistance'' or ``place caps upon, or otherwise decrease,
the Federal Government's responsibility to provide funding,'' and the
State, local, or Tribal governments ``lack authority'' to adjust
accordingly. At the time of enactment, these entitlement programs were:
Medicaid; AFDC work programs; Child Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social
Services Block Grants; Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster
Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living; Family Support
Welfare Services; and Child Support Enforcement. ``Federal private
sector mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose an
enforceable duty upon the private sector, except (i) a condition of
Federal assistance or (ii) a duty arising from participation in a
voluntary Federal program.''
    The designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally
binding duty on non-Federal Government entities or private parties.
Under the Act, the only regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must
ensure that their actions do not destroy or adversely modify critical
habitat under section 7. While non-Federal entities that receive
Federal funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require
approval or authorization from a Federal agency for an action, may be
indirectly impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally
binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical
habitat rests squarely on the Federal agency. Furthermore, to the
extent that non-Federal entities are indirectly impacted because they
receive Federal assistance or participate in a voluntary Federal aid
program, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would not apply, nor would
critical habitat shift the costs of the large entitlement programs
listed above onto State governments.
    (2) We do not believe that this rule will significantly or uniquely
affect small governments because small governments will be affected
only to the extent that any programs having Federal funds, permits, or
other authorized activities must ensure that their actions will not
adversely affect the critical habitat. Therefore, a Small Government
Agency Plan is not required. However, as we conduct our economic
analysis, we will further evaluate this issue and revise this
assessment if appropriate.

Takings--Executive Order 12630

    In accordance with E.O. 12630 (``Government Actions and
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Private Property
Rights''), we have analyzed the potential takings implications of
designating revised critical habitat for the Cirsium loncholepis in a
takings implications assessment. The takings implications assessment
concludes that this designation of revised critical habitat for the C.
loncholepis does not pose significant takings implications for lands
within or affected by the revised designation.

Federalism--Executive Order 13132

    In accordance with E.O. 13132 (Federalism), this proposed rule does
not have significant Federalism effects. A Federalism assessment is not
required. In keeping with Department of the Interior and Department of
Commerce policy, we requested information from, and coordinated
development of, this proposed revised critical habitat designation with
appropriate State resource agencies in California. The designation may
have some benefit to these governments because the areas that contain
the features essential to the conservation of the subspecies are more
clearly defined, and the primary constituent elements of the habitat
necessary to the conservation of the subspecies are specifically
identified. This information does not alter where and what federally
sponsored activities may occur. However, it may assist local governments 
in long-range planning (rather than having them wait for case-

[[Page 45827]]

by-case section 7 consultations to occur).

Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988

    In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform), it has been
determined that the rule does not unduly burden the judicial system and
meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Order. We
have proposed designating critical habitat in accordance with the
provisions of the Act. This proposed revision to critical habitat uses
standard property descriptions and identifies the primary constituent
elements within the designated areas to assist the public in
understanding the habitat needs of Cirsium loncholepis.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

    This rule does not contain any new collections of information that
require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This
rule will not impose recordkeeping or reporting requirements on State
or local governments, individuals, businesses, or organizations. An
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)

    It is our position that, outside the jurisdiction of the Circuit
Court of the United States for the Tenth Circuit, we do not need to
prepare environmental analyses as defined by NEPA in connection with
designating critical habitat under the Act. We published a notice
outlining our reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on
October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). This assertion was upheld by the
Circuit Court of the United States for the Ninth Circuit (Douglas
County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied 516 U.S.
1042 (1996)).

Clarity of the Rule

    We are required by E.O. 12866 and E.O. 12988 and by the
Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain
language. This means that each rule we publish must:
    (1) Be logically organized;
    (2) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (3) Use clear language rather than jargon;
    (4) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (5) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
    If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us
comments by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. To
better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as
possible. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections
or paragraphs that are unclearly written, which sections or sentences
are too long, the sections where you feel lists or tables would be
useful, etc.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994,
Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal
Governments (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and the Department of the
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, and Secretarial Order 3206, we readily
acknowledge our responsibility to communicate meaningfully with
recognized Federal Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In
accordance with Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian
Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the
Endangered Species Act), we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to
work directly with Tribes in developing programs for healthy
ecosystems, to acknowledge that Tribal lands are not subject to the
same controls as Federal public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian
culture, and to make information available to Tribes. We have
determined that there are no Tribal lands occupied by Cirsium
loncholepis at the time of listing or currently occupied that contain
the features essential for the conservation of the species, and no
Tribal lands that are in unoccupied areas that are essential for the
conservation of the species. Therefore, in this proposed revised rule,
critical habitat for C. loncholepis has not been proposed for
designation on Tribal lands.

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use--Executive Order 13211

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O.
13211; Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use) on regulations that significantly affect
energy supply, distribution, and use. E.O. 13211 requires agencies to
prepare Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions.
We do not expect this proposed rule to designate critical habitat for
Cirsium loncholepis to significantly affect energy supplies,
distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is not a significant
energy action, and no Statement of Energy Effects is required. However,
we will further evaluate this issue as we conduct our economic
analysis, and review and revise this assessment as warranted.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this rulemaking is
available on http://www.regulations.gov and upon request from the Field
Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Author(s)

    The primary author of this package is the staff of the Ventura Fish
and Wildlife Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we propose to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter
I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C.
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

    2. In Sec.  17.96(a), revise the entry for ``Family Asteraceae:
Cirsium loncholepis (La Graciosa thistle)'' to read as follows:

Sec.  17.96  Critical habitat--plants.

    (a) Flowering plants.
* * * * *
Family Asteraceae: Cirsium loncholepis (La Graciosa thistle)
    (1) Critical habitat units are depicted for San Luis Obispo and
Santa Barbara counties, California, on the maps below.
    (2) The primary constituent elements of critical habitat for
Cirsium loncholepis are:
    (i) Mesic areas associated with:
    (A) Margins of dune swales, dune lakes, marshes, and estuaries that
are associated with dynamic (changing) dune systems including the Santa
Maria Valley Dune Complex and Santa Ynez Valley Dune Complex;
    (B) Margins of dynamic riparian systems including the Santa Maria
and Santa Ynez Rivers and Orcutt and San Antonio Creeks; and
    (C) Freshwater seeps and intermittent streams found in other
habitats, including grassland, meadow, coastal scrub, chaparral, and
oak woodland.

[[Page 45828]]

These areas provide space needed for individual and population growth
including sites for germination, reproduction, seed dispersal, seed
bank, and pollination;
    (ii) associated plant communities including: Central dune scrub,
coastal dune, coastal scrub, freshwater seep, coastal and valley
freshwater marsh and fen, riparian scrub (e.g., mule fat scrub, willow
scrub), chaparral, oak woodland, intermittent streams, and other
wetland communities, generally in association with the following
species: Juncus spp. (rush), Scirpus spp. (tule), Salix spp. (willow),
Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison oak), Distichlis spicata (salt
grass), Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush), and B. douglasii (Douglas'
baccharis);
    (iii) soils with a sandy component including but not limited to
dune sands, Oceano sands, Camarillo sandy loams, riverwash, and sandy
alluvial soils; and
    (iv) features that allow dispersal and connectivity between
populations, particularly:
    (A) Natural riparian drainages in Santa Maria River, Orcutt Creek,
San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River that are not channelized or
confined by barriers or dams, such that they have soft bottoms and
sides and a natural flood plain (allowing uninterrupted water flows);
and
    (B) Natural aeolian geomorphology in the Santa Maria Dune Complex
and Santa Ynez Dune Complex, and along the Santa Maria River, Orcutt
Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Santa Ynez River drainages that is not
confined by barriers or wind-blocks such as large man-made structures,
tree rows, or wind-breaks (allowing uninterrupted winds across these
areas).
    (3) Critical habitat does not include manmade structures (such as
buildings, aqueducts, airports, roads, and other paved areas) and the
land on which they are located existing within the legal boundaries on
the effective date of this rule.
    (4) Critical habitat map units. Data layers defining map units were
created on base maps using aerial imagery from the National
Agricultural Imagery Program (aerial imagery captured June 2005). Data
were projected to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone 11, North
American Datum (NAD) 1983.
    (5) Note: Index map of Cirsium loncholepis critical habitat follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45829]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.002
[[Page 45830]]

    (6) Unit 1: Callender-Guadalupe Dunes Unit, San Luis Obispo County,
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Oceano, Point Sal, and
Guadalupe. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates
(E, N) 715180, 3874101; 715375, 3875018; 715578, 3875772; 715692,
3876690; 715789, 3877362; 715834, 3878096; 715838, 3878233; 715830,
3878381; 715855, 3878453; 715865, 3878522; 715862, 3878600; 715870,
3878713; 715887, 3878818; 715904, 3878906; 715935, 3878974; 715954,
3879081; 715968, 3879368; 715989, 3879384; 716000, 3879418; 716079,
3879449; 716119, 3879497; 716172, 3879522; 716240, 3879505; 716347,
3879451; 716435, 3879446; 716542, 3879446; 716604, 3879485; 716627,
3879528; 716624, 3879570; 716602, 3879635; 716602, 3879703; 716616,
3879779; 716647, 3879827; 716715, 3879884; 716709, 3880002; 716689,
3880047; 716686, 3880092; 716751, 3880170; 716751, 3880235; 716731,
3880317; 716689, 3880391; 716610, 3880473; 716545, 3880526; 716398,
3880611; 716373, 3880673; 716373, 3880738; 716418, 3880780; 716466,
3880783; 716602, 3880754; 716669, 3880769; 716746, 3880769; 716792,
3880847; 716821, 3880916; 716822, 3881238; 716816, 3881323; 716782,
3881416; 716706, 3881546; 716672, 3881668; 716678, 3881765; 716703,
3881904; 716703, 3882042; 716717, 3882149; 716715, 3882200; 716661,
3882402; 716652, 3882466; 716652, 3882546; 716675, 3882625; 716709,
3882678; 716791, 3882709; 716890, 3882723; 716971, 3882783; 716998,
3882869; 716957, 3882989; 716896, 3883121; 716774, 3883263; 716712,
3883345; 716655, 3883534; 716587, 3883645; 716531, 3883705; 716426,
3883767; 716282, 3883891; 716254, 3883995; 716274, 3884038; 716347,
3884043; 716412, 3884012; 716542, 3883939; 716593, 3883936; 716607,
3883973; 716599, 3884165; 716576, 3884252; 716534, 3884381; 716489,
3884552; 716475, 3884622; 716415, 3884758; 716387, 3884800; 716336,
3884843; 716249, 3884891; 716129, 3884972; 716115, 3885214; 716090,
3885364; 716091, 3885492; 716104, 3885573; 716096, 3885679; 716081,
3885782; 716084, 3885887; 716053, 3886108; 716062, 3886180; 716058,
3886268; 716043, 3886344; 716040, 3886407; 716088, 3886596; 716126,
3886661; 716180, 3886671; 716303, 3886671; 716359, 3886661; 716381,
3886646; 716529, 3886637; 716559, 3886616; 716593, 3886609; 716629,
3886609; 716693, 3886621; 716746, 3886619; 716811, 3886601; 716896,
3886565; 716928, 3886540; 716982, 3886475; 716998, 3886439; 716997,
3886412; 716978, 3886381; 716935, 3886346; 716926, 3886325; 716926,
3886309; 716949, 3886276; 717001, 3886236; 717033, 3886203; 717047,
3886179; 717058, 3886139; 717075, 3886110; 717095, 3886095; 717124,
3886086; 717196, 3886090; 717237, 3886084; 717293, 3886065; 717329,
3886044; 717372, 3885996; 717397, 3885950; 717409, 3885905; 717418,
3885823; 717438, 3885778; 717477, 3885747; 717571, 3885710; 717619,
3885669; 717650, 3885634; 717697, 3885555; 717704, 3885501; 717712,
3885477; 717784, 3885353; 717796, 3885314; 717801, 3885242; 717808,
3885214; 717823, 3885183; 717852, 3885147; 717921, 3885091; 718017,
3885024; 718063, 3884999; 718173, 3884953; 718200, 3884931; 718238,
3884888; 718270, 3884863; 718413, 3884785; 718557, 3884689; 718642,
3884645; 718757, 3884604; 718831, 3884556; 718910, 3884527; 718930,
3884512; 718940, 3884497; 718944, 3884471; 718937, 3884436; 718917,
3884408; 718892, 3884394; 718837, 3884386; 718778, 3884361; 718738,
3884353; 718672, 3884355; 718504, 3884376; 718473, 3884363; 718452,
3884338; 718450, 3884310; 718482, 3884269; 718491, 3884235; 718487,
3884225; 718473, 3884212; 718451, 3884204; 718411, 3884197; 718388,
3884174; 718381, 3884149; 718395, 3884101; 718381, 3884069; 718380,
3884052; 718399, 3884030; 718462, 3883994; 718512, 3883944; 718539,
3883901; 718555, 3883846; 718525, 3883826; 718483, 3883779; 718457,
3883763; 718412, 3883763; 718331, 3883785; 718311, 3883784; 718294,
3883777; 718268, 3883731; 718241, 3883711; 718222, 3883679; 718222,
3883644; 718230, 3883623; 718255, 3883583; 718371, 3883489; 718494,
3883413; 718537, 3883382; 718584, 3883337; 718672, 3883229; 718573,
3883209; 718547, 3883191; 718503, 3883185; 718429, 3883155; 718341,
3883143; 718278, 3883141; 718266, 3883135; 718264, 3883127; 718270,
3883115; 718313, 3883088; 718369, 3883065; 718370, 3883052; 718385,
3883042; 718451, 3883025; 718503, 3882986; 718513, 3882984; 718528,
3882990; 718540, 3882958; 718568, 3882922; 718572, 3882895; 718570,
3882872; 718549, 3882824; 718523, 3882791; 718438, 3882715; 718426,
3882695; 718421, 3882672; 718424, 3882648; 718434, 3882634; 718456,
3882614; 718503, 3882592; 718601, 3882564; 718671, 3882535; 718813,
3882503; 718845, 3882488; 718901, 3882448; 718958, 3882425; 719011,
3882416; 719109, 3882413; 719173, 3882397; 719228, 3882371; 719299,
3882318; 719330, 3882301; 719368, 3882290; 719413, 3882295; 719444,
3882274; 719493, 3882259; 719518, 3882235; 719533, 3882201; 719526,
3882165; 719506, 3882132; 719476, 3882103; 719429, 3882078; 719436,
3881993; 719429, 3881930; 719410, 3881870; 719373, 3881811; 719324,
3881762; 719265, 3881726; 719204, 3881707; 719138, 3881701; 719175,
3881642; 719191, 3881592; 719193, 3881544; 719182, 3881438; 719171,
3881399; 719155, 3881375; 719127, 3881356; 719088, 3881348; 719074,
3881340; 719060, 3881321; 719051, 3881295; 719052, 3881274; 719066,
3881238; 719068, 3881206; 719078, 3881188; 719121, 3881170; 719161,
3881125; 719215, 3881112; 719252, 3881069; 719304, 3881041; 719329,
3880837; 719233, 3880841; 719163, 3880856; 719118, 3880873; 719043,
3880911; 718956, 3880936; 718881, 3880972; 718844, 3880983; 718827,
3880982; 718820, 3880964; 718829, 3880945; 718847, 3880930; 718890,
3880909; 718944, 3880889; 718980, 3880861; 718989, 3880843; 718981,
3880813; 718989, 3880790; 719006, 3880774; 719060, 3880745; 719104,
3880694; 719131, 3880676; 719355, 3880570; 719499, 3879561; 719547,
3879326; 719366, 3879383; 719185, 3879462; 719112, 3879488; 718947,
3879495; 718843, 3879507; 718347, 3879615; 718268, 3879643; 718231,
3879643; 718203, 3879618; 718186, 3879559; 718183, 3879499; 718172,
3879471; 718118, 3879471; 718064, 3879460; 718016, 3879424; 717962,
3879425; 717936, 3879420; 717971, 3879319; 718059, 3879248; 718222,
3879056; 718313, 3879008; 718522, 3879039; 718623, 3879036; 718725,
3879008; 718852, 3878887; 718943, 3878856; 719024, 3878771; 719146,
3878729; 719236, 3878678; 719406, 3878638; 719599, 3878326; 719647,
3878290; 719672, 3878259; 719681, 3878194; 719853, 3878024; 719819,
3877993; 719720, 3878047; 719630, 3878154; 719568, 3878245; 719506,
3878307; 719500, 3878369; 719466, 3878445; 719367, 3878581; 719291,
3878612; 719240, 3878609; 719003, 3878674; 718887, 3878727; 718760,
3878877; 718658, 3878883; 718577, 3878874; 718500, 3878835; 718458,
3878790; 718195, 3878857; 717868, 3879111; 717696, 3879253; 717650,
3879278; 717544, 3879233; 717437, 3879213; 717364, 3879145; 717338,
3879097; 717358, 3879052; 717358, 3878987; 717350, 3878939; 717426,
3878781; 717412, 3878744;

[[Page 45831]]

717285, 3878688; 717131, 3878668; 717022, 3878612; 716983, 3878479;
717129, 3878340; 717121, 3878307; 717285, 3878208; 717392, 3878239;
717448, 3878222; 717516, 3878225; 717587, 3878160; 717587, 3878117;
717573, 3878095; 717576, 3878067; 717638, 3878019; 717705, 3878019;
717821, 3877990; 717914, 3877951; 717979, 3877900; 718033, 3877846;
718056, 3877780; 718052, 3877778; 718058, 3877733; 718071, 3877687;
718096, 3877643; 718129, 3877611; 718245, 3877536; 718322, 3877467;
718358, 3877456; 718402, 3877472; 718434, 3877466; 718507, 3877404;
718551, 3877374; 718756, 3877271; 718916, 3877173; 718962, 3877135;
719040, 3877045; 719172, 3876926; 719195, 3876893; 719224, 3876828;
719253, 3876794; 719281, 3876776; 719355, 3876743; 719451, 3876660;
719541, 3876616; 719577, 3876588; 719612, 3876542; 719650, 3876449;
719685, 3876394; 719721, 3876358; 719804, 3876301; 719819, 3876284;
719827, 3876262; 719822, 3876240; 719799, 3876222; 719778, 3876215;
719731, 3876214; 719715, 3876206; 719710, 3876197; 719717, 3876170;
719751, 3876139; 719760, 3876098; 719784, 3876074; 719786, 3876057;
719780, 3876040; 719761, 3876025; 719735, 3876020; 719713, 3876024;
719681, 3876039; 719653, 3876042; 719645, 3876035; 719640, 3876023;
719639, 3876012; 719645, 3875997; 719731, 3875938; 719815, 3875892;
719853, 3875865; 719891, 3875829; 719963, 3875744; 720015, 3875698;
720059, 3875667; 720104, 3875647; 720130, 3875647; 720160, 3875656;
720186, 3875646; 720212, 3875632; 720269, 3875590; 720352, 3875548;
720370, 3875531; 720386, 3875506; 720396, 3875478; 720410, 3875409;
720427, 3875377; 720448, 3875353; 720532, 3875284; 720560, 3875274;
720626, 3875262; 720660, 3875240; 720671, 3875217; 720669, 3875177;
720657, 3875156; 720636, 3875140; 720612, 3875134; 720572, 3875139;
720544, 3875152; 720491, 3875185; 720448, 3875192; 720432, 3875186;
720408, 3875161; 720378, 3875145; 720366, 3875126; 720363, 3875108;
720392, 3875068; 720438, 3875034; 720470, 3875003; 720551, 3874975;
720611, 3874928; 720685, 3874889; 720707, 3874867; 720747, 3874811;
720809, 3874777; 720818, 3874751; 720818, 3874726; 720808, 3874699;
720793, 3874679; 720735, 3874648; 720712, 3874607; 720678, 3874599;
720647, 3874577; 720611, 3874579; 720599, 3874573; 720591, 3874562;
720586, 3874544; 720594, 3874497; 720586, 3874484; 720569, 3874474;
720541, 3874480; 720477, 3874511; 720390, 3874512; 720345, 3874522;
720305, 3874535; 720180, 3874588; 720097, 3874642; 720069, 3874655;
720034, 3874660; 720013, 3874647; 720006, 3874630; 720019, 3874603;
720019, 3874584; 720012, 3874576; 719992, 3874576; 719985, 3874572;
719976, 3874549; 719968, 3874543; 719931, 3874536; 719922, 3874521;
719927, 3874506; 719965, 3874461; 719991, 3874416; 720016, 3874390;
720069, 3874355; 720155, 3874320; 720199, 3874286; 720315, 3874132;
720418, 3874038; 720443, 3874005; 720462, 3873963; 720475, 3873912;
720477, 3873880; 720461, 3873866; 720448, 3873867; 720424, 3873880;
720416, 3873878; 720406, 3873869; 720407, 3873839; 720428, 3873800;
720433, 3873773; 720423, 3873751; 720394, 3873734; 720360, 3873731;
720296, 3873747; 720208, 3873740; 720111, 3873761; 720053, 3873767;
720023, 3873763; 719991, 3873753; 719971, 3873739; 719956, 3873721;
719936, 3873688; 719931, 3873657; 719936, 3873627; 719964, 3873562;
719968, 3873533; 719965, 3873503; 719955, 3873474; 719911, 3873435;
719903, 3873418; 719902, 3873399; 719912, 3873374; 719950, 3873329;
719967, 3873299; 719977, 3873260; 719979, 3873213; 719939, 3873156;
719912, 3873141; 719874, 3873106; 719824, 3873094; 719783, 3873092;
719706, 3873110; 719681, 3873110; 719660, 3873099; 719647, 3873085;
719644, 3873071; 719648, 3873039; 719636, 3873021; 719610, 3873011;
719502, 3873001; 719455, 3873003; 719367, 3873023; 719288, 3873017;
719253, 3873019; 719206, 3873034; 719140, 3873070; 719105, 3873079;
719056, 3873077; 719030, 3873069; 719014, 3873057; 719000, 3873038;
718999, 3873019; 719038, 3872973; 719088, 3872935; 719169, 3872898;
719214, 3872872; 719262, 3872832; 719289, 3872801; 719301, 3872760;
719298, 3872719; 719278, 3872687; 719240, 3872659; 719196, 3872658;
719151, 3872663; 719104, 3872679; 719002, 3872733; 718946, 3872757;
718896, 3872771; 718866, 3872776; 718837, 3872765; 718817, 3872767;
718803, 3872758; 718735, 3872799; 718707, 3872812; 718672, 3872822;
718603, 3872830; 718562, 3872841; 718524, 3872858; 718451, 3872900;
718399, 3872919; 718369, 3872925; 718273, 3872934; 718248, 3872933;
718219, 3872926; 718179, 3872909; 718107, 3872859; 718018, 3872821;
717968, 3872789; 717919, 3872746; 717855, 3872673; 717817, 3872643;
717765, 3872621; 717688, 3872608; 717666, 3872599; 717647, 3872586;
717623, 3872560; 717604, 3872530; 717563, 3872443; 717536, 3872398;
717508, 3872361; 717404, 3872243; 717377, 3872217; 717348, 3872195;
717317, 3872177; 717268, 3872157; 717219, 3872122; 717186, 3872114;
717157, 3872121; 717102, 3872161; 717030, 3872195; 716941, 3872259;
716912, 3872268; 716893, 3872265; 716886, 3872257; 716881, 3872245;
716884, 3872220; 716881, 3872207; 716872, 3872195; 716851, 3872182;
716841, 3872170; 716838, 3872156; 716842, 3872141; 716856, 3872121;
716881, 3872105; 716906, 3872099; 716949, 3872097; 716967, 3872089;
716983, 3872072; 716985, 3872064; 716981, 3872050; 716967, 3872035;
716946, 3872021; 716896, 3872007; 716864, 3871993; 716807, 3871942;
716730, 3871900; 716685, 3871865; 716647, 3871829; 716609, 3871807;
716571, 3871810; 716522, 3871824; 716449, 3871852; 716405, 3871862;
716313, 3871875; 716222, 3871895; 716181, 3871909; 716169, 3871917;
716159, 3871888; 716159, 3871859; 716136, 3871843; 716140, 3871835;
716148, 3871789; 716162, 3871752; 716204, 3871718; 716215, 3871679;
716233, 3871661; 716259, 3871650; 716258, 3871632; 716246, 3871606;
716225, 3871597; 716156, 3871628; 716127, 3871626; 716100, 3871613;
716069, 3871581; 716032, 3871559; 715939, 3871533; 715905, 3871508;
715886, 3871487; 715884, 3871492; 715866, 3871499; 715839, 3871499;
715809, 3871508; 715763, 3871538; 715723, 3871575; 715611, 3871694;
715584, 3871758; 715554, 3871853; 715504, 3871910; 715399, 3872094;
715311, 3872195; 715220, 3872317; 715187, 3872353; 715174, 3872384;
715139, 3872385; 715045, 3872409; 715026, 3872416; 714979, 3872448;
714943, 3872486; 714936, 3872484; 714865, 3872561; 714841, 3872574;
714822, 3872569; 714812, 3872557; 714811, 3872538; 714757, 3872600;
returning to 715180, 3874101.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 1 follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45832]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.003

[[Page 45833]]

    (7) Unit 2: Santa Maria River-Orcutt Creek Unit, San Luis Obispo
and Santa Barbara Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Orick and Rodgers Peak.
Land bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N):
725058, 3866813; 725142, 3866607; 725306, 3866481; 725393, 3866297;
725509, 3865959; 725635, 3865833; 725983, 3865562; 726263, 3865185;
726418, 3865118; 726524, 3865021; 727336, 3865021; 727820, 3865002;
727868, 3864731; 728342, 3864683; 728419, 3864518; 728787, 3864228;
729289, 3864131; 729773, 3864141; 730073, 3863841; 730059, 3863511;
729874, 3863511; 729764, 3863378; 729624, 3863143; 729462, 3863010;
729475, 3862983; 730408, 3862960; 731496, 3862251; 731690, 3862118;
731698, 3861732; 732125, 3861437; 732125, 3861321; 732481, 3861206;
732721, 3861209; 732829, 3861067; 733104, 3861067; 733067, 3860762;
733501, 3860781; 733547, 3860698; 733547, 3860412; 733731, 3860414;
733732, 3860492; 734031, 3860498; 734222, 3860421; 734619, 3860236;
735294, 3860264; 735326, 3860229; 735349, 3860199; 735404, 3860093;
735463, 3860011; 735484, 3859974; 735517, 3859952; 735545, 3859927;
735643, 3859813; 735671, 3859799; 735721, 3859794; 735766, 3859810;
735872, 3859834; 735905, 3859851; 735941, 3859864; 735978, 3859873;
736009, 3859876; 736080, 3859875; 736123, 3859869; 736172, 3859854;
736216, 3859831; 736262, 3859796; 736294, 3859760; 736334, 3859743;
736372, 3859720; 736518, 3859600; 736556, 3859557; 736588, 3859498;
736610, 3859473; 736712, 3859380; 736752, 3859326; 736957, 3859145;
736997, 3859100; 737060, 3858987; 737080, 3858929; 737107, 3858898;
737131, 3858860; 737154, 3858802; 737180, 3858777; 737204, 3858747;
737235, 3858692; 737269, 3858650; 737289, 3858619; 737312, 3858567;
737325, 3858509; 737337, 3858482; 737377, 3858431; 737397, 3858391;
737414, 3858337; 737420, 3858275; 737413, 3858212; 737394, 3858158;
737362, 3858104; 737319, 3858058; 737266, 3858022; 737207, 3857999;
737177, 3857992; 737139, 3857989; 737101, 3857990; 737063, 3857996;
736777, 3857987; 736428, 3858104; 736234, 3858401; 736156, 3858324;
736001, 3858272; 735884, 3858207; 735703, 3858207; 735522, 3858259;
735367, 3858311; 735238, 3858427; 735160, 3858505; 735108, 3858453;
735018, 3858349; 734888, 3858259; 734759, 3858181; 734423, 3858181;
734293, 3858220; 734151, 3858285; 733983, 3858414; 733918, 3858595;
733892, 3858738; 733711, 3858763; 733569, 3858880; 733439, 3859061;
733271, 3859216; 733000, 3859100; 732909, 3858983; 732741, 3858867;
732534, 3858738; 732314, 3858699; 732068, 3858595; 731784, 3858647;
731577, 3858673; 731253, 3858828; 731072, 3858996; 731020, 3859255;
731020, 3859488; 731085, 3859721; 731227, 3859889; 731499, 3860070;
731771, 3860109; 731861, 3860161; 732004, 3860264; 732076, 3860554;
731771, 3860665; 731538, 3860704; 731357, 3860665; 731266, 3860665;
731085, 3860678; 730930, 3860717; 730775, 3860794; 730645, 3860898;
730529, 3861040; 730490, 3861208; 730335, 3861286; 730180, 3861351;
730089, 3861480; 729992, 3861635; 729940, 3861765; 729850, 3861816;
729746, 3861894; 729694, 3861997; 729656, 3862127; 729552, 3862140;
729436, 3862179; 729255, 3862166; 729125, 3862153; 728957, 3862114;
728828, 3862114; 728660, 3862153; 728478, 3862217; 728336, 3862360;
728207, 3862295; 728013, 3862036; 727909, 3861907; 727819, 3861778;
727651, 3861661; 727508, 3861571; 727327, 3861545; 727146, 3861545;
726952, 3861596; 726758, 3861739; 726641, 3861920; 726577, 3862101;
726564, 3862347; 726629, 3862541; 726745, 3862709; 726900, 3862851;
726952, 3862968; 727055, 3863149; 726926, 3863239; 726797, 3863291;
726719, 3863433; 726629, 3863550; 726577, 3863666; 726564, 3863808;
726460, 3863847; 726318, 3863847; 726240, 3863744; 726150, 3863446;
726085, 3863343; 725943, 3863149; 725762, 3863019; 725568, 3862981;
725314, 3863033; 725252, 3863035; 725195, 3863049; 724361, 3863473;
724318, 3863500; 724290, 3863523; 724264, 3863550; 724242, 3863581;
724225, 3863615; 724210, 3863657; 724201, 3863700; 724199, 3863744;
724204, 3863788; 724015, 3864261; 723899, 3864416; 723821, 3864585;
723757, 3864792; 723614, 3864792; 723498, 3864818; 723356, 3864921;
723213, 3865076; 723071, 3865180; 722890, 3865400; 722774, 3865464;
722238, 3865670; 722195, 3865680; 722159, 3865693; 722116, 3865717;
722076, 3865749; 722043, 3865786; 722015, 3865831; 721981, 3865833;
721947, 3865839; 721887, 3865861; 721859, 3865876; 721828, 3865898;
721784, 3865943; 721740, 3865933; 721690, 3865931; 721640, 3865937;
721591, 3865952; 721552, 3865971; 721512, 3866000; 721484, 3866026;
721456, 3866060; 721442, 3866083; 721244, 3867532; 721175, 3867904;
721136, 3868205; 721103, 3868253; 721049, 3868299; 720982, 3868317;
720653, 3868333; 719876, 3868331; 719268, 3868423; 718685, 3868487;
718241, 3868658; 717821, 3868878; 717409, 3869156; 716910, 3869404;
716783, 3869451; 716556, 3869543; 716369, 3869658; 716332, 3869689;
716298, 3869724; 716275, 3869757; 716241, 3869815; 716204, 3869917;
716198, 3869973; 716207, 3870080; 716224, 3870186; 716199, 3870238;
716175, 3870268; 716094, 3870416; 716059, 3870534; 716035, 3870554;
716004, 3870586; 715909, 3870591; 715866, 3870602; 715831, 3870616;
715768, 3870655; 715729, 3870693; 715703, 3870729; 715591, 3870806;
715563, 3870829; 715439, 3870812; 715379, 3870814; 715307, 3870828;
715214, 3870811; 715126, 3870808; 715072, 3870811; 714968, 3870829;
714893, 3870858; 714821, 3870901; 714754, 3870953; 714710, 3870996;
714652, 3871088; 714623, 3871171; 714594, 3871237; 714585, 3871679;
714633, 3871964; 714648, 3872084; 714700, 3872498; 714757, 3872600;
714811, 3872538; 714812, 3872557; 714822, 3872569; 714841, 3872574;
714865, 3872561; 714936, 3872484; 714943, 3872486; 714979, 3872448;
715026, 3872416; 715045, 3872409; 715139, 3872385; 715174, 3872384;
715187, 3872353; 715220, 3872317; 715311, 3872195; 715399, 3872094;
715504, 3871910; 715554, 3871853; 715584, 3871758; 715611, 3871694;
715723, 3871575; 715763, 3871538; 715809, 3871508; 715839, 3871499;
715866, 3871499; 715884, 3871492; 715886, 3871487; 715905, 3871508;
715939, 3871533; 716032, 3871559; 716069, 3871581; 716100, 3871613;
716127, 3871626; 716156, 3871628; 716225, 3871597; 716246, 3871606;
716258, 3871632; 716259, 3871650; 716233, 3871661; 716215, 3871679;
716204, 3871718; 716162, 3871752; 716148, 3871789; 716140, 3871835;
716136, 3871843; 716159, 3871859; 716159, 3871888; 716169, 3871917;
716181, 3871909; 716222, 3871895; 716313, 3871875; 716405, 3871862;
716449, 3871852; 716522, 3871824; 716571, 3871810; 716609, 3871807;
716647, 3871829; 716685, 3871865; 716730, 3871900; 716807, 3871942;
716864, 3871993; 716896, 3872007; 716946, 3872021; 716967, 3872035;
716981, 3872050; 716985, 3872064; 716983, 3872072; 716967, 3872089;
716949, 3872097; 716906, 3872099; 716881, 3872105; 716856, 3872121;
716842, 3872141; 716838, 3872156; 716841, 3872170; 716851, 3872182;
716872, 3872195; 716881, 3872207; 716884, 3872220; 716881, 3872245;
716886, 3872257; 716893, 3872265;

[[Page 45834]]

716912, 3872268; 716941, 3872259; 717030, 3872195; 717102, 3872161;
717157, 3872121; 717186, 3872114; 717219, 3872122; 717268, 3872157;
717317, 3872177; 717348, 3872195; 717377, 3872217; 717404, 3872243;
717508, 3872361; 717536, 3872398; 717563, 3872443; 717604, 3872530;
717623, 3872560; 717647, 3872586; 717666, 3872599; 717688, 3872608;
717765, 3872621; 717817, 3872643; 717855, 3872673; 717919, 3872746;
717968, 3872789; 718018, 3872821; 718107, 3872859; 718179, 3872909;
718219, 3872926; 718248, 3872933; 718273, 3872934; 718369, 3872925;
718399, 3872919; 718451, 3872900; 718524, 3872858; 718562, 3872841;
718603, 3872830; 718672, 3872822; 718707, 3872812; 718735, 3872799;
718803, 3872758; 718817, 3872767; 718837, 3872765; 718866, 3872776;
718896, 3872771; 718946, 3872757; 719002, 3872733; 719104, 3872679;
719151, 3872663; 719196, 3872658; 719240, 3872659; 719268, 3872680;
719349, 3872671; 719457, 3872667; 719506, 3872659; 719570, 3872635;
719627, 3872606; 719674, 3872571; 719732, 3872514; 719768, 3872484;
719798, 3872488; 719859, 3872487; 719933, 3872506; 720039, 3872502;
720078, 3872511; 720180, 3872519; 720233, 3872513; 720254, 3872516;
720410, 3872516; 720485, 3872508; 720522, 3872549; 720538, 3872583;
720566, 3872627; 720599, 3872659; 720665, 3872695; 720743, 3872752;
720831, 3872807; 720860, 3872821; 720869, 3872844; 720903, 3872903;
720967, 3872995; 721045, 3873136; 721125, 3873225; 721236, 3873325;
721300, 3873370; 721391, 3873426; 721431, 3873446; 721579, 3873489;
721745, 3873504; 721755, 3873508; 721736, 3872983; 721676, 3872947;
721604, 3872932; 721469, 3872572; 721453, 3872216; 721076, 3871755;
721064, 3871691; 721041, 3871621; 721010, 3871564; 720911, 3871474;
720836, 3871431; 720770, 3871408; 720720, 3871397; 720694, 3871396;
720619, 3871416; 720602, 3871423; 720558, 3871452; 720511, 3871494;
720439, 3871479; 720347, 3871476; 720275, 3871486; 720237, 3871480;
720158, 3871488; 720140, 3871495; 720108, 3871515; 720059, 3871481;
720022, 3871466; 719978, 3871455; 719938, 3871456; 719915, 3871463;
719895, 3871475; 719876, 3871493; 719863, 3871514; 719853, 3871547;
719847, 3871589; 719845, 3871673; 719821, 3871663; 719784, 3871658;
719750, 3871666; 719721, 3871686; 719546, 3871690; 719438, 3871698;
719405, 3871673; 719371, 3871663; 719214, 3871667; 719190, 3871671;
719174, 3871677; 719143, 3871698; 719127, 3871715; 719118, 3871730;
719103, 3871777; 719099, 3871870; 719024, 3871923; 718988, 3871944;
718944, 3871987; 718927, 3872015; 718909, 3872031; 718888, 3872039;
718873, 3872049; 718832, 3872089; 718820, 3872105; 718680, 3872109;
718657, 3872118; 718642, 3872128; 718613, 3872161; 718494, 3872106;
718477, 3872075; 718450, 3872053; 718301, 3872000; 718226, 3871979;
718143, 3871963; 718093, 3871967; 718063, 3871966; 718025, 3871978;
718024, 3871947; 718017, 3871924; 718000, 3871900; 717982, 3871885;
717949, 3871867; 717906, 3871850; 717883, 3871831; 717867, 3871823;
717821, 3871809; 717776, 3871801; 717706, 3871782; 717653, 3871721;
717601, 3871669; 717541, 3871618; 717486, 3871592; 717443, 3871566;
717327, 3871536; 717268, 3871502; 717186, 3871445; 717016, 3871276;
716937, 3871210; 716935, 3871159; 716923, 3871127; 716934, 3871107;
716938, 3871090; 716946, 3870945; 716950, 3870946; 716759, 3870721;
716704, 3870703; 716556, 3870676; 716621, 3870616; 716640, 3870630;
716667, 3870639; 716689, 3870643; 716713, 3870641; 716746, 3870628;
716792, 3870595; 716826, 3870578; 716889, 3870553; 716909, 3870541;
716929, 3870518; 716941, 3870486; 716944, 3870338; 716949, 3870336;
717097, 3870320; 717202, 3870321; 717223, 3870336; 717252, 3870346;
717267, 3870362; 717287, 3870374; 717326, 3870385; 717354, 3870385;
717463, 3870368; 717510, 3870353; 717550, 3870333; 717579, 3870311;
717605, 3870281; 717625, 3870270; 717642, 3870254; 717656, 3870229;
717662, 3870194; 717880, 3870216; 717974, 3870221; 718014, 3870220;
718661, 3870104; 718713, 3870090; 718801, 3870045; 718834, 3870025;
718872, 3869992; 718911, 3869948; 718991, 3869919; 719051, 3869883;
719334, 3869806; 719381, 3869788; 719896, 3869439; 719971, 3869378;
720022, 3869344; 720050, 3869335; 720112, 3869333; 720158, 3869335;
720195, 3869345; 720228, 3869362; 720268, 3869356; 720292, 3869358;
720317, 3869348; 720341, 3869346; 720389, 3869352; 720831, 3869379;
720825, 3869371; 721395, 3869508; 721511, 3869524; 721582, 3869523;
721631, 3869515; 721688, 3869557; 721764, 3869591; 721809, 3869605;
721946, 3869631; 722043, 3869682; 722197, 3869744; 722236, 3869756;
722281, 3869763; 722346, 3869764; 722397, 3869755; 722444, 3869738;
722488, 3869714; 722522, 3869688; 722565, 3869643; 722592, 3869608;
722613, 3869569; 722628, 3869528; 722660, 3869357; 722783, 3869166;
722921, 3869000; 723068, 3868844; 723102, 3868813; 723136, 3868769;
723186, 3868721; 723234, 3868711; 723277, 3868694; 723319, 3868668;
723353, 3868639; 723418, 3868565; 723683, 3868227; 723718, 3868208;
723774, 3868168; 723800, 3868142; 723852, 3868082; 723872, 3868050;
723899, 3867992; 723913, 3867957; 723920, 3867926; 723929, 3867815;
723926, 3867774; 723918, 3867738; 724066, 3867726; 724110, 3867718;
724173, 3867693; 724222, 3867660; 724255, 3867629; 724281, 3867595;
724345, 3867532; 724373, 3867497; 724589, 3867151; 724615, 3867098;
724647, 3867051; 724693, 3866970; 724768, 3866941; 724801, 3866922;
724829, 3866900; 733655, 3859548; 733713, 3859516; 733951, 3859516;
733951, 3859419; 734594, 3859416; 734594, 3860030; 734473, 3860022;
734462, 3860249; 734200, 3860337; 734110, 3860337; 733933, 3860286;
733933, 3860223; 733623, 3860210; 733615, 3860204; 733607, 3860128;
733568, 3860054; 733541, 3859940; 733533, 3859890; 733655, 3859548;
returning to 725058, 3866813.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 2 follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45835]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.004

    (8) Unit 3: Cañada de las Flores Unit, Santa Barbara County,
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Sisquoc. Land bounded by
the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 742558, 3850507;

[[Page 45836]]

742481, 3850424; 742403, 3850419; 742326, 3850452; 742181, 3850480;
742176, 3850556; 742180, 3850605; 742197, 3850665; 742245, 3850766;
742232, 3850832; 742235, 3850902; 742246, 3850958; 742266, 3851007;
742271, 3851048; 742281, 3851084; 742301, 3851131; 742335, 3851182;
742363, 3851243; 742394, 3851292; 742429, 3851332; 742438, 3851375;
742456, 3851419; 742461, 3851457; 742471, 3851496; 742471, 3851532;
742476, 3851569; 742483, 3851600; 742497, 3851635; 742515, 3851669;
742541, 3851704; 742572, 3851735; 742608, 3851761; 742624, 3851815;
742650, 3851865; 742652, 3851886; 742641, 3851924; 742625, 3851999;
742612, 3852029; 742601, 3852065; 742583, 3852157; 742579, 3852210;
742552, 3852255; 742534, 3852302; 742527, 3852316; 742442, 3852346;
742392, 3852375; 742342, 3852419; 742306, 3852466; 742285, 3852506;
742270, 3852553; 742262, 3852604; 742263, 3852655; 742203, 3852734;
742141, 3852858; 742121, 3852916; 742111, 3852978; 742193, 3853224;
742288, 3853414; 742484, 3853503; 742816, 3853484; 742812, 3853488;
743060, 3853489; 743066, 3853483; 743067, 3853489; 743247, 3853474;
743454, 3853451; 743454, 3853446; 743490, 3853449; 743535, 3853447;
743585, 3853438; 743625, 3853424; 743659, 3853408; 743694, 3853384;
743727, 3853356; 743756, 3853321; 743780, 3853284; 743796, 3853249;
743808, 3853208; 743817, 3853159; 743819, 3853115; 743800, 3852934;
743754, 3852734; 743649, 3852472; 743561, 3852342; 743421, 3852276;
743316, 3852119; 743278, 3851942; 743218, 3851742; 743193, 3851646;
743172, 3851599; 743164, 3851565; 743151, 3851530; 743105, 3851444;
743086, 3851416; 743094, 3851372; 743096, 3851328; 743092, 3851290;
743082, 3851247; 743058, 3851187; 743037, 3851148; 743010, 3851113;
742982, 3851087; 742955, 3851028; 742931, 3850990; 742906, 3850962;
742866, 3850925; 742864, 3850869; 742852, 3850819; 742862, 3850709;
742860, 3850678; 742854, 3850640; 742840, 3850598; 742821, 3850559;
742795, 3850522; 742769, 3850495; returning to 742558, 3850507.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 3 follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45837]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.005

    (9) Unit 4: San Antonio Creek Unit, Santa Barbara County,
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Casmalia and Orcutt. Land
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 721762,

[[Page 45838]]

3852103; 722015, 3851871; 722000, 3851830; 721973, 3851777; 721962,
3851727; 721940, 3851675; 721913, 3851633; 721883, 3851600; 721853,
3851576; 721807, 3851548; 721799, 3851502; 721788, 3851466; 721772,
3851432; 721751, 3851396; 721763, 3851388; 721806, 3851378; 721845,
3851364; 721915, 3851326; 721952, 3851309; 721989, 3851285; 722038,
3851243; 722071, 3851228; 722129, 3851229; 722183, 3851221; 722199,
3851234; 722200, 3851277; 722206, 3851320; 722218, 3851362; 722234,
3851398; 722261, 3851443; 722339, 3851542; 722384, 3851585; 722440,
3851619; 722498, 3851641; 722555, 3851649; 722611, 3851647; 722667,
3851633; 722718, 3851609; 722764, 3851575; 722802, 3851533; 722832,
3851485; 722850, 3851437; 722863, 3851372; 722950, 3851373; 723026,
3851360; 723109, 3851328; 723140, 3851310; 723172, 3851288; 723222,
3851320; 723269, 3851340; 723332, 3851355; 723401, 3851362; 723523,
3851362; 723633, 3851351; 723676, 3851343; 723728, 3851322; 723737,
3851322; 723741, 3851324; 723785, 3851411; 723816, 3851450; 723839,
3851485; 723868, 3851518; 723870, 3851580; 723886, 3851641; 723919,
3851706; 723937, 3851732; 723963, 3851759; 723998, 3851787; 724042,
3851812; 724094, 3851830; 724143, 3851839; 724194, 3851840; 724238,
3851833; 724286, 3851817; 724331, 3851794; 724382, 3851797; 724415,
3851839; 724452, 3851872; 724484, 3851893; 724535, 3851915; 724562,
3851934; 724599, 3851953; 724636, 3851989; 724674, 3852017; 724676,
3852086; 724688, 3852141; 724692, 3852181; 724704, 3852244; 724727,
3852225; 724773, 3852197; 724814, 3852186; 724852, 3852181; 724881,
3852184; 724896, 3852180; 725000, 3852103; 725112, 3852093; 725333,
3852032; 725334, 3852028; 725368, 3852034; 725403, 3852036; 725438,
3852045; 725475, 3852049; 725463, 3852102; 725459, 3852176; 725442,
3852206; 725424, 3852244; 725413, 3852281; 725408, 3852312; 725406,
3852349; 725408, 3852381; 725415, 3852419; 725427, 3852455; 725447,
3852494; 725472, 3852530; 725503, 3852562; 725538, 3852589; 725576,
3852610; 725618, 3852626; 725661, 3852636; 725712, 3852638; 725749,
3852635; 725780, 3852628; 725839, 3852604; 725946, 3852533; 726001,
3852479; 726043, 3852416; 726067, 3852356; 726074, 3852322; 726077,
3852287; 726072, 3852216; 726081, 3852196; 726125, 3852140; 726164,
3852153; 726171, 3852167; 726390, 3852142; 726746, 3851991; 726741,
3851981; 726830, 3851939; 726857, 3851921; 726885, 3851896; 726931,
3851843; 726967, 3851774; 727011, 3851776; 727069, 3851770; 727096,
3851775; 727171, 3851799; 727230, 3851812; 727277, 3851833; 727351,
3851856; 727349, 3851863; 727573, 3851852; 727569, 3851863; 727846,
3851875; 728053, 3851872; 728057, 3851854; 728104, 3851850; 728140,
3851841; 728176, 3851828; 728213, 3851808; 728261, 3851773; 728302,
3851729; 728367, 3851684; 728425, 3851669; 728487, 3851639; 728528,
3851611; 728567, 3851572; 728620, 3851571; 728679, 3851562; 728715,
3851550; 728760, 3851527; 728805, 3851510; 728870, 3851510; 728961,
3851495; 729009, 3851480; 729055, 3851455; 729121, 3851440; 729182,
3851457; 729294, 3851467; 729340, 3851467; 729384, 3851460; 729457,
3851434; 729500, 3851412; 729545, 3851378; 729596, 3851322; 729631,
3851301; 729688, 3851289; 729761, 3851310; 729817, 3851316; 729850,
3851341; 729884, 3851358; 729949, 3851387; 729998, 3851401; 730042,
3851405; 730080, 3851404; 730177, 3851384; 730224, 3851414; 730281,
3851457; 730348, 3851494; 730375, 3851526; 730410, 3851557; 730490,
3851607; 730574, 3851637; 730619, 3851646; 730665, 3851671; 730740,
3851698; 730777, 3851706; 730824, 3851710; 730891, 3851725; 730941,
3851728; 731013, 3851720; 731086, 3851698; 731138, 3851675; 731180,
3851647; 731217, 3851613; 731247, 3851572; 731272, 3851526; 731311,
3851505; 731311, 3851592; 731315, 3851630; 731324, 3851667; 731345,
3851723; 731364, 3851761; 731390, 3851797; 731421, 3851829; 731455,
3851856; 731494, 3851877; 731572, 3851909; 731609, 3851920; 731646,
3851926; 731703, 3851926; 731775, 3851917; 731811, 3851909; 731863,
3851909; 731919, 3851900; 731973, 3851882; 732015, 3851858; 732061,
3851823; 732098, 3851780; 732124, 3851737; 732140, 3851695; 732149,
3851652; 732153, 3851598; 732165, 3851567; 732208, 3851553; 732242,
3851538; 732427, 3851430; 732457, 3851405; 732560, 3851303; 732590,
3851263; 732611, 3851221; 732650, 3851193; 732714, 3851173; 732849,
3851106; 732955, 3851030; 732982, 3851004; 733013, 3850968; 733074,
3851007; 733103, 3851020; 733141, 3851031; 733183, 3851051; 733258,
3851075; 733321, 3851083; 733385, 3851108; 733437, 3851120; 733499,
3851149; 733544, 3851165; 733667, 3851195; 733711, 3851198; 733749,
3851195; 733813, 3851178; 733858, 3851159; 733890, 3851141; 733934,
3851105; 734000, 3851032; 734036, 3850977; 734058, 3850924; 734069,
3850869; 734069, 3850810; 733994, 3850850; 733870, 3850837; 733805,
3850835; 733684, 3850837; 733385, 3850709; 733248, 3850662; 733178,
3850515; 733125, 3850381; 732899, 3850360; 732902, 3849998; 733235,
3849969; 733259, 3849848; 733616, 3849806; 733710, 3849704; 733797,
3849670; 733743, 3849369; 733681, 3849340; 733359, 3849233; 733327,
3849224; 733289, 3849219; 733165, 3849216; 733114, 3849221; 732829,
3849289; 732780, 3849296; 732646, 3849339; 732495, 3849399; 732443,
3849429; 732413, 3849453; 732383, 3849486; 732361, 3849518; 732335,
3849567; 732289, 3849579; 732177, 3849584; 732087, 3849603; 732029,
3849609; 731975, 3849624; 731941, 3849637; 731890, 3849662; 731833,
3849683; 731700, 3849753; 731563, 3849801; 731463, 3849846; 731375,
3849865; 731305, 3849886; 731222, 3849915; 731143, 3849948; 731090,
3849979; 731059, 3850002; 731024, 3850038; 731000, 3850072; 730947,
3850089; 730897, 3850115; 730867, 3850137; 730821, 3850177; 730786,
3850197; 730756, 3850221; 730704, 3850279; 730660, 3850346; 730638,
3850391; 730520, 3850501; 730388, 3850568; 730309, 3850618; 730261,
3850635; 730222, 3850656; 730196, 3850675; 730165, 3850704; 730091,
3850788; 730050, 3850774; 729951, 3850749; 729871, 3850739; 729761,
3850708; 729717, 3850703; 729650, 3850703; 729606, 3850710; 729559,
3850723; 729507, 3850723; 729469, 3850727; 729414, 3850742; 729380,
3850758; 729353, 3850774; 729323, 3850798; 729295, 3850826; 729243,
3850859; 729205, 3850850; 729167, 3850846; 729078, 3850853; 728960,
3850883; 728865, 3850897; 728828, 3850908; 728791, 3850925; 728741,
3850923; 728687, 3850916; 728637, 3850919; 728576, 3850899; 728526,
3850892; 728481, 3850893; 728424, 3850902; 728359, 3850921; 728305,
3850948; 728243, 3850994; 728203, 3851038; 728159, 3851072; 728124,
3851108; 728070, 3851129; 728069, 3851114; 727865, 3851171; 727657,
3851203; 727457, 3851190; 727457, 3851196; 727452, 3851198; 727398,
3851212; 727361, 3851206; 727316, 3851204; 727257, 3851185; 727162,
3851167; 727096, 3851122; 727061, 3851107; 727025, 3851096; 726987,
3851090; 726956, 3851088; 726892, 3851090; 726848, 3851096; 726810,
3851106; 726761, 3851124; 726703, 3851155; 726645, 3851191; 726586,
3851238; 726503, 3851318; 726464, 3851372; 726431, 3851437; 726395,

[[Page 45839]]

3851453; 726363, 3851472; 726301, 3851493; 726257, 3851519; 726226,
3851507; 726106, 3851405; 726051, 3851369; 726004, 3851349; 725948,
3851337; 725883, 3851311; 725846, 3851301; 725789, 3851294; 725752,
3851293; 725714, 3851296; 725677, 3851305; 725572, 3851350; 725541,
3851371; 725501, 3851407; 725490, 3851412; 725451, 3851372; 725391,
3851326; 725335, 3851298; 725261, 3851271; 725205, 3851260; 725149,
3851260; 725100, 3851266; 725052, 3851280; 725008, 3851230; 724951,
3851190; 724891, 3851115; 724831, 3851050; 724805, 3851027; 724745,
3850980; 724713, 3850960; 724679, 3850945; 724588, 3850915; 724546,
3850874; 724504, 3850845; 724462, 3850791; 724446, 3850757; 724426,
3850726; 724394, 3850687; 724363, 3850658; 724341, 3850606; 724309,
3850553; 724270, 3850507; 724225, 3850471; 724154, 3850411; 723989,
3850326; 723742, 3850146; 723523, 3850061; 723468, 3850059; 723409,
3850068; 723369, 3850080; 723332, 3850097; 723236, 3850159; 723203,
3850188; 723152, 3850226; 723083, 3850288; 722961, 3850227; 722919,
3850211; 722880, 3850202; 722886, 3850183; 722696, 3850119; 722697,
3850114; 722450, 3850031; 722310, 3850034; 722273, 3850045; 722252,
3850055; 722226, 3850072; 722181, 3850121; 722167, 3850080; 722171,
3850012; 722174, 3850007; 721926, 3850012; 721727, 3850092; 721668,
3850119; 721594, 3850161; 721490, 3850206; 721451, 3850228; 721405,
3850263; 721360, 3850286; 721295, 3850337; 721220, 3850406; 721184,
3850449; 721154, 3850499; 721117, 3850488; 721069, 3850481; 721025,
3850482; 720985, 3850487; 720936, 3850501; 720892, 3850518; 720792,
3850573; 720762, 3850596; 720728, 3850629; 720704, 3850658; 720684,
3850690; 720669, 3850725; 720647, 3850791; 720641, 3850828; 720639,
3850883; 720621, 3850894; 720560, 3850907; 720480, 3850896; 720425,
3850895; 720377, 3850902; 720329, 3850917; 720189, 3851070; 720057,
3851148; 719923, 3851200; 719762, 3851249; 719734, 3851275; 719706,
3851307; 719621, 3851285; 719586, 3851282; 719538, 3851283; 719489,
3851293; 719440, 3851311; 719392, 3851313; 719343, 3851322; 719302,
3851335; 719263, 3851355; 719222, 3851383; 719187, 3851417; 719153,
3851431; 719120, 3851450; 719077, 3851481; 719051, 3851505; 719023,
3851539; 718981, 3851601; 718964, 3851635; 718951, 3851673; 718897,
3851684; 718844, 3851706; 718764, 3851758; 718706, 3851809; 718679,
3851838; 718623, 3851913; 718603, 3851945; 718588, 3851978; 718551,
3851999; 718515, 3852028; 718466, 3852046; 718378, 3852068; 718338,
3852087; 718286, 3852121; 718198, 3852145; 718119, 3852179; 718081,
3852200; 718002, 3852254; 717924, 3852320; 717887, 3852363; 717835,
3852451; 717812, 3852517; 717764, 3852545; 717708, 3852593; 717675,
3852614; 717681, 3852875; 717685, 3852872; 717686, 3853145; 717723,
3853110; 717797, 3853060; 717839, 3853009; 718078, 3852793; 718144,
3852742; 718224, 3852666; 718297, 3852606; 718371, 3852527; 718426,
3852482; 718450, 3852469; 718491, 3852464; 718579, 3852436; 718668,
3852396; 718677, 3852396; 718738, 3852365; 718811, 3852338; 718851,
3852316; 718871, 3852291; 718895, 3852230; 718901, 3852160; 718930,
3852117; 718976, 3852066; 719006, 3852041; 719038, 3852036; 719101,
3852057; 719145, 3852060; 719220, 3852078; 719250, 3852075; 719263,
3852068; 719283, 3852035; 719294, 3851992; 719293, 3851974; 719273,
3851924; 719266, 3851892; 719266, 3851868; 719280, 3851835; 719310,
3851806; 719370, 3851766; 719446, 3851726; 719467, 3851710; 719544,
3851670; 719589, 3851656; 719618, 3851654; 719668, 3851664; 719702,
3851681; 719740, 3851692; 719795, 3851727; 719834, 3851730; 719870,
3851717; 719880, 3851721; 719919, 3851719; 719939, 3851725; 719957,
3851749; 719986, 3851811; 720000, 3851827; 720057, 3851864; 720082,
3851874; 720109, 3851876; 720182, 3851859; 720303, 3851802; 720376,
3851786; 720429, 3851780; 720486, 3851763; 720512, 3851748; 720582,
3851692; 720625, 3851666; 720663, 3851650; 720672, 3851652; 720653,
3851714; 720658, 3851737; 720657, 3851842; 720666, 3851897; 720661,
3851917; 720648, 3851935; 720674, 3851924; 720706, 3851920; 720742,
3851927; 720777, 3851940; 720797, 3851955; 720814, 3851975; 720836,
3852036; 720864, 3852048; 720892, 3852071; 720981, 3852084; 721083,
3852108; 721109, 3852099; 721147, 3852098; 721226, 3852108; 721250,
3852092; 721286, 3852079; 721310, 3852077; 721333, 3852081; 721369,
3852097; 721410, 3852133; 721462, 3852164; 721509, 3852215; 721538,
3852260; returning to 721762, 3852103.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 4 follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45840]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.006
[[Page 45841]]

    (10) Unit 5: San Antonio Terrace Dunes Unit, Santa Barbara County,
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Casmalia and Orcutt. Land
bounded by the following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 718605,
3859659; 718632, 3859657; 718697, 3859669; 718778, 3859567; 718777,
3859481; 718786, 3859450; 718804, 3859422; 718947, 3859267; 719023,
3859199; 719113, 3859092; 719153, 3859066; 719188, 3859055; 719261,
3859047; 719299, 3859037; 719351, 3859008; 719388, 3858974; 719406,
3858946; 719403, 3858923; 719379, 3858912; 719331, 3858928; 719316,
3858929; 719306, 3858919; 719307, 3858893; 719320, 3858877; 719349,
3858862; 719382, 3858836; 719537, 3858692; 719596, 3858642; 719718,
3858573; 719756, 3858523; 719783, 3858510; 719808, 3858517; 719815,
3858530; 719808, 3858550; 719759, 3858603; 719749, 3858631; 719751,
3858639; 719756, 3858643; 719767, 3858640; 719874, 3858594; 719969,
3858523; 720074, 3858429; 720185, 3858366; 720238, 3858305; 720289,
3858264; 720330, 3858247; 720368, 3858204; 720373, 3858187; 720389,
3858168; 720387, 3858160; 720418, 3858106; 720442, 3858084; 720458,
3858063; 720561, 3858017; 720700, 3857948; 720740, 3857917; 720782,
3857874; 720864, 3857844; 720844, 3857813; 720798, 3857789; 720769,
3857783; 720737, 3857788; 720701, 3857783; 720689, 3857775; 720672,
3857741; 720676, 3857711; 720687, 3857694; 720707, 3857681; 720736,
3857675; 720803, 3857689; 720806, 3857681; 720757, 3857597; 720742,
3857515; 720743, 3857476; 720753, 3857441; 720764, 3857423; 720765,
3857408; 720785, 3857375; 720837, 3857331; 720981, 3857243; 721077,
3857172; 721186, 3857075; 721304, 3856957; 721381, 3856891; 721410,
3856860; 721619, 3856669; 721682, 3856625; 721804, 3856514; 721968,
3856387; 722031, 3856326; 722101, 3856241; 722169, 3856170; 722265,
3856086; 722284, 3856084; 722294, 3856066; 722332, 3856023; 722373,
3855962; 722376, 3855941; 722371, 3855894; 722386, 3855851; 722399,
3855840; 722468, 3855813; 722485, 3855800; 722517, 3855763; 722528,
3855735; 722558, 3855687; 722633, 3855583; 722658, 3855530; 722669,
3855468; 722667, 3855445; 722687, 3855392; 722706, 3855373; 722766,
3855346; 722893, 3855269; 723116, 3855074; 723150, 3855051; 723198,
3854994; 723214, 3854946; 723222, 3854885; 723250, 3854853; 723266,
3854839; 723364, 3854784; 723408, 3854774; 723451, 3854785; 723484,
3854787; 723518, 3854777; 723537, 3854762; 723558, 3854732; 723505,
3854653; 723501, 3854618; 723511, 3854574; 723536, 3854530; 723571,
3854490; 723618, 3854458; 723754, 3854398; 723829, 3854321; 723881,
3854276; 723940, 3854205; 723960, 3854165; 723969, 3854127; 723946,
3854104; 723941, 3854087; 723945, 3854054; 723959, 3854028; 723992,
3853990; 724017, 3853969; 724091, 3853938; 724170, 3853878; 724282,
3853770; 724332, 3853715; 724342, 3853709; 724418, 3853612; 724408,
3853601; 724407, 3853586; 724424, 3853532; 724462, 3853485; 724551,
3853389; 724638, 3853316; 724650, 3853279; 724652, 3853253; 724637,
3853093; 724641, 3853000; 724655, 3852912; 724693, 3852756; 724727,
3852664; 724783, 3852553; 724839, 3852487; 724864, 3852446; 724990,
3852276; 725010, 3852204; 725010, 3852144; 725000, 3852103; 724896,
3852180; 724881, 3852184; 724852, 3852181; 724814, 3852186; 724773,
3852197; 724727, 3852225; 724704, 3852244; 724690, 3852296; 724679,
3852310; 724658, 3852331; 724598, 3852368; 724502, 3852462; 724447,
3852497; 724382, 3852521; 724335, 3852547; 724248, 3852620; 724101,
3852732; 723998, 3852791; 723799, 3852926; 723491, 3853016; 723054,
3852881; 722842, 3852752; 722816, 3852515; 722906, 3852470; 723056,
3852348; 723033, 3852303; 723007, 3852267; 722971, 3852232; 722931,
3852205; 722927, 3852163; 722912, 3852137; 722894, 3852121; 722861,
3852107; 722789, 3852090; 722734, 3852083; 722711, 3852086; 722677,
3852099; 722632, 3852098; 722564, 3852105; 722521, 3852095; 722469,
3852089; 722425, 3852091; 722375, 3852102; 722323, 3852124; 722276,
3852155; 722212, 3852225; 722152, 3852280; 722107, 3852301; 722058,
3852334; 721988, 3852360; 721968, 3852345; 721730, 3852283; 721762,
3852103; 721538, 3852260; 721509, 3852215; 721462, 3852164; 721410,
3852133; 721369, 3852097; 721333, 3852081; 721310, 3852077; 721286,
3852079; 721250, 3852092; 721226, 3852108; 721147, 3852098; 721109,
3852099; 721083, 3852108; 720981, 3852084; 720892, 3852071; 720864,
3852048; 720836, 3852036; 720814, 3851975; 720797, 3851955; 720777,
3851940; 720742, 3851927; 720706, 3851920; 720674, 3851924; 720648,
3851935; 720661, 3851917; 720666, 3851897; 720657, 3851842; 720658,
3851737; 720653, 3851714; 720670, 3851664; 720672, 3851652; 720663,
3851650; 720625, 3851666; 720582, 3851692; 720512, 3851748; 720486,
3851763; 720429, 3851780; 720376, 3851786; 720303, 3851802; 720182,
3851859; 720109, 3851876; 720082, 3851874; 720057, 3851864; 720000,
3851827; 719986, 3851811; 719957, 3851749; 719939, 3851725; 719919,
3851719; 719880, 3851721; 719870, 3851717; 719834, 3851730; 719795,
3851727; 719740, 3851692; 719702, 3851681; 719668, 3851664; 719618,
3851654; 719589, 3851656; 719544, 3851670; 719467, 3851710; 719446,
3851726; 719370, 3851766; 719310, 3851806; 719280, 3851835; 719266,
3851868; 719266, 3851892; 719273, 3851924; 719293, 3851974; 719294,
3851992; 719283, 3852035; 719263, 3852068; 719250, 3852075; 719220,
3852078; 719145, 3852060; 719101, 3852057; 719038, 3852036; 719006,
3852041; 718976, 3852066; 718930, 3852117; 718901, 3852160; 718895,
3852230; 718871, 3852291; 718851, 3852316; 718811, 3852338; 718738,
3852365; 718677, 3852396; 718668, 3852396; 718579, 3852436; 718491,
3852464; 718450, 3852469; 718426, 3852482; 718371, 3852527; 718297,
3852606; 718224, 3852666; 718144, 3852742; 718078, 3852793; 717839,
3853009; 717797, 3853060; 717723, 3853110; 717686, 3853145; 717674,
3853147; 717666, 3853167; 717675, 3853223; 717685, 3853261; 717734,
3853389; 717746, 3853456; 717742, 3853590; 717763, 3853704; 717779,
3853758; 717788, 3853820; 717783, 3853927; 717790, 3853968; 717822,
3854086; 717846, 3854146; 717848, 3854308; 717855, 3854376; 717878,
3854437; 717880, 3854476; 717913, 3854597; 717917, 3854689; 717922,
3854724; 717933, 3854755; 717940, 3854844; 717956, 3854882; 717960,
3854929; 717975, 3854996; 717978, 3855029; 717989, 3855066; 717994,
3855116; 718010, 3855177; 718013, 3855213; 718031, 3855266; 718056,
3855377; 718075, 3855491; 718079, 3855550; 718087, 3855579; 718096,
3855644; 718118, 3855727; 718146, 3855788; 718158, 3855837; 718160,
3855938; 718179, 3856070; 718181, 3856147; 718194, 3856205; 718202,
3856297; 718225, 3856420; 718231, 3856494; 718242, 3856540; 718245,
3856582; 718258, 3856625; 718265, 3856675; 718285, 3856731; 718296,
3856796; 718321, 3856884; 718323, 3856920; 718340, 3857025; 718352,
3857052; 718369, 3857127; 718394, 3857282; 718408, 3857340; 718424,
3857457; 718442, 3857527; 718450, 3857586; 718462, 3857629; 718479,
3857711; 718481, 3857743; 718496, 3857802; 718500, 3857891; 718491,
3857950; 718498, 3858048; 718525,

[[Page 45842]]

3858214; 718536, 3858363; 718542, 3858401; 718573, 3858507; 718575,
3858566; 718570, 3858602; 718523, 3858731; 718538, 3858964; 718531,
3859020; 718498, 3859180; 718487, 3859308; 718485, 3859439; 718454,
3859579; 718429, 3859754; 718386, 3859925; 718379, 3860005; 718370,
3860051; 718373, 3860072; 718392, 3860063; 718409, 3860046; 718449,
3859977; 718476, 3859945; 718503, 3859902; 718525, 3859841; 718520,
3859825; 718525, 3859757; 718554, 3859705; 718596, 3859665; returning
to 718605, 3859659.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 5 follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45843]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.007

    (11) Unit 6: Santa Ynez River Unit, Santa Barbara County,
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Surf. Land bounded by the
following UTM zone 10 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 723859, 3838896;

[[Page 45844]]

725620, 3837543; 725271, 3837051; 724901, 3836933; 724638, 3837069;
724497, 3837192; 724248, 3837597; 724203, 3837932; 723652, 3838108;
723524, 3838238; 723422, 3838457; 723388, 3838299; 723182, 3837963;
722841, 3837832; 722612, 3837911; 722535, 3838033; 722526, 3838178;
722660, 3838389; 722817, 3838984; 722632, 3839136; 722566, 3839348;
720953, 3840388; 720833, 3840568; 720377, 3840677; 720267, 3840828;
720267, 3841007; 719515, 3841235; 719882, 3842225; 720041, 3842323;
720232, 3842302; 720395, 3842134; 720431, 3841932; 720809, 3841827;
721128, 3841609; 721478, 3841925; 721870, 3841964; 722263, 3841900;
722718, 3841675; 722963, 3841384; 723238, 3841416; 723454, 3841333;
723560, 3841154; 723497, 3840885; 723592, 3840685; 723500, 3840365;
723716, 3840247; 723901, 3840313; 723743, 3839692; 723632, 3839434;
723459, 3839221; returning to 723859, 3838896.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 6 follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 45845]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP06AU08.008
[[Page 45846]]

* * * * *

    Dated: July 28, 2008.
Lyle Laverty,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. E8-17808 Filed 8-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C

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