[Federal Register: August 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 155)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 52419-52420]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au02-16]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AH08

 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designating 
Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Molokai, HI

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and notice of 
availability of draft economic analysis.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed 
designations of critical habitat for plant species from the island of 
Molokai, Hawaii. We are also providing notice of the reopening of the 
comment period for the proposal to determine prudency and to designate 
critical habitat for these plants to allow peer reviewers and all 
interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule and 
the associated draft economic analysis. Comments previously submitted 
need not be resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the public 
record as part of this reopened comment period and will be fully 
considered in preparation of the final rule.

DATES: We will accept public comments until September 11, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be submitted to 
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands 
Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., PO Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001. For 
further instructions on commenting, refer to Public Comments Solicited 
section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Henson, Field Supervisor, Pacific 
Islands Office, at the above address (telephone: 808/541-3441; 
facsimile: 808/541-3470).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    A total of 51 plant species historically found on Molokai were 
listed as endangered or threatened species under

[[Page 52420]]

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), between 1991 and 
1999. Sixteen of these species are endemic to the island of Molokai, 
while 35 species are reported from one or more other islands, as well 
as Molokai.
    In other published proposals we proposed that critical habitat was 
prudent for 48 of the 51 species (Adenophorus periens, Alectryon 
macrococcus, Bidens wiebkei, Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, 
Canavalia molokaiensis, Centaurium sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia 
ssp. brevipes, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea dunbarii, Cyanea grimesiana 
ssp. grimesiana, Cyanea mannii, Cyanea procera, Cyperus trachysanthos, 
Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Eugenia koolauensis, Flueggea 
neowawraea, Hedyotis mannii, Hesperomannia arborescens, Hibiscus 
arnottianus ssp. immaculatus, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Ischaemum byrone, 
Isodendrion pyrifolium, Labordia triflora, Lysimachia maxima, Mariscus 
fauriei, Marsilea villosa, Melicope mucronulata, Melicope reflexa, 
Neraudia sericea, Peucedanum sandwicense, Phyllostegia mannii, 
Phyllostegia mollis, Plantago princeps, Platanthera holochila, Pteris 
lidgatei, Schiedea lydgatei, Schiedea nuttallii, Schiedea sarmentosa, 
Sesbania tomentosa, Silene alexandri, Silene lanceolata, Spermolepis 
hawaiiensis, Stenogyne bifida, Tetramolopium rockii, Vigna o-wahuensis, 
and Zanthoxylum hawaiiense) from the island of Molokai (65 FR 66808, 65 
FR 79192, 65 FR 82086, 65 FR 83158, 67 FR 3940, 67 FR 9806, 67 FR 
16492). In addition, we proposed that critical habitat was not prudent 
for Pritchardia munroi because it would likely increase the threats 
from vandalism or collection of this species on Molokai (65 FR 83158). 
At the time we listed Labordia triflora and Melicope munroi we 
determined that the designation of critical habitat was prudent for 
these two taxa from Molokai (64 FR 48307).
    In the April 5, 2002, revised prudency and critical habitat 
proposal, we proposed critical habitat for 46 of the 51 species from 
the island of Molokaii (67 FR 16492). Critical habitat was not proposed 
for 4 of the 51 species (Bonamia menziesii, Cyperus trachysanthos, 
Melicope munroi, and Solanum incompletum) which no longer occur on the 
island of Molokai and for which we are unable to identify any habitat 
that is essential to their conservation on the island of Molokai. 
Critical habitat was not proposed for Pritchardia munroi for the 
reasons given above.
    We have proposed to designate a total of 10 critical habitat units 
covering approximately 17,614 hectares (ha) (43,532 acres (ac)) on the 
island of Molokaii.
    Critical habitat receives protection from destruction or adverse 
modification through required consultation under section 7 of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) with regard to actions carried out, funded, or 
authorized by a Federal agency. Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires 
that the Secretary shall designate or revise critical habitat based 
upon the best scientific and commercial data available, and after 
taking into consideration the economic impact of specifying any 
particular area as critical habitat. Based upon the previously 
published proposal to designate critical habitat for plant species from 
Molokai, and comments received during the previous comment period, we 
have prepared a draft economic analysis of the proposed critical 
habitat designations. The draft economic analysis is available on the 
Internet and from the mailing address in the Public Comments Solicited 
section below.

Public Comments Solicited

    We will accept written comments and information during this re-
opened comment period. If you wish to comment, you may submit your 
comments and materials concerning this proposal by any of several 
methods:
    (1) You may submit written comments and information to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 
Ala Moana Blvd., PO Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001.
    (2) You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to: 
Molokai_Crithab@r1.fws.gov. If you submit comments by e-mail, please 
submit them as an ASCII file and avoid the use of special characters 
and any form of encryption. Please also include ``Attn: RIN 1018-AH08'' 
and your name and return address in your e-mail message. If you do not 
receive a confirmation from the system that we have received your e-
mail message, contact us directly by calling our Honolulu Fish and 
Wildlife Office at telephone number 808/541-3441.
    (3) You may hand-deliver comments to our Honolulu Fish and Wildlife 
Office at the address given above.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the proposal to designate critical 
habitat, will be available for inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours at the address under (1) above. Copies of the 
draft economic analysis are available on the Internet at http://
pacificislands.fws.gov or by request from the Field Supervisor at the 
address and phone number under (1 and 2) above.

Author(s)

    The primary author of this notice is John Nuss, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, 4th floor, 
Portland, OR 97232-4181.

Authority

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

    Dated: August 1, 2002.
Craig Manson,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-20340 Filed 8-9-02; 8:45 am]
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