[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 21, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69896-69897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29721]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AG27
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of
Availability of Draft Economic Analysis for Proposed Critical Habitat
Determination for the Morro Shoulderband Snail
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft economic analysis.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability of a draft economic analysis for the proposed designation
of critical habitat for the Morro shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta
walkeriana). We are opening the comment period to allow all interested
parties to submit written comments on the draft economic analysis.
Comments will be incorporated into the public record as a part of this
comment period and will be fully considered in the final rule.
DATES: The comment period is opened and we will accept comments until
December 6, 2000. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing
date. Any comments that are received after the closing date may not be
considered in the final decision on this proposal.
ADDRESSES: All written comments should be sent to the Field Supervisor
at the above address. You may also send comments by electronic mail (e-
mail) to ``[email protected].'' Please submit electronic
comments in ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters
and encryption. Please include ``Attn: RIN 1018-AG27'' 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 Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at
phone number 805-644-1766. Comments and materials received will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at the above Service address. Copies of the draft economic
analysis are available on the Internet at ``www.r1.fws.gov'' or by
writing to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura,
California 93003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and
Wildlife Office, at the above address (telephone 805-644-1766;
facsimile 805-644-3958).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Morro shoulderband snail was first described as Helix
walkeriana by Hemphill based on collection made ``near Morro,
California.'' He also described a subspecies, based on sculptural
features of the shell, Helix walkeriana, Helix var. morroensis, that
was collected ``near San Luis Obispo City.'' The Morro shoulderband
snail is also commonly known as the banded dune snail and belongs to
the Class Gastropoda and Family Helminthoglyptidae.
The shell of the Morro shoulderband snail has 5-6 whorls. Its
dimensions are 18 to 29 millimeters (mm) (0.7 to 1.1 inches (in.)) in
diameter and 14 to 25 mm (0.6 to 1.0 in.) in height. The Morro
shoulderband snail can be distinguished from the Big Sur shoulderband
snail (Helminthoglypta umbilicata), another native snail in the same
area, by its more globose (globe shaped) shell and presence of incised
(deeply cut) spiral grooves. The shell of the Big Sur shoulderband
snail tends to be flatter and shiner. The brown garden snail (Helix
aspersa) also occurs in Los Osos with the Morro shoulderband snail and
has a marbled pattern on its shell, whereas the Morro shoulderband
snail has one narrow dark brown spiral band on the shoulder. The Morro
shoulderband's spire is low-domed, and half or more of the umbilicus
(the cavity in the center of the base of a spiral shell that is
surrounded by the whorls) is covered by the apertural (small opening)
lip.
The Morro shoulderband snail is found only in western San Luis
Obispo County. At the time of its addition to the List of Endangered
and Threatened Wildlife on December 15, 1994 (59 FR 64613), the Morro
shoulderband snail was known to be distributed near Morro Bay. Its
currently known range includes areas south of Morro Bay, west of Los
Osos Creek, and north of Hazard Canyon. Historically, the species has
also been reported near the city of San Luis Obispo (type locality for
``morroensis'') and south of Cayucos.
The Morro shoulderband snail occurs in coastal dune and scrub
communities and maritime chaparral. Through most of its range, the
dominant shrub associated with the snail's habitat is mock heather
(Ericameria reicoides). Other prominent shrub and succulent species are
buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium), eriastrum (Eriastrum densifolium),
chamisso lupine (Lupinus chamissonis), dudleya (Dudleya sp.) and in
more inland locations, California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) and
black sage (Salvia mellifera).
Away from the immediate coast, immature scrub in earlier
successional stages may offer more favorable shelter sites than mature
stands of coastal dune scrub. The immature shrubs provide canopy
shelter for the snail, whereas the lower limbs of larger older shrubs
may be too far off the ground to offer good shelter. In addition,
mature stands produce twiggy litter that is low in food value. The
Morro shoulderband snail is not a garden pest and is essentially
harmless to gardens.
The Morro shoulderband snail is threatened by destruction of its
habitat due to increasing development and by degradation of its habitat
due to invasion of nonnative plant species (e.g., veldt grass (Ehrharta
calycino)), structural changes to its habitat due to maturing of dune
vegetation, and recreational use (e.g., heavy off-highway vehicle
activity). In addition to the known threats, possible threats to the
snail include competition for resources with the nonnative brown garden
snail (although no assessment has been made of possible dietary overlap
between the species); the isolated nature of the remaining populations;
the use of pesticides (including snail and slug baits); and the
introduction of nonnative predatory snails.
Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act),
the species was federally listed as endangered on December 15, 1994 (59
FR 64613). On July 12, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65
FR 42962) a determination proposing critical habitat for the Morro
shoulderband snail. Approximately 1,040 hectares (2,565 acres) fall
within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation.
Proposed critical habitat is located in the community of Los Osos, San
Luis Obispo County, California, as described in the proposed
determination.
[[Page 69897]]
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 the Morro shoulderband snail and comments received during
the previous comment period, we have prepared a draft economic analysis
of the proposed critical habitat designation. The draft economic
analysis is available at the above Internet and mailing address. We
will accept written comments during this reopened comment period. The
current comment period on this proposal closes on December 6, 2000.
Written comments may be submitted to the Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office in the ADDRESSES section.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Ron Popowski, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003
(see ADDRESSES section).
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: November 15, 2000.
Cynthia U. Barry,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office.
[FR Doc. 00-29721 Filed 11-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P