Fish and Wildlife Service October 16, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the Monterey Spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of the draft economic analysis of the proposed revised critical habitat designation and amended Required Determinations for the proposal. The draft economic analysis for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens forecasts future costs associated with conservation efforts for Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens of approximately $17 million (undiscounted) over a 20-year period as a result of the proposed revised designation of critical habitat, including those costs coextensive with listing and recovery. Discounted future costs are estimated to be approximately $13 million ($0.85 million annualized) at a 3 percent discount rate or approximately $9.6 million ($0.85 million annualized) at a 7 percent discount rate. The amended Required Determinations section provides our determination concerning compliance with applicable statutes and Executive Orders that we have deferred until the information from the draft economic analysis of this proposal was available. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule, the associated draft economic analysis, and the amended Required Determinations section. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the public record as part of this comment period and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.