[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67886-67887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33811]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of
Recovery Plan for the Florida Panther
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to revise recovery plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces its
intent to revise the recovery plan for the endangered Florida panther,
Puma (Felis) concolor coryi. The Service established a Recovery Team
comprised of key individuals and scientists involved in the Florida
panther recovery program to guide the revision process. Additional
opportunities for public review and comment will be available when the
revised plan is in draft form.
DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by March
2, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning the recovery plan revision
should be sent to Dennis B. Jordan, Recovery Team Leader, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 110450, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0450.
Copies of the current recovery plan are available at the same address.
Comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dennis B. Jordan at the above
address, (telephone 352/846-0546; facsimile 352/846-0841.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened animals or plants to the point
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
conservation of the species, establish criteria for recognizing the
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time
and costs for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) (Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,
requires that a public notice and an opportunity for public review and
comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will
consider all information presented during a public comment period prior
to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
[[Page 67887]]
The species considered in this recovery plan revision is the
Florida panther, Puma (Felis) concolor coryi. Historically ranging
throughout most of the southeast U.S., the Florida panther has been
reduced to a single known wild population estimated to number 30 to 50
adults. This population utilizes approximately two million acres of
habitat on public and privately owned lands in south Florida. Threats
to the panther are generally related to factors associated with its
habitat--availability, destruction, modification, fragmentation,
contamination and the types and levels of human activities taking place
within habitat areas; and, demographic and genetic factors associated
with isolation, population reductions and inbreeding within the small
population.
Previous Federal Action
This proposed revision represents the second major revision of the
recovery plan since its initial approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service on December 17, 1981. The first major revision was approved on
June 22, 1987. Additionally, a minor revision to incorporate a task to
address genetic restoration and management was approved on March 13,
1995.
Public Comments Solicited
The current Recovery Team elected to expand involvement in the
revision process to include other entities; those considered to be
potential ``stakeholders'' in the panther recovery program. Potential
stakeholders may represent interests of Native Americans, landowners,
conservation organizations, hunters, agriculture, timber, animal
rights, property rights, public agencies, education/public outreach,
development/real estate, etc.
The Service solicits written input regarding suggested recovery
actions/tasks that should be considered in drafting the revised
recovery plan. All comments received by the date specified above will
be considered prior to drafting the revised plan. Additional
opportunities for public review and comment will be available when the
revised plan is in draft form.
Authority
The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: December 11, 1997.
David Hankla,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-33811 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
