[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7793-7794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4094]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Florida Salt Marsh
Vole (Microtus Pennsylvanicus Dukecampbelli), for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Florida
salt marsh vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli), a federally
endangered rodent that is known from only one site in Waccasassa Bay,
near Cedar Key, Levy County, Florida. The Service solicits review and
comment from the public on this draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before April 21, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office,
Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310,
Jacksonville, Florida 32216 (Telephone: 904-232-2580, FAX 904-232-
2404). Written comments and materials regarding the plan should be
addressed to the Field Supervisor, at the above address. Comments and
materials received are available on request for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Finger at the above address
(Telephone: 904-232-2580 ext. 107).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened plants and animals to the point
where they are secure self-sustaining members
[[Page 7794]]
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 the
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting species, and estimate time
and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) 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 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 take these comments into account in the course of
implementing approved recovery plans.
The Florida salt marsh vole inhabits one known coastal marsh site
in Levy County, Florida. The vole is limited by two factors, an
extremely restricted range encompassing only one known population, and
the threat of losing this population to a storm event or population
fluctuations.
The immediate goal of this recovery plan is to prevent extinction
of the salt marsh vole by protecting the existing population. The
actions needed to recover this species are: (1) Protect existing
population, (2) conduct surveys to locate additional populations, and
(3) conduct life history studies.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan. All
comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior
to the approval of the plans.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
David Hankla,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-4094 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
