[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 15787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7449]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Mexican
Spotted Owl 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Mexican
spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) which the Service listed as a
threatened species on March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14271). The Mexican spotted
owl is one of three spotted owl subspecies recognized by the American
Ornithologists' Union. This subspecies was originally described from a
specimen collected at Mount Tancitaro, Michoacan, Mexico. The Mexican
spotted owl is a medium-sized bird found from parts of central Colorado
and Utah south through Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas to the
State of Michoacan, Mexico. This owl commonly inhabits mountains and
canyons containing dense, multistoried forests with closed canopies.
Its survival is threatened by destruction and modification of habitat
caused by timber harvest, forest fires, and increased predation
associated with habitat fragmentation. The draft recovery plan
recommends management actions to be taken by Federal, State, and tribal
land management agencies to remove recognized threats and recover the
spotted owl. 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 June 26, 1995, to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contacting the Supervisor, Ecological Services State Office,
2105 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. Written comments and
materials regarding the plan should be addressed to the Regional
Director 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: Jennifer Fowler-Propst, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 505/761-4525;
facsimile 505/761-4542).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring an endangered or threatened plant or animal to the point
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem 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 site-specific management actions considered
necessary for conservation and survival of the species; establish
objective, measurable 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 public comment 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.
The recovery plan provides a basis for management actions to be
undertaken by Federal, State, and tribal land management agencies to
remove threats to the Mexican spotted owl's continued existence. The
recovery plan contains six basic elements: 1. A recovery goal and set
of delisting criteria that will allow the Mexican spotted owl to be
removed from the endangered species list; 2. strategies for management
that provide varying levels of habitat protection depending on the
owl's needs and habitat use; 3. recommendations for population and
habitat monitoring; 4. research to address critical information needs
to better understand the owl's life history; 5. implementation
procedures that specify oversight and coordination responsibilities for
the owl's recovery; and 6. information on the approximate costs of
carrying out the tasks set forth in the draft recovery plan.
The Mexican spotted owl recovery plan has been prepared by a team
of experts on the owl and its habitat requirements. This recovery plan
will be finalized and approved following incorporation of comments and
materials received during this comment period.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered prior to the approval of the plan.
Authority
The Authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533 (f).
Dated: March 7, 1995.
James A. Young,
Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 95-7449 Filed 3-24-95; 8:45 am]
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