[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13533]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery
Plan for Large-flowered Skullcap for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability
for public review of a technical/agency draft recovery plan for large-
flowered skullcap. Large-flowered skullcap (Scutellaria montana
Chapman) is an herbaceous representative of the mint family
(Lamiaceae), with known populations in northern Georgia and
southeastern Tennessee. The Service solicits review and comments from
the public on this draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be
received on or before August 2, 1994 to receive consideration by the
Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the technical/agency draft
recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield Court,
Asheville, North Carolina 28806 (Telephone 704/665-1195). 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: Mr. J. Allen Ratzlaff at the address
and telephone number shown above (Ext. 229).
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 cost 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.
Based upon available information concerning the range, biology, and
threats to its continued survival, it is not yet possible to determine
if or when full recovery of the large-flowered skullcap is possible.
Accordingly, this draft recovery plan outlines a mechanism that
provides for the protection and maintenance of all known populations,
with emphasis on determining autecological factors necessary to manage
the species. In 1986 the taxon was listed as endangered by the Service.
At that time there were seven populations known in Georgia and three in
Tennessee. The taxon was threatened by habitat loss to timbering or
development. Over 90 percent of the 7,000 individual plants known in
1986 occurred at only two sites, neither of which was completely
protected from known threats. Currently, large-flowered skullcap is
known to occur in two counties in Tennessee and four counties in
Georgia, within a limited area of the Ridge and Valley and Cumberland
Plateau provinces. There are 17 extant populations (12 in Tennessee and
5 in Georgia) that vary greatly in size. Comments and information
provided during this review will be used in preparing the final
recovery plan.
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 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: May 26, 1994.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-13533 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
