[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16088]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 1, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Smooth
Coneflower 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 technical/agency draft recovery
plan for smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata). This rare perennial
herb grows in open woods, cedar barrens, roadsides, clearcuts, dry
limestone bluffs, utility line rights-of-way, and other sunny to semi-
sunny situations, usually on magnesium- and calcium-rich soils, in
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Formerly, it
probably occurred in prairielike habitats or post oak-blackjack oak
savannas maintained by fires caused by lightning or set by native
Americans. Loss of this open habitat to fire suppression and
urbanization has resulted in the decline of the species and its
reduction to marginal and very vulnerable sites. Historically, 61
populations were reported from eight states. The species now survives
at only 23 of those locations, in four states. 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 August 30, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the 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:
Ms. Nora Murdock at the address and telephone number shown above (Ext.
231).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened animals and 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.
The areas of emphasis for recovery actions for smooth coneflower
(Echinacea laevigata) are the Piedmont of North Carolina (Durham,
Granville, and Rockingham Counties), Virginia (Alleghany, Pulaski,
Montgomery, Campbell, and Franklin Counties), South Carolina (Oconee
and Anderson Counties), and Georgia (Stephens County). Three additional
populations in South Carolina (Aiken and Allendale Counties) are
believed by some authorities to have been introduced. Habitat
protection and management, reintroduction, and preservation of genetic
material are major objectives of this 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: June 24, 1994.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-16088 Filed 6-30-94; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
