[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39209-39210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19175]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for Four Species of Hawaiian
Ferns for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability for public review of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery
Plan for Four Species of Hawaiian Ferns. These four taxa are currently
found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Molokai,
Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before September 22, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands
Ecoregion Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, room 3108, P.O. Box 50088,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/541-3441); U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Regional Office, Ecological Services, 911 N.E. 11th Ave.,
Eastside Federal Complex, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181 (phone 503/231-
6131); the Molokai Public Library, 15 Ala Malama Street, Kaunakakai,
Hawaii 96748; Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-
Kona, Hawaii 96740; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo,
Hawaii 96720; and, the Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street,
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793. Requests for copies of the draft recovery
plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan should be
addressed to Brooks Harper, Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, at
the above Honolulu address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Foster at the above Honolulu
address.
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
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery
levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost
for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act, 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
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider
all information presented during the public comment period prior to
approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. Substantive technical
comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments
regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in
changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate
Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into
account during the course of implementing recovery actions.
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
The four taxa being considered in this recovery plan are: Asplenium
fragile var. insulare (no common name (NCN)), Ctenitis squamigera
(pauoa), Diplazium molokaiense (NCN), and Pteris lidgatei (NCN).
These four taxa are all Federally listed as endangered and are
currently found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands: Oahu,
Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii. Three of the four endangered fern
taxa have been reported from lowland forest habitat. Ctenitis
squamigera is typically found in lowland mesic forests, while Pteris
lidgatei appears to be restricted to lowland wet forest. Diplazium
molokaiense has been reported from lowland to montane forests in mesic
to wet settings. The fourth species, Asplenium fragile var. insulare,
has been reported from montane wet, mesic and dry forest habitats as
well as subalpine dry forest and shrubland
[[Page 39210]]
habitat. The four taxa and their habitats have been variously affected
or are threatened by one or more of the following: habitat degradation
and/or predation by feral or domestic animals (goats, pigs, cattle,
sheep and deer); competition for space, light, water, and nutrients
from alien plants; human impacts; and fire. In addition, these taxa are
subject to an increased likelihood of extinction and/or reduced
reproductive vigor from chance (stochastic) events due to the small
number of existing individuals and their very narrow distributions.
The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of these four taxa so that their protection by the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. This plan summarizes
available information about each taxon, reviews the threats to their
continued existence, and lists management actions needed to remove
these threats. Immediate actions needed to prevent extinction of these
taxa include habitat protection through fencing for exclusion of
ungulates, control of alien plants, and protection from fire. Ex situ
propagation and augmentation of some populations may also be needed.
Long-term activities necessary for the perpetuation of these taxa in
their natural habitats include long-term monitoring and management as
well as re-establishment of populations within their historic ranges.
Research on life history, limiting factors, habitat requirements, and
minimum viable population size is needed to help make appropriate
management decisions.
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 approval of this plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: May 27, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Pacific
Region.
[FR Doc. 97-19175 Filed 7-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
