[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50399-50400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25424]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat,
Lasiurus cinereus semotus, 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 a draft recovery plan for the
Hawaiian hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus semotus. This subspecies is known
from the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai. Population
numbers are not known, but Hawaiian hoary bats are observed regularly
only on Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, and the bat is apparently restricted
in distribution on the latter two islands. There is a general lack of
historic and current data on this subspecies, and its present status is
not well understood.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by December 24,
1997 will be considerated by the Service.
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, Room 3108, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, P.O. Box 50088,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone: 808/541-3441). Requests for copies of
the draft recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding
the plan should be addressed to Brooks Harper, Field Supervisor-
Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands
Ecoregion at the Honolulu address given above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Rosa, Assistant Field
Supervisor-Endangered Species, at the Honolulu address given above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 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, its
Territories and Commonwealths. Recovery plans describe actions
considered necessary for 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 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. Substantive technical
comments will result in changes to the
[[Page 50400]]
plan. Substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation may
not necessarily result in changes to the recovery plan, 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 subspecies being considered in this recovery plan is the
Hawaiian hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus semotus. It is known from the
islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu Kauai, and Molokai. Population numbers
are not known, but Hawaiian hoary bats are observed regularly only on
Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, and the bat is apparently restricted in
distribution on the latter two islands. There is a general lack of
historic and current data on this subspecies, and its present status is
not well understood. Habitat requirements for the Hawaiian hoary bat
are not well known. Bats are most often observed foraging in open
areas, near the edges of native forests, or over open water. Hawaiian
hoary bats roost solitarily in trees. Habitat requirements may vary
seasonally, but this is not clear. Threats to this subspecies include
habitat destruction (elimination of roosting sites), and possibly
direct and indirect effects of predation, pesticides, introduced
insects, and disease.
The objective of the actions proposed by this recovery plan is to
delist the Hawaiian hoary bat. Interim goals include determining the
abundance, distribution, and habitat needs of this subspecies. Interim
criteria for downlisting the Hawaiian hoary bat to threatened status
are also identified.
Delisting and downlisting decisions cannot be made without a basic
understanding of the Hawaiian hoary bat's distribution, abundance, and
habitat needs. Research addressing these questions must be undertaken
prior to consideration of delisting or downlisting.
Downlisting Objectives
A widespread population of Hawaiian hoary bats must be naturally
reproducing and stable or increasing in size on the island of Hawaii
for a minimum of 5 consecutive years before downlisting is considered.
Delisting Objectives
Hawaiian hoary bat populations on Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui must be
well-distributed, naturally reproducing, and stable or increasing in
size for at least 5 consecutive years before delisting is considered.
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 this plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 15, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-25424 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
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