[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51122-51123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24795]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Multi-Island Plant
Cluster for Review and Comment
AGENCY: U.S. 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 Draft Recovery Plan for the
Multi-Island Plant Cluster. There are 12 taxa of plants included in
this plan. These 12 taxa are currently found on one or more of the
following Hawaiian Islands: Laysan, Necker, Nihoa, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu,
Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii.
DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before
December 30, 1996.
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, HI 96740; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI,
96720; Kauai Regional Library, 4344 Hardy Avenue, Lihue, HI, 96766;
and, the Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, Maui.
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: Karen Rosa, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, 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 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 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.
[[Page 51123]]
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
The 12 taxa being considered in this recovery plan are: Adenophorus
periens (pendant kihi fern), Bonamia menziesii (no common name (NCN)),
Diellia erecta (NCN), Flueggea neowawraea (mehamehame), Hibiscus
brackenridgei (ma`o hau hele), Mariscus pennatiformis (NCN), Neraudia
sericea (ma`aloa), Plantago princeps (ale), Sesbania tomentosa (`ohai),
Solanum incompletum (thorny popolo), Spermolepis hawaiiensis (NCN), and
Vigna o-wahuensis (Oahu vigna).
These 12 taxa are all Federally listed as endangered and are
currently found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands:
Laysan, Necker, Nihoa, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe,
Maui, and Hawaii. They are found in a wide range of vegetation
communities (grasslands, shrublands, and forests), elevational zones
(coastal to subalpine), and moisture regimes (dry to wet). They have
been variously affected or are currently threatened by: habitat
degradation and/or predation by pigs, goats, deer, and cattle; invasion
and competition from naturalized, introduced vegetation; habitat loss
from fires; human impacts from recreational activities; insect
infestations; and the potential for extinction from stochastic events
because of small population size and/or limited distribution.
The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of these 12 taxa so that their protection by the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. Immediate actions necessary
for the prevention of extinction of these taxa include fencing for
exclusion of ungulates, alien plant control, protection from fire,
population and plant community monitoring and management, ex situ
propagation, and augmentation of populations, as appropriate. Long-term
activities necessary for the perpetuation of these taxa in their
natural habitats additionally include public education, maintenance of
fenced areas, long-term monitoring and management of populations and
communities, and re-establishment of populations within the historic
ranges of some taxa. Further research regarding current range,
reproduction and reproductive status, pollinators, life history,
limiting factors, habitat requirements, and minimum viable population
sizes is needed to facilitate appropriate management decisions
regarding the long-term perpetuation of each of these taxa.
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 these plans.
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 23, 1996.
Donald V. Friberg
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific
Region.
[FR Doc. 96-24795 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
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