[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 49853-49854] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-23944] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 49854]] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Heliotrope Milkvetch (Astragalus montii) for Review and Comment agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. action: Notice of document availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- summary: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Heliotrope milkvetch (Astragalus montii). The Heliotrope milkvetch occurs in Sanpete and Sevier Counties, Utah. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft recovery plan. dates: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before November 27, 1995, to ensure they receive consideration by the Service. addresses: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lincoln Plaza, Suite 404, 145 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Written comments and materials regarding this plan should be sent to the Field Supervisor at the Salt Lake City address given above. 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: John L. England, Botanist (see ADDRESSES above), at telephone 801/524-5001. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) 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 recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed. The Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires the development or 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 a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other Federal agencies also will take these comments into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. The Heliotrope milkvetch is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the legume family (Fabaceae). The species is very low growing, nearly stemless plant approximately 1 to 5 centimeters (0.4 to 2 inches) tall, with two to eight pinkish purple flowers with white wing-tips. The species range includes Heliotrope Mountain in Sanpete County, Utah, and White Mountain in Sevier County, Utah. Currently, three populations are known with a total population of approximately 200,000 individuals, occupying a total area of about 400 acres. The Heliotrope milkvetch (Astragalus montii) was listed as a threatened species on November 6, 1987 (52 FR 42657), under the authority of the Act. Critical habitat has been designated for the species western Heliotrope Mountain population. This species was listed due to its limited habitat and small population size, and to current and potential threats from grazing and oil and gas surface disturbing activities to the species habitat. The goal of the recovery plan is to maintain viable populations of the species at its known sites to ensure the species survival, and to guide recovery efforts to facilitate delisting of the species. Recovery efforts will focus on protecting the species population and habitat from habitat destroying activities through the sections 7 and 9 prohibitions of the Act for plant species. Biological and ecological research of the species' biology and its relationship and interaction with its environment is necessary to guide future management of the species population and habitat to ensure its continued survival and the preservation of the species ecosystem. Additional recovery efforts will focus on inventory of potential habitat and minimum viable population studies of its known populations. Public Comments Solicited The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan described above. All comments received by the date specified in the DATES section above will be considered prior to approval of the recovery plan. Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: September 21, 1995. Elliott N. Sutta, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 95-23944 Filed 9-26-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-55-M