[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50213-50214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24092]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery
Plan for Amaranthus Pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth), a Plant Species, 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 Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth). This rare annual plant
grows on accreting beaches of barrier islands in New York, North
Carolina, and South Carolina. Historically, it occurred on beaches all
along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod, MA, to South Carolina. It has
now been eliminated from two-thirds of its former range, primarily as a
result of beach ``armoring'' with structures such as sea walls. Other
potential threats to the species include mechanized beach grooming,
herbivory by insects and feral animals, and, in certain circumstances,
off-road vehicles. The Service solicits review and comments from the
public on this draft plan.
DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be
received on or before December 27, 1995, to receive consideration by
the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the technical/agency draft
recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville,
North Carolina 28801 (Telephone 704/258-3939). 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
the 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.
[[Page 50214]]
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 the
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 primary species considered in this draft recovery plan is
Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth). The areas of emphasis for
recovery actions for this plant are the Atlantic coastal areas from
Massachusetts to South Carolina. Initial attention will be focused on
those coastal areas in New York (Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens Counties);
North Carolina (Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Carteret, Onslow, Pender, New
Hanover, and Brunswick Counties); and South Carolina (Horry,
Georgetown, and Charleston Counties) where the species still survives.
Habitat protection, reintroduction, and the preservation of genetic
material are the 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: September 22, 1995.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-24092 Filed 9-27-95; 8:45 am]
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