[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 328-329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Lesser Long-
Nosed Bat 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 draft recovery plan for the lesser 
long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae) which the Service 
listed as an endangered species in 1988 (FR 38460; September 30, 1988). 
The lesser long-nosed bat occurs in southern Arizona, southwest New 
Mexico and the western and southern portions of Mexico. This species is 
migratory and is found in the United States during the summer. The 
Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before March 7, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3616 West 
Thomas Road, suite 6, Phoenix, Arizona 85019. Written comments and 
material regarding the plan should be addressed to the State 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:
Please phone Lesley Fitzpatrick, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish 
and Wildlife Service Biologist; at telephone 602/379-4720 (see 
ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened plant or animal 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 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 the site specific 
management actions considered necessary for conservation and survival 
of the species, establish objectives, and measurable criteria for the 
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting species, and estimate time 
and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) 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, and 
other affected Federal agencies, will take these comments into account 
in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The lesser long-nosed bat occurs in caves and mines in southern 
Arizona from approximately May through September. Both maternity 
colonies and night roosts are found in the state. Wintering areas for 
bats that summer in the United States are not defined. Maternity 
colonies and other types of roosts are found in western and southern 
Mexico. Management issues and concerns include mining activities, 
disturbance of foraging areas, animal control actions, and human 
disturbance of roost sites.
    The lesser long-nosed bat recovery plan has been reviewed by the 
appropriate Service staff in Region 2 and was developed with input from 
selected experts on the biology of the species. The plan will be 
finalized and approved following incorporation of comments and material 
received during this comment period.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All biological comments received by the date specified above 
will be considered prior to the 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: December 16, 1993.
John G. Rogers,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-13 Filed 1-3-94; 8:45 am]
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