[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5193]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 8, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Tennessee 
Yellow-Eyed Grass 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 Tennessee 
yellow-eyed grass (Xyris tennesseenis. Fourteen populations are known 
to occur, including 8 in Alabama (Franklin, Bibb, and Calhoun 
Counties), 2 in Georgia (Bartow and Whitefield Counties), and 4 in 
Tennessee (Lewis County). Populations are located in spring meadows or 
along small streams. With the exception of three sites which occur all 
or partially on Federal lands (Calhoun County, Alabama), sites are on 
privately owned lands. 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 April 15, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 
39213. 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. Cary Norquist at the above address (601/965-4900).

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 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 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 (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 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. The Service and other 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The species considered in this draft recovery plan is Tennessee 
yellow-eyed grass (Xyris tennesseensis). This plant occurs in spring 
meadows or along small streams in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. All 
sites feature nearly permanent moisture regimes, open, sunny 
conditions, and calcareous bedrock (shale, limestone, dolomite) or thin 
calcareous soils. Tennessee yellow-eyed grass was listed as endangered 
in 1991 due to its limited distribution, and loss or decline in 
populations due to drainage and conversion of habitat to agricultural 
fields and from timbering.
    The objective of this proposed plan is to delist Tennessee yellow-
eyed grass. Delisting will be considered when there are 15 adequately 
protected and managed, self-sustaining populations of the species 
distributed throughout the historical range. Actions needed to reach 
this goal include: (1) Protecting and managing populations, (2) 
surveying for new populations, (3) investigating potential management 
techniques, (4) conducting research on this species' ecological 
requirements and life history, and (5) maintaining plants and seed ex 
situ.
    This Plan is being submitted for agency review. After consideration 
of comments received during the review period, it will be submitted for 
final approval.

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: February 15, 1994.
Robert Bowker,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-5193 Filed 3-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M