[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10781]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Masked 
Bobwhite Quail 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 masked 
bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) which the Service listed 
as an endangered species on March 11, 1967 (32 FR 4001). Four 
populations are known to exist in the wild: Three in Mexico and one on 
the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. The 
total wild population is believed to be less than 1,500 birds. Historic 
accounts and collections indicate this subtropical subspecies has 
always been restricted to level plains and river valleys in Sonora, 
Mexico and extreme south-central Arizona in the United States. The 
Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft 
plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before July 5, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Refuge Manager, Buenos Aires National Wildlife 
Refuge P.O. Box 109, Sasabe, Arizona 85633. 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:
Dr. William (Bill) Kuvlesky, Jr., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Biologist, telephone (602) 823-4251 or at the above address.

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. 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 site specific management actions considered necessary for 
conservation and survival of the species, establish objective, 
measurable criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting or 
delisting species, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery 
measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) requires development of recovery plans for listed species 
unless such a plan would not promote 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 will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    Habitat of the masked bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) 
is open savanna grassland within dry-tropic scrub. Occupied habitat is 
further restricted to elevations ranging between 10 and 1,200 meters 
where mean rainfall ranges from 250 to over 500 millimeters. The birds 
are associated with weedy bottomlands, grassy and herb-strewn valleys, 
and forb-rich plains. This habitat type has declined drastically as a 
result of overgrazing by livestock and periods of severe drought. The 
recovery plan addresses populations that remain in Mexico and steps 
being taken in the United States to reintroduce the species to areas 
once occupied in the state of Arizona. Although the goal is to recover 
the species to the level where delisting can occur, the recovery plan 
emphasizes short term actions deemed necessary to stabilize the species 
in the wild and prevent the species, extinction.
    The plan will be finalized and approved following incorporation of 
comments and materials received during this comment period.

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 the plan's approval.

Authority

    The Authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: April 28, 1994.
Lynn B. Starnes,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-10781 Filed 5-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M