[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 111 (Friday, June 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14163]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
availability of Final Florida Panther Habitat Preservation Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Florida Panther Interagency Committee (FPIC), composed of 
representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
National Park Service, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 
and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, approved the 
final Florida Panther Habitat Preservation Plan (Plan) January 3, 1994. 
The constituent elements of the Plan include: (1) A characterization 
and identification of occupied and potential Florida panther habitat 
(grouped into 11 ecological units) in 10 south Florida counties 
(Charlotte, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, 
Manatee, and Sarasota); (2) identification of threats to occupied and 
potential Florida panther habitat in south Florida, and (3) 
identification of 23 possible Florida panther habitat preservation 
options. The overall goal of the Plan is to ensure a sustainable 
population of Florida panther in south Florida.
    The Plan is available in paper and electronic formats. Copies of 
the Plan can be obtained by making requests to the address(es) below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a brief chronology and 
update on the Plan. A Habitat Preservation Working Group, comprised of 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Florida Game and 
Fresh Water Fish Commission, and Florida Department of Environmental 
Protection, began drafting the Plan April 10, 1991. A Federal Register 
Notice announced the draft Plan was available for public review and 
comment on February 19, 1993. The Florida Panther Technical Advisory 
Council reviewed the draft Plan on April 8, 1993, and provided 
technical comments under existing Service policy regarding panther 
issues. The comment period closed on April 30, 1993. Thirty-one letters 
of support and 33 letters of opposition to the draft Plan were received 
before the comment period closed. Three hundred and thirteen letters of 
support and 96 letters of opposition were received after the comment 
period closed. All comments were taken into consideration in subsequent 
revisions of the Plan. The Plan was approved by the FPIC on January 3, 
1994. The FPIC chairman and Technical Subcommittee members presented 
the final Plan to the public at a town meeting on February 3, 1994, in 
Ft. Myers, Florida, as requested by the Florida Farm Bureau. As of this 
date, approximately 900 copies of the final Plan have been distributed.
    Copies of Plan, as well as a set of maps depicting more detailed 
information on areas of Panther habitat, have been deposited at the 
main branch of each of the following county libraries: Charlotte, 
Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and 
Sarasota. Additional copies of the Plan are available from the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service free of charge (see ADDRESSES below). FPIC 
representatives are available, upon written request, to meet with 
special interest groups or individuals to discuss the Plan and answer 
questions.
    For a paper copy of the Plan, or for more information concerning 
any of the information presented in this notice, please contact: Mr. 
Andrew C. Eller, Jr., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Assistant Florida 
Panther Coordinator, 3860 Tollgate Blvd., Suite 37, Naples, Florida 
33942, telephone: 813/353-2814.
    Florida State University has made the Plan (Volume I) available to 
Internet users. Graphics are not included. The system is case sensitive 
and commands should be typed in lower case only. There are three 
commands: (1) Telnet freenet.fsu.edu; (2) visitor; and (3) panther. For 
more details contact Mr. Hilly Levitz at Email: levitz @cs.fsu.edu.
    The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission has made data and 
maps used in the development of the Plan available on an electronic 
database. For more information contact Mr. Randy Kautz, Office of 
Environmental Services, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 
32399-1600, telephone: 904/488-6661.

    Dated: May, 27, 1994.
Warren T. Olds, Jr.,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-14163 Filed 6-9-94; 8:45 am]
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