[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16088]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Smooth 
Coneflower 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 smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata). This rare perennial 
herb grows in open woods, cedar barrens, roadsides, clearcuts, dry 
limestone bluffs, utility line rights-of-way, and other sunny to semi-
sunny situations, usually on magnesium- and calcium-rich soils, in 
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Formerly, it 
probably occurred in prairielike habitats or post oak-blackjack oak 
savannas maintained by fires caused by lightning or set by native 
Americans. Loss of this open habitat to fire suppression and 
urbanization has resulted in the decline of the species and its 
reduction to marginal and very vulnerable sites. Historically, 61 
populations were reported from eight states. The species now survives 
at only 23 of those locations, in four states. 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 August 30, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the agency draft recovery plan may 
obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, North Carolina 28806 
(Telephone 704/665-1195). 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 
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. 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 areas of emphasis for recovery actions for smooth coneflower 
(Echinacea laevigata) are the Piedmont of North Carolina (Durham, 
Granville, and Rockingham Counties), Virginia (Alleghany, Pulaski, 
Montgomery, Campbell, and Franklin Counties), South Carolina (Oconee 
and Anderson Counties), and Georgia (Stephens County). Three additional 
populations in South Carolina (Aiken and Allendale Counties) are 
believed by some authorities to have been introduced. Habitat 
protection and management, reintroduction, and preservation of genetic 
material are 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: June 24, 1994.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-16088 Filed 6-30-94; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M