[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 155 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 41099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19846]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for Nineteen Florida Scrub 
and High Pineland Plants 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for nineteen 
plants from dry habitats in central Florida (Florida scrub and high 
pineland vegetation). This plan is a revision and expansion of a 
recovery plan, published in 1990, that covered eleven of these plant 
species. 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 October 10, 1995, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive, South, Suite 
310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216 (Telephone: 904-232-2580, FAX 904-232-
2404) or Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia, 30345 
(Telephone: 404-679-7086). Written comments and materials regarding the 
plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor, at the Jacksonville, 
Florida address. Comments and materials received are available on 
request for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours also at the Jacksonville, Florida address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David L. Martin at the Jacksonville, Florida address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened plants and animals to the point 
where they are 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 specieis 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 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 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 take these comments into account in the course of 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    The nineteen species covered by this recovery plan inhabit dry 
upland vegetation, either Florida scrub with shrubby evergreen oaks and 
sand pines, or high pineland with longleaf pine, deciduous oaks (either 
turkey oak or bluejack oak) and abundant wiregrass. The plants were 
added to the Federal List of Endangered (E) and Threatened (T) Plants 
as follows: Chionanthus pygamaeus (pygmy fringe tree) (E), Eryngium 
cuneifolium (a snakeroot) (E), Hypericum cumulicola (Highlands scrub 
hypericum) (E), Paronychia chartacea (papery whitlow-wort) (T), 
Polygonella basiramia (a wireweed) (E), Prunus geniculata (scrub plum) 
(E), and Warea carteri (Carter's mustard) (E) on January 21, 1987 (52 
FR 2227). Lupinus aridorum (scrub lupine) (E) on April 7, 1987 (52 FR 
11172). Bonamia grandiflora (Florida bonamia) (T) on November 2, 1987 
(52 FR 42068). Liatris ohlingerae (scrub blazing star) and Ziziphus 
celata (Florida ziziphus) (E) on July 27, 1989, (54 FR 31190). Cladonia 
perforata (Florida perforate cladonia, a lichen) (E), Clitoria fragrans 
(pigeon-wings) (T), Crotalaria avonensis (Avon Park harebells) (E), 
Eriogonum longifolium var. gnaphalifolium (scrub buckwheat) (T), Nolina 
brittoniana (scrub beargrass) (E), Polygala lewtonii (Lewton's 
polygala) (E), Polygonella myriophylla (sandlace) (E) on April 27, 1993 
(58 FR 25746). Conradina brevifolia (short-leaved rosemary) (E) on July 
12, 1993 (58 FR 37432).
    The nineteen species became threatened because most of their 
habitat was destroyed for agricultural purposes or urban development, 
and because some remaining habitat was degraded due to lack of 
appropriate prescribed fire. The recovery plan contains six basic 
elements: 1. Protect habitat through purchase and other means 
(including the Habitat Conservation Plan process for threatened animals 
in the Florida scrub habitat); 2. Manage protected habitats; 3. 
Conserve germ plasm and establish new populations of Ziziphus celata 
and (if possible) Lupinus aridorum; 5. Assess progress and plan post-
recovery monitoring.
    The 1990 edition of this recovery plan emphasized the need for land 
acquisition to protect these plants. At the time, the State and private 
organizations had already made significant acquisitions, and more have 
been accomplished since then (including initial land purchase for the 
Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge). These land purchases, 
accompanied by the other elements of the recovery plan, are likely to 
assure the full recovery or at least the downlisting of the large 
majority of the nineteen plants.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan. All 
comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior 
to the approval of the plans.

Authority

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

    Dated: August 4, 1995.
David J. Wesley,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-19846 Filed 8-10-95; 8:45 am]
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