[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 178 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47757-47758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22936]




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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of the Agency Draft Recovery Plan for 
Cumberland Sandwort 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 an agency draft recovery plan for 
Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis). This endangered species 
is known from five populations in Tennessee and Kentucky. It is 
restricted to sandstone ledges and rock houses in the Cumberland 
Plateau Province of south-central Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. 
Specialized habitat requirements, in combination with habitat 
alteration, are the primary limiting factors for the species. Threats 
to its continued existence include trampling of its habitat by 
recreational users and habitat alteration caused by timber harvesting 
on adjacent lands. The Service solicits review and comments from the 
public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the agency draft recovery plan must be received on 
or before December 13, 1995, 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, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 
(Telephone 704/258-3939). 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:
Mr. Robert Currie at the address and telephone number shown above (Ext. 
224).

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 
the conservation of the species, to establish criteria for recognizing 
the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and to 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 the 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 primary species considered in this draft recovery plan is 
Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis). The area of emphasis 
for recovery actions is the Cumberland Plateau Province of south-
central Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. The species is currently 
known from four counties in Tennessee (Pickett, Scott, Fentress, and 
Morgan) and one county in Kentucky (McCreary). A majority of the sites 
are found in sandstone rock houses or on ledges or solution pockets on 
sandstone rock faces. All known sites are within the Big South Fork 
watershed of the Cumberland River. Habitat requirements include shade, 
moisture, relatively constant cool temperatures, and high humidity. 
Arenaria cumberlandensis is endangered directly and indirectly by human 
activities in and adjacent to its unique habitat. Significant threats 
include trampling by hikers, campers, picnickers, individuals 
rappelling down the sandstone cliffs, and ``pot hunters'' digging 
within rock houses for Native American artifacts. Some sites are 
potentially threatened by timber removal in or adjacent to the areas 
supporting the species. Increased sunlight on the plants and the 

[[Page 47758]]
subsequent alteration of the moisture conditions would probably lead to 
extirpation of Arenaria cumberlandensis from the timbered area. Habitat 
protection, searches for new populations, the implementation of 
appropriate management actions, and the preservation of genetic 
material are the 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: September 8, 1995.

Robert R. Currie,

Acting Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 95-22936 Filed 9-13-95; 8:45 am]

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