[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 183 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 49003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23481]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Ute Ladies'-tresses
(Spiranthes diluvialis) for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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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 Ute
ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) This plant occurs on public,
private, and Ute tribal lands in the Uinta Basin, along the Wasatch
Front, and in the west desert in Utah; along Colorado's's Front Range
north of Denver; in two locations in Wyoming; and in one location in
Montana. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on
this draft recovery plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or
before November 20, 1995 to ensure they receive consideration by the
Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
a copy by contracting the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Lincoln Plaza, Suite 404, 145 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84115. Written comments and materials regarding this plan should
be sent to the Field Supervisor at the Salt Lake City address given
above. 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:
Lucy A. Jordan, Fish and Wildlife Biologist (see ADDRESSES above), at
telephone 801/524-5001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant 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'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
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time
and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, 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 also will take these comments into account in the
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
The Ute ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis) is a perennial,
terrestrial orchid 20 to 50 cm (8 to 20 inches) tall. The flowers are
white or ivory and cluster into a spike arrangement at the top of the
stem. The plan generally occurs in small, scattered groups in low
elevation riparian, spring, and lakeside wetland meadows. The species
range includes the west desert, Wasatch Front, and Uinta Basin in Utah;
the Front Range north of Denver in Colorado, southeastern to central
Wyoming, and southwestern Montana.
The Ute ladies'-tresses was listed as a threatened species on
January 17, 1992 (57 FR 2053), under the authority of the Act. It was
listed due to current and potential threats to the species' population
and habitat from increasing urbanization, water diversions, alteration
and management of stream systems that result in a decrease in stream
dynamics, increasing recreation, and invasion of habitat by exotic
plant species. The goal of the recovery plan is to maintain and protect
viable populations to ensure the species' survival and to guide
recovery actions to facilitate downlisting and delisting of the
species. Recovery efforts will focus on developing and implementing
watershed management programs that help retain and restore streams and
streamside habitats where the plant occurs, establishing formal land
management designations that provide long-term protection of the
species and its habitat, conducting biological and habitat management
research, managing recreation, and implementing integrated pest
management for weed control.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described above. All comments received by the date specified in the
DATES section above will be considered prior to approval of the
recovery plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 14, 1995.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 95-23481 Filed 9-20-95; 8:45 am]
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