[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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