[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 50213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24091]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery 
Plan for Saint Francis' Satyr 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 Saint Francis' satyr (Neonympha mitchellii ssp. francisci). 
This rare butterfly occurs in the sandhills of Cumberland County, North 
Carolina. Until its recent rediscovery, the species was believed to 
have been collected to extinction. One fragmented population is now 
known to survive. The Service solicits review and comments from the 
public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be 
received on or before December 27, 1995 to receive consideration by the 
Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the technical/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:
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 
the 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 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 Saint 
Francis' satyr (Neonympha mitchellii ssp. francisci). The area of 
emphasis for recovery actions for this rare butterfly is the sandhills 
region of the Carolinas. Habitat protection and management, 
reintroduction, preservation of genetic material, and protection of the 
species from illegal collecting 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 22, 1995.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-24091 Filed 9-27-95; 8:45 am]
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