[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50213-50214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24092]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery 
Plan for Amaranthus Pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth), a Plant Species, 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 Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth). This rare annual plant 
grows on accreting beaches of barrier islands in New York, North 
Carolina, and South Carolina. Historically, it occurred on beaches all 
along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod, MA, to South Carolina. It has 
now been eliminated from two-thirds of its former range, primarily as a 
result of beach ``armoring'' with structures such as sea walls. Other 
potential threats to the species include mechanized beach grooming, 
herbivory by insects and feral animals, and, in certain circumstances, 
off-road vehicles. 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. 

[[Page 50214]]
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 
Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth). The areas of emphasis for 
recovery actions for this plant are the Atlantic coastal areas from 
Massachusetts to South Carolina. Initial attention will be focused on 
those coastal areas in New York (Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens Counties); 
North Carolina (Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Carteret, Onslow, Pender, New 
Hanover, and Brunswick Counties); and South Carolina (Horry, 
Georgetown, and Charleston Counties) where the species still survives. 
Habitat protection, reintroduction, 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 22, 1995.
Brian P. Cole,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-24092 Filed 9-27-95; 8:45 am]
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