[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 12084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7104]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan

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 announces the availability 
for public review of a revised draft recovery plan for the wood stork. 
Wood storks occur in Florida, Georgia and coastal South Carolina. The 
Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft 
plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before May 24, 1996 to ensure consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies can be obtained by contacting the Acting Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive, 
South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216 or calling (904) 232-
2580. 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:
Linda D. Finger at above address.

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 
prepares 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 the recovery levels 
for reclassifying them from endangered to threatened status or removing 
them for the list, and estimate the time and cost for implementing the 
needed recovery measures.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 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 will take these comments into account in the course of 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    Wood storks are large, white, long-legged wading birds that use a 
variety of freshwater and estuarine wetlands for nesting feeding and 
roosting. They are found throughout Florida, Georgia and coastal South 
Carolina. The Service listed the wood stork as an endangered species on 
February 28, 1984. Wood storks were listed as endangered because of 
loss of feeding habitat, human disturbance and man-made changes in 
water levels that affected the natural drainage patterns of Florida. 
Since the 1960's, the wood stork population has shown substantial 
declines in southern Florida, and substantial increases in northern 
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Over the last 12 years, the U.S. 
population has ranged between 5,500 and 6,500 pairs.
    The Service completed the recovery pan for this species in 1986 to 
identify actions necessary to recover the population. Since that time, 
many tasks identified in the original plan have been accomplished and 
more information is now available on the biology and distribution of 
storks throughout the southeast. This revised recovery plan updates the 
original information as well as addresses new threats and needs.

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: March 11, 1996.
Michael M. Bentzien,
Acting Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-7104 Filed 3-22-96; 8:45 am]
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