[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51122-51123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24795]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Multi-Island Plant 
Cluster for Review and Comment

AGENCY: U.S. 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 the Draft Recovery Plan for the 
Multi-Island Plant Cluster. There are 12 taxa of plants included in 
this plan. These 12 taxa are currently found on one or more of the 
following Hawaiian Islands: Laysan, Necker, Nihoa, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, 
Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii.

DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before 
December 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands 
Ecoregion Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, room 3108, P.O. Box 50088, 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/541-3441); U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Regional Office, Ecological Services, 911 N.E. 11th Ave., 
Eastside Federal Complex, Portland Oregon 97232-4181 (phone 503/231-
6131); the Molokai Public Library, 15 Ala Malama Street, Kaunakakai, 
Hawaii 96748; Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-
Kona, HI 96740; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI, 
96720; Kauai Regional Library, 4344 Hardy Avenue, Lihue, HI, 96766; 
and, the Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, Maui. 
Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and 
materials regarding this plan should be addressed to Brooks Harper, 
Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, at the above Honolulu address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Rosa, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Honolulu address.

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 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 public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be 
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider 
all information presented during the public comment period prior to 
approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. Substantive technical 
comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments 
regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in 
changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate 
Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into 
account during the course of implementing recovery actions.

[[Page 51123]]

Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
    The 12 taxa being considered in this recovery plan are: Adenophorus 
periens (pendant kihi fern), Bonamia menziesii (no common name (NCN)), 
Diellia erecta (NCN), Flueggea neowawraea (mehamehame), Hibiscus 
brackenridgei (ma`o hau hele), Mariscus pennatiformis (NCN), Neraudia 
sericea (ma`aloa), Plantago princeps (ale), Sesbania tomentosa (`ohai), 
Solanum incompletum (thorny popolo), Spermolepis hawaiiensis (NCN), and 
Vigna o-wahuensis (Oahu vigna).
    These 12 taxa are all Federally listed as endangered and are 
currently found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands: 
Laysan, Necker, Nihoa, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, 
Maui, and Hawaii. They are found in a wide range of vegetation 
communities (grasslands, shrublands, and forests), elevational zones 
(coastal to subalpine), and moisture regimes (dry to wet). They have 
been variously affected or are currently threatened by: habitat 
degradation and/or predation by pigs, goats, deer, and cattle; invasion 
and competition from naturalized, introduced vegetation; habitat loss 
from fires; human impacts from recreational activities; insect 
infestations; and the potential for extinction from stochastic events 
because of small population size and/or limited distribution.
    The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of these 12 taxa so that their protection by the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. Immediate actions necessary 
for the prevention of extinction of these taxa include fencing for 
exclusion of ungulates, alien plant control, protection from fire, 
population and plant community monitoring and management, ex situ 
propagation, and augmentation of populations, as appropriate. Long-term 
activities necessary for the perpetuation of these taxa in their 
natural habitats additionally include public education, maintenance of 
fenced areas, long-term monitoring and management of populations and 
communities, and re-establishment of populations within the historic 
ranges of some taxa. Further research regarding current range, 
reproduction and reproductive status, pollinators, life history, 
limiting factors, habitat requirements, and minimum viable population 
sizes is needed to facilitate appropriate management decisions 
regarding the long-term perpetuation of each of these taxa.

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 these plans.

    Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: September 23, 1996.
Donald V. Friberg
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific 
Region.
[FR Doc. 96-24795 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
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