[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68283-68284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33021]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for a Plant, Fringed Campion, 
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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for fringed 
campion (Silene polypetala), an endangered plant native to hardwood

[[Page 68284]]

forests in central Georgia and on the Flint-Apalachicola bluffs at the 
southern border of Georgia and adjoining Florida. The Service solicits 
review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before February 25, 1997 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, 
Jacksonville, Florida 32216 (Telephone: 904-232-2580, FAX 904-232-
2404). 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: Linda Finger at the above address 
(Telephone: 904-232-2580 ext. 107).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened plants and animals to the point 
where they are 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 conservation of the 
species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting or 
delisting species, and estimate time and cost for implementing the 
recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), 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 will take these comments into account in the course of 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    Fringed campion inhabits hardwood bottoms and ravines in a very 
limited geographic range. As a result, it was probably comparatively 
rare even before the time of European contact. The greatest threat to 
this forest species is the progressive alteration or degradation of its 
habitat due to logging. The resultant increased sunlight, lack of 
replenishment of the humus layer, and growth of aggressive exotic weeds 
such as Japanese honeysuckle, act in concert to eliminate this species. 
Browsing of flowering stems by deer impact reproduction by seed.
    The actions needed to recover this species are: 1) Protect 
populations. 2) Preserve genetic stock from acutely threatened 
populations. 3). Monitor populations to determine trends and developing 
threats. 4) Control exotic pest plants. 5) Search for additional 
populations. 6) Reestablish fringed campion at protected locations, if 
necessary. 7) Manage sites to maintain and/or enhance populations. Most 
opportunities to conserve this plant will be on private land because 
only two sites are in public ownership and no public land acquisition 
is contemplated. Landowners are not obliged in any way to conserve the 
plant on their property.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan. All 
comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior 
to the approval of the plans.

Authority

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

    Dated: December 10, 1996.
David Hankla,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-33021 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
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