[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 7793-7794] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-4094] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Florida Salt Marsh Vole (Microtus Pennsylvanicus Dukecampbelli), for Review and Comment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Florida salt marsh vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli), a federally endangered rodent that is known from only one site in Waccasassa Bay, near Cedar Key, Levy County, 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 April 21, 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 [[Page 7794]] 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. The Florida salt marsh vole inhabits one known coastal marsh site in Levy County, Florida. The vole is limited by two factors, an extremely restricted range encompassing only one known population, and the threat of losing this population to a storm event or population fluctuations. The immediate goal of this recovery plan is to prevent extinction of the salt marsh vole by protecting the existing population. The actions needed to recover this species are: (1) Protect existing population, (2) conduct surveys to locate additional populations, and (3) conduct life history studies. 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). David Hankla, Field Supervisor. [FR Doc. 97-4094 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P