[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39209-39210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19175]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for Four Species of Hawaiian 
Ferns for Review and Comment

AGENCY: 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 Technical/Agency Draft Recovery 
Plan for Four Species of Hawaiian Ferns. These four taxa are currently 
found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Molokai, 
Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before September 22, 1997.

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, Hawaii 96740; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, 
Hawaii 96720; and, the Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, 
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793. 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: Kevin Foster 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, 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. 
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
    The four taxa being considered in this recovery plan are: Asplenium 
fragile var. insulare (no common name (NCN)), Ctenitis squamigera 
(pauoa), Diplazium molokaiense (NCN), and Pteris lidgatei (NCN).
    These four taxa are all Federally listed as endangered and are 
currently found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, 
Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii. Three of the four endangered fern 
taxa have been reported from lowland forest habitat. Ctenitis 
squamigera is typically found in lowland mesic forests, while Pteris 
lidgatei appears to be restricted to lowland wet forest. Diplazium 
molokaiense has been reported from lowland to montane forests in mesic 
to wet settings. The fourth species, Asplenium fragile var. insulare, 
has been reported from montane wet, mesic and dry forest habitats as 
well as subalpine dry forest and shrubland

[[Page 39210]]

habitat. The four taxa and their habitats have been variously affected 
or are threatened by one or more of the following: habitat degradation 
and/or predation by feral or domestic animals (goats, pigs, cattle, 
sheep and deer); competition for space, light, water, and nutrients 
from alien plants; human impacts; and fire. In addition, these taxa are 
subject to an increased likelihood of extinction and/or reduced 
reproductive vigor from chance (stochastic) events due to the small 
number of existing individuals and their very narrow distributions.
    The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of these four taxa so that their protection by the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. This plan summarizes 
available information about each taxon, reviews the threats to their 
continued existence, and lists management actions needed to remove 
these threats. Immediate actions needed to prevent extinction of these 
taxa include habitat protection through fencing for exclusion of 
ungulates, control of alien plants, and protection from fire. Ex situ 
propagation and augmentation of some populations may also be needed. 
Long-term activities necessary for the perpetuation of these taxa in 
their natural habitats include long-term monitoring and management as 
well as re-establishment of populations within their historic ranges. 
Research on life history, limiting factors, habitat requirements, and 
minimum viable population size is needed to help make appropriate 
management decisions.

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 approval of this plan.

Authority

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

    Dated: May 27, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Pacific 
Region.
[FR Doc. 97-19175 Filed 7-21-97; 8:45 am]
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