[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46369-46370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23182]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Molokai II: Addendum to the Recovery Plan 
for the Molokai Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996)

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 a draft Molokai II: Addendum to the 
Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996). There are 
three taxa of plants included in this plan. All three are known only 
from the island of Molokai. This draft plan Addendum supplements the 
Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster finalized in September of 
1996. A limited number of copies of the Molokai Recovery Plan remain 
available, although the Service is not seeking comments on that 
document.

DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan addendum received by November 
3, 1997 will be considered by the Service.

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 
Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, room 3108, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, 
Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/541-3441); Molokai Public Library, 15 Ala 
Malama Street, Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748. Requests for copies of the 
draft recovery plan addendum and written comments and materials 
regarding this plan should be addressed to Field Supervisor, Fish and 
Wildlife Office, at the above Honolulu address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Schmerfeld, 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, 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

[[Page 46370]]

implementing recovery actions. Individualized responses to comments 
will not be provided.
    The Recovery Plan for the Molokai Plant Cluster covered 16 species 
and was finalized in September of 1996. The addendum refers to sections 
of the original Plan. This draft addendum supplements the Recovery Plan 
for the Molokai Plant Cluster by covering three endangered plant taxa. 
All of these taxa are endemic to the island of Molokai, Hawaiian 
Islands. The plants are: Cyanea dunbarii (haha), Lysimachia maxima (no 
common name), and Schiedea sarmentosa (no common name).
    The three taxa included in this addendum grow in a range of 
vegetative communities (dry shrubland to wet forests) and elevational 
zones (lowland to montane). These taxa and their habitats have been 
variously affected or are currently threatened by one or more of the 
following: habitat degradation by feral or domestic animals (goats, 
pigs, and axis deer), competition for space, light, water, and 
nutrients by introduced vegetation; erosion of substrate produced by 
human- or animal-caused disturbance; mortality and habitat loss from 
fires; and predation by animals (goats, axis deer, and rats). In 
addition, due to the small number of existing individuals and their 
very narrow distributions, these taxa and most of their populations are 
subject to an increased likelihood of extinction and/or reduced 
reproductive vigor from random naturally occurring events.
    The objective of the Addendum to the Recovery Plan for the Molokai 
Plant Cluster (USFWS 1996) is to provide a framework for the recovery 
of these three taxa so that their protection by the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. The interim objective is to stabilize 
all existing populations of the Molokai II taxa. To be considered 
stable, each taxon must be managed to control threats (e.g., fenced) 
and be represented in an ex situ (such as a nursery or arboretum) 
collection. In addition, a minimum total of three populations of each 
taxon should be documented on Molokai, where they now occur or occurred 
historically. Each of these populations must be naturally reproducing 
and increasing in number, with a minimum of 50 mature individuals per 
population for short-lived perennials (Cyanea dunbarii, Lysimachia 
maxima, and Schiedea sarmentosa). For downlisting, a total of five to 
seven populations of each taxon should be documented on Molokai where 
they now occur or occurred historically. Each of these populations must 
be naturally reproducing, stable or increasing in number, and secure 
from threats, with a minimum of 300 mature individuals per population 
for short-lived perennials. Each population should persist at this 
level for a minimum of 5 consecutive years before downlisting is 
considered. For delisting, a total of 8 to 10 populations of each taxon 
should be documented on Molokai where they now occur or occurred 
historically. Each of these populations must be naturally reproducing, 
stable or increasing in number, and secure from threats, with a minimum 
of 300 mature individuals per population for short-lived perennials. 
Each population should persist at this level for a minimum of 5 
consecutive years.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the Addendum to the 
Recovery Plan described. All comments received by the date specified 
above will be considered prior to approval of this addendum.
    Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: August 26, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-23182 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am]
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