[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50399-50400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25424]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, 
Lasiurus cinereus semotus, 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 a draft recovery plan for the 
Hawaiian hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus semotus. This subspecies is known 
from the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai. Population 
numbers are not known, but Hawaiian hoary bats are observed regularly 
only on Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, and the bat is apparently restricted 
in distribution on the latter two islands. There is a general lack of 
historic and current data on this subspecies, and its present status is 
not well understood.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by December 24, 
1997 will be considerated 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 
Ecoregion, Room 3108, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, P.O. Box 50088, 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone: 808/541-3441). Requests for copies of 
the draft recovery plan and written comments and materials regarding 
the plan should be addressed to Brooks Harper, Field Supervisor-
Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands 
Ecoregion at the Honolulu address given above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Rosa, Assistant Field 
Supervisor-Endangered Species, at the Honolulu address given above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystem 
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, its 
Territories and Commonwealths. Recovery plans describe actions 
considered necessary for 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 a 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. Substantive technical 
comments will result in changes to the

[[Page 50400]]

plan. Substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation may 
not necessarily result in changes to the recovery plan, 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 subspecies being considered in this recovery plan is the 
Hawaiian hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus semotus. It is known from the 
islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu Kauai, and Molokai. Population numbers 
are not known, but Hawaiian hoary bats are observed regularly only on 
Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, and the bat is apparently restricted in 
distribution on the latter two islands. There is a general lack of 
historic and current data on this subspecies, and its present status is 
not well understood. Habitat requirements for the Hawaiian hoary bat 
are not well known. Bats are most often observed foraging in open 
areas, near the edges of native forests, or over open water. Hawaiian 
hoary bats roost solitarily in trees. Habitat requirements may vary 
seasonally, but this is not clear. Threats to this subspecies include 
habitat destruction (elimination of roosting sites), and possibly 
direct and indirect effects of predation, pesticides, introduced 
insects, and disease.
    The objective of the actions proposed by this recovery plan is to 
delist the Hawaiian hoary bat. Interim goals include determining the 
abundance, distribution, and habitat needs of this subspecies. Interim 
criteria for downlisting the Hawaiian hoary bat to threatened status 
are also identified.
    Delisting and downlisting decisions cannot be made without a basic 
understanding of the Hawaiian hoary bat's distribution, abundance, and 
habitat needs. Research addressing these questions must be undertaken 
prior to consideration of delisting or downlisting.

Downlisting Objectives

    A widespread population of Hawaiian hoary bats must be naturally 
reproducing and stable or increasing in size on the island of Hawaii 
for a minimum of 5 consecutive years before downlisting is considered.

Delisting Objectives

    Hawaiian hoary bat populations on Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui must be 
well-distributed, naturally reproducing, and stable or increasing in 
size for at least 5 consecutive years before delisting is considered.

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 this plan.

Authority

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

    Dated: September 15, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-25424 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
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