[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67886-67887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33811]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of 
Recovery Plan for the Florida Panther

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to revise recovery plan.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces its 
intent to revise the recovery plan for the endangered Florida panther, 
Puma (Felis) concolor coryi. The Service established a Recovery Team 
comprised of key individuals and scientists involved in the Florida 
panther recovery program to guide the revision process. Additional 
opportunities for public review and comment will be available when the 
revised plan is in draft form.

DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by March 
2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning the recovery plan revision 
should be sent to Dennis B. Jordan, Recovery Team Leader, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 110450, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0450. 
Copies of the current recovery plan are available at the same address. 
Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dennis B. Jordan at the above 
address, (telephone 352/846-0546; facsimile 352/846-0841.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals or 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 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for recognizing the 
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time 
and costs 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. The Service and other 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.

[[Page 67887]]

    The species considered in this recovery plan revision is the 
Florida panther, Puma (Felis) concolor coryi. Historically ranging 
throughout most of the southeast U.S., the Florida panther has been 
reduced to a single known wild population estimated to number 30 to 50 
adults. This population utilizes approximately two million acres of 
habitat on public and privately owned lands in south Florida. Threats 
to the panther are generally related to factors associated with its 
habitat--availability, destruction, modification, fragmentation, 
contamination and the types and levels of human activities taking place 
within habitat areas; and, demographic and genetic factors associated 
with isolation, population reductions and inbreeding within the small 
population.

Previous Federal Action

    This proposed revision represents the second major revision of the 
recovery plan since its initial approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service on December 17, 1981. The first major revision was approved on 
June 22, 1987. Additionally, a minor revision to incorporate a task to 
address genetic restoration and management was approved on March 13, 
1995.

Public Comments Solicited

    The current Recovery Team elected to expand involvement in the 
revision process to include other entities; those considered to be 
potential ``stakeholders'' in the panther recovery program. Potential 
stakeholders may represent interests of Native Americans, landowners, 
conservation organizations, hunters, agriculture, timber, animal 
rights, property rights, public agencies, education/public outreach, 
development/real estate, etc.
    The Service solicits written input regarding suggested recovery 
actions/tasks that should be considered in drafting the revised 
recovery plan. All comments received by the date specified above will 
be considered prior to drafting the revised plan. Additional 
opportunities for public review and comment will be available when the 
revised plan is in draft form.

Authority

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

    Dated: December 11, 1997.
David Hankla,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-33811 Filed 12-29-97; 8:45 am]
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