[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6765-6766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3232]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Star
Cactus (Astrophytum asterias) 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 announces the availability
for public review of a draft recovery plan for the star cactus
(Astrophytum asterias). This species occurs in the grasslands and
thornshrub of the Rio Grande Plains of Texas and Tamaulipas, Mexico. It
is found on gravelly clays or loams overlaying the Tertiary Catahoula
and Frio formations in the United States, and on soils of limestone
origin overlaying Cenozoic to Mesozoic marine sediments in Tamaulipas.
The historical range of star cactus included Cameron, Hidalgo, and
Starr Counties in South Texas and the states of Nuevo Leon and
Tamaulipas in Mexico. The cactus was historically and is still found on
private lands and may also occur on State lands or highway right-of-
ways. 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 May 11, 1998, to receive consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may
examine a copy by contacting Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ecological Services Field Office, c/o TAMU-CC Campus Box 338,
6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412. Telephone (512) 994-
9005. Fax No. (512) 994-8262. Written comments and materials regarding
the plan should also be addressed to the above address. Comments and
materials received will be made available upon request for public
inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the same
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Corpus Christi) at (512) 994-9005.
[[Page 6766]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point
where it is a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem, is a
primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares
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 reclassifying them from endangered to threatened status or removing
them from the list, and estimate the time and cost for implementing the
needed recovery measures.
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 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 star cactus was listed as an endangered species on November 17,
1993. The primary objective of this recovery plan is to maintain
sufficient star cactus populations in natural habitats to ensure that
the species is safe from extinction. This species is threatened by
habitat destruction and modification through conversion of native
habitat to agricultural land uses and urban development; collection of
wild plants for the cactus trade; competition with exotic grasses
introduced for cattle forage and erosion control; and genetic
vulnerability due to low population numbers. The Recovery Plan is the
product of considerable biological and historical data developed by a
team of scientists, agency personnel, stakeholders from the management
community, conservation organizations, and the general public. It
provides scientific information about the species and establishes
management plans for the protection of native populations, and the
development of new populations to enhance its range and abundance to
the extent that no natural or man-caused disturbance will result in
irrevocable losses.
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 the plan.
Authority
The Authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: January 30, 1998.
Ren Loehefner,
Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife service, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 98-3232 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]
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