[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9166-9167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3345]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Plant
Holy Ghost Ipomopsis for Review and Comment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the draft Holy
Ghost Ipomopsis (Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus) Recovery Plan is available
for public review. This plant is known from only one site in the
southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the Santa Fe National Forest in
San Miguel County, New Mexico. We are soliciting review and comment
from the public on this draft plan.
DATES: We must receive comments on the draft plan on or before April
26, 1999 to ensure their consideration.
ADDRESSES: Anyone wanting a copy of the plan should contact the Field
Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna, NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113
(Telephone 505/346-2525). Written comments on the plan and other
materials should be sent to the Field Supervisor at the above address.
Comments and materials received are available for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles B. McDonald, Botanist, at the
address and telephone number (Ext. 112) given above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A primary goal of the endangered species program is to restore
endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point where they are
again secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystems. To help
guide recovery, we prepare recovery plans for most endangered or
threatened species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe
needed conservation actions for the species, time and cost estimates
for the actions, and recovery goals for downlisting or delisting.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) requires that each endangered or threatened species be
included in a recovery plan unless a plan would not promote a species'
conservation. Section 4(f) of the Act as amended in 1988 requires the
public be notified and given
[[Page 9167]]
an opportunity to review and comment on draft recovery plans. We
consider all information presented during the comment period prior to
approving any new or revised recovery plan. We and other Federal
agencies also consider these comments when implementing approved
recovery plans.
Holy Ghost ipomopsis was given endangered status under the Act on
March 23, 1994 (59 FR 13840). It is known from a single canyon in the
Santa Fe National Forest in northwestern San Miguel County, New Mexico.
An estimated 2,500 plants occupy about 80 hectares (200 acres) along a
U.S. Forest Service road. Impacts from road maintenance, recreation,
and catastrophic forest fire are immediate management concerns. In the
long term, present land uses influence management away from frequent
disturbances that produce the preferred habitat for this species.
Recovery will focus on protecting and enhancing the existing
population. Additional recovery work will include research to determine
the biological and ecological requirements of the species,
establishment of a botanical garden population and a seed bank, and
establishment of seven more populations in suitable habitat in the
upper Pecos River Basin.
Public Comments Solicited
We are soliciting written comments on the draft Holy Ghost
Ipomopsis Recovery Plan. 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: February 3, 1999.
Lynn B. Starnes,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3345 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am]
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