[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 16478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8177]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Golden Paintbrush 
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 Golden Paintbrush 
(Castilleja levisecta). This threatened herb, native to grasslands in 
the Puget Sound region of Washington and adjoining British Columbia, is 
known from only 11 small populations and requires site-specific habitat 
conservation measures and reintroduction to assure its recovery.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by June 4, 1999 
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 location: Western Washington Office, North Pacific Coast 
Ecoregion, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 
102, Lacey, Washington 98501. Requests for copies of the draft recovery 
plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan should be 
addressed to Nancy Gloman, Acting Supervisor, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Thomas, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Lacey address (phone: 360/753-4327).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining organisms within 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. 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 implementing recovery actions. 
Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.
    This perennial herb is listed as threatened. It is native to 
grasslands within the Puget Lowlands of western Washington, as well as 
the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Only 11 
populations, all of them small, are known to exist. Five of the 
populations are on public lands and generally enjoy some degree of 
protection. The main threat to this plant is loss or degradation of its 
habitat. Most of the Puget Sound grasslands have been developed for 
commercial, residential, or agricultural purposes. Additional loss has 
been caused by encroachment of woody plants and weeds into the 
grasslands.
    The objective of this plan is to conserve the plant so that 
protection by the Act is no longer necessary. Actions necessary to 
accomplish this objective include ensuring effective management for all 
state and Federally-managed sites, securing formal protection for 
privately-owned sites, where possible, monitoring protected sites, 
reintroducing the plant to suitable or restored habitat, including 
habitat within the species' historic range, and storing seed as a hedge 
against accidental loss of any of the populations.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on this draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered 
prior to final 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: March 30, 1999.
Anne Badgley,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 99-8177 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P