[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 33904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16103]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for 
Liatris helleri (Heller's Blazing Star) 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 (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft revised recovery plan for 
Liatris helleri (Heller's blazing star). Heller's blazing star is a 
perennial herb that grows on high cliffs, rock ledges, and balds in the 
Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. We solicit review and 
comments from the public on this draft revised plan.

DATES: Your comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be 
received on or before August 23, 1999 in order to receive 
consideration..

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the draft revised recovery plan, you 
may obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field Office. U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 
28801 (Telephone 828/258-3939). Written comments and materials 
regarding the plan should be addressed to the State Supervisor at the 
above address. Comments and materials received are available on request 
for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at 
the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nora Murdock at the address and 
telephone number shown in the ADDRESSES section (Ext. 231).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and 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 
the conservation of the species, criteria for recognizing 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 the 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.
    The primary species considered in this draft revised recovery plan 
is iatris helleri (Heller's blazing star). The areas of emphasis for 
recovery actions are the North Carolina counties of Avery, Caldwell, 
Burke, and Ashe. Habitat protection, population augmentation and 
reintroduction, and the preservation of genetic material are the major 
objectives of this recovery plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the recovery plan described. All 
comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior 
to approval of the final plan.

Authority

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

    Dated: June 16, 1999.
Nora A. Murdock,
Acting State Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-16103 Filed 6-23-99; 8:45 am]
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