[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 61355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26589]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice To Extend the Public Comment Period for the Technical/
Agency Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker 
(Picoides borealis)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the comment 
period announced in the September 13, 2000, notice of availability of 
the Technical/Agency Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the red-cockaded 
woodpecker, will be extended an additional 30 days until December 13, 
2000. The Service is providing this extension because of the extensive 
nature of the draft recovery plan revision and requests by one federal 
agency and one private organization for an extension. The red-cockaded 
woodpecker is a bird species endemic to the southeastern United States. 
The Service extends the current 60-day comment period and solicits 
review and comment from the public on this draft recovery plan 
revision.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan revision received by 
December 13, 2000 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan by 
contacting Ralph Costa, Clemson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634 (telephone 
864/656-2432). Send written comments and materials regarding the plan 
to the Field Supervisor at the above address. Comments and materials 
received are available upon request for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ralph Costa at the above address 
and telephone number.

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 our endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, we are 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 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. We will consider 
all information presented during a public comment period prior to 
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. We and other Federal 
agencies will also take these comments into account in the course of 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    Red-cockaded woodpeckers are endemic to mature pine woodlands of 
the southeastern United States. Because of habitat loss and alteration, 
the species suffered severe declines throughout the first three 
quarters of the twentieth century. We officially listed the red-
cockaded woodpecker as an endangered species in 1970 (35 FR 16047). 
Intensive research has greatly increased our understanding of the 
ecology of red-cockaded woodpeckers and has provided powerful 
management tools that have been highly successful in reversing the 
widespread declines of past decades. With appropriate management, the 
species can achieve full recovery. This draft revised recovery plan 
describes in detail the ecology and management of red-cockaded 
woodpeckers, and outlines a mechanism to recover the species based on 
new insight into population and species viability. We will use comments 
and information provided during this review in preparing the final 
recovery plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the recovery plan described. We will 
consider all comments received by the date specified above 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: October 10, 2000.
Ralph Costa,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 00-26589 Filed 10-16-00; 8:45 am]
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