[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 64130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26376]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Star 
Cactus (Astrophytum asterias)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Star 
Cactus (Astrophytum asterias). The star cactus is known to occur on one 
private land site in Starr County, Texas. Additional populations may be 
found in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The Service solicits review and comment 
from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: The comment period for this Draft Recovery Plan closes November 
18, 2002. Comments on the Draft Recovery Plan must be received by the 
closing date.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the Draft Recovery Plan can obtain 
a copy from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Corpus Christi 
Ecological Services Field Office, c/o TAMUCC, 6300 Ocean Drive, Box 
338, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412. Comments and materials concerning 
this Draft Recovery Plan may be sent to ``Field Supervisor'' at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loretta Pressly, Corpus Christi 
Ecological Services Field Office, at the above address; telephone (361) 
994-9005, facsimile (361) 994-8262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The star cactus (Astrophytum asterias) was listed as endangered on 
October 18, 1993, under authority of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended. The threats facing the survival and recovery of this 
species include: habitat destruction through conversion of native 
habitat to agricultural land and increased urbanization; competition 
with exotic invasive species; genetic vulnerability due to low 
population numbers; and collecting pressures for cactus trade. The 
Draft Recovery Plan includes information about the species and provides 
objectives and actions needed to downlist, then delist the species. 
Recovery activities designed to achieve these objectives include; 
protecting known populations; searching for additional populations; 
performing outreach activities to educate the general public on the 
need for protection; establishing additional populations through 
reintroduction in the known range of the plant.
    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its 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 conservation 
of 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 (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 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 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 recovery plans.
    The Star Cactus Draft Recovery Plan is being submitted for 
technical and agency review. After consideration of comments received 
during the review period, the recovery plan will be submitted for final 
approval.

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 recovery plan.

Authority

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

    Dated: September 10, 2002.
Bryan Arroyo,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 02-26376 Filed 10-16-02; 8:45 am]
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