[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54241-54242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23535]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Approved Recovery Plan for the Great Lakes Piping Plover 
(Charadrius melodus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of the approved recovery plan for the Great Lakes piping 
plover (Charadrius melodus), a species that is federally listed as 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). This species occurs or may occur on public 
and private land in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas. Actions 
identified for recovery of the Great Lakes piping plover seek to 
increase population numbers throughout its range and to protect 
essential breeding and wintering habitat.

ADDRESSES: This recovery plan is available from the following 
addresses:
    1. Fish and Wildlife Reference Service, 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 
110, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (the fee for the plan varies depending on 
the number of pages).
    2. Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, East Lansing 
Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, 
Michigan 48823.
    3. The World Wide Web at: http://endangered.fws.gov/RECOVERY/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Dingledine, East Lansing 
Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section No. 2 above), 
telephone (517) 351-6320. The Fish and Wildlife Reference Service may 
be reached at (301) 492-6403 or (800) 582-3421. TTY users may contact 
Mr. Dingledine and the Fish and Wildlife Reference Service through the 
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals or plants is a primary 
goal of the Service's endangered species program. A species is 
considered recovered when the species' ecosystem is restored and/or 
threats to the species are removed so that self-sustaining and self-
regulating populations of the species can be supported as persistent 
members of native biotic communities. Recovery plans describe actions 
considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establish 
criteria for reclassification to threatened status or delisting listed 
species, and estimate time and cost for implementing the measures 
needed for recovery.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, requires that 
recovery plans be developed 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 during recovery plan 
development, we provide public notice and an opportunity for public 
review and comment. Information presented during the comment period has 
been considered in the preparation of the approved recovery plan, and 
is summarized in an appendix to the recovery plan. We will forward 
substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation to 
appropriate Federal agencies and other entities so that they can take 
these comments into account during the course of implementing recovery 
actions.
    The Great Lakes piping plover, a sand-colored shorebird, was listed 
as an endangered species under the Act in 1985. It inhabits beaches on 
the Great Lakes during the breeding season of April through September, 
and winters on Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coast beaches. Nesting 
occurs on wide, sand and cobble beaches with little vegetation and 
disturbance. In its wintering range, the Great Lakes piping plover 
roosts and forages along beaches, dunes, sandy and muddy flats of the 
Atlantic and gulf coasts. Destruction of habitat, disturbance, and 
increased predation rates due to elevated predator densities in its 
habitat are described as the main reasons for this species' endangered 
status and continue to be the primary threats to its recovery. Fifty-
one nesting pairs were recorded in 2002, all in Michigan and Wisconsin. 
Breeding has not occurred outside of Michigan and Wisconsin for over a

[[Page 54242]]

decade, although occurrence during migration has been recorded in other 
Great Lakes States.
    The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of the Great Lakes piping plover so that protection by the Act 
is no longer necessary. As recovery criteria are met, the status of the 
species will be reviewed, and it will be considered for removal from 
the list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (50 CFR part 17). The 
Great Lakes piping plover will be considered for reclassification to 
threatened when the following occurs: (1) The population has increased 
to at least 150 pairs (300 individuals) for at least 5 consecutive 
years, with at least 100 breeding pairs (200 individuals) in Michigan 
and 50 breeding pairs (100 individuals) distributed among sites in 
other Great Lakes States; (2) 5-year average fecundity is within the 
range of 1.5-2.0 fledglings each pair, per year, across the breeding 
distribution, and 10-year projections indicate the population is 
stable, or continuing to grow, above the recovery goal; (3) protection 
and long-term maintenance of essential breeding and wintering habitat 
are ensured, sufficient in quantity, quality and distribution to 
support the recovery goal of 150 pairs (300 individuals); and (4) 
genetic diversity within the population is deemed adequate for 
population persistence and can be maintained over the long-term. It 
will be considered for delisting when the following are achieved: (1) 
The reclassification criteria are met, and (2) agreements and funding 
mechanisms are in place for long-term protection and management 
activities in essential breeding and wintering habitats.

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

    Dated: August 21, 2003.
Charles M. Wooley,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 03-23535 Filed 9-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P