[Federal Register: June 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 121)]
[Notices]
[Page 33904]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jn99-72]
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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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