Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Lesser Long- Nosed Bat for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Lesser Long-

Nosed Bat 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 recovery plan for the lesser

long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae) which the Service

listed as an endangered species in 1988 (FR 38460; September 30, 1988).

The lesser long-nosed bat occurs in southern Arizona, southwest New

Mexico and the western and southern portions of Mexico. This species is

migratory and is found in the United States during the summer. The

Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or

before March 7, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain

a copy by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3616 West

Thomas Road, suite 6, Phoenix, Arizona 85019. Written comments and

material 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:

Please phone Lesley Fitzpatrick, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish

and Wildlife Service Biologist; at telephone 602/379-4720 (see

ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or threatened plant or animal to the point

where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is

a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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 the site specific

management actions considered necessary for conservation and survival

of the species, establish objectives, and measurable criteria for the

recovery levels for downlisting or delisting species, 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, and

other affected Federal agencies, will take these comments into account

in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.

The lesser long-nosed bat occurs in caves and mines in southern

Arizona from approximately May through September. Both maternity

colonies and night roosts are found in the state. Wintering areas for

bats that summer in the United States are not defined. Maternity

colonies and other types of roosts are found in western and southern

Mexico. Management issues and concerns include mining activities,

disturbance of foraging areas, animal control actions, and human

disturbance of roost sites.

The lesser long-nosed bat recovery plan has been reviewed by the

appropriate Service staff in Region 2 and was developed with input from

selected experts on the biology of the species. The plan will be

finalized and approved following incorporation of comments and material

received during this comment period.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan

described. All biological comments received by the date specified above

will be considered prior to the 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: December 16, 1993.

John G. Rogers,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-13 Filed 1-3-94; 8:45 am]

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