Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Rough-leaved Loosestrife for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Rough-leaved

Loosestrife for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of an agency draft recovery plan for

rough-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulaefolia). This rare

perennial herb, native only to North Carolina and South Carolina, grows

on moist sand or peat in the transition zone between longleaf pine or

oak savannas and wetter, shrubby plant communities. Only nine

populations of rough-leaved loosestrife are currently known to exist.

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 September 6, 1994, to receive consideration by the Service.

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

obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, North Carolina

28806. Written comments and materials regarding the plan should be

addressed to the Field 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 above;

Telephone: 704-665-1195 (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

conservation of the species, establish 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 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 recovery plan is

rough-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulaefolia). The areas of

emphasis for recovery actions are the southern coastal plain and

sandhills of North Carolina (Cumberland, Pamlico, Onslow, Brunswick,

Beaufort, and Pender Counties) and the sandhills of South Carolina

(Richland County). Habitat protection and management, reintroduction,

and preservation of genetic material are major objectives of this

recovery plan.

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 plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered

Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: June 23, 1994.

Brian P. Cole,

Field Supervisor, Asheville Field Office, North Carolina.

[FR Doc. 94-16352 Filed 7-6-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M