Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Texas Trailing Phlox for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Texas

Trailing Phlox 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 Texas

trailing phlox (Phlox nivalis spp. texensis) which the Service listed

as an endangered species on September 30, 1991 (56 FR 49639). The

plant, Texas trailing phlox, is known from two sites, one each in Tyler

and Hardin counties, Texas. 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 26, 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, 17629 El

Camino Real, Suite 211, Houston, Texas 77058. 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: Edith Erfling, U. S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Biologist, telephone (713) 286-8282 or at the above address.

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 site specific management

actions considered necessary for conservation and survival of the

species, establish objective, measurable criteria for recovery levels

for downlisting or delisting species, and estimate time and cost for

implementing recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.), requires development of recovery plans for listed

species unless such a plan would not promote 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 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 Texas trailing phlox is an endangered species known from one

site on private land in Tyler County and one population in Hardin

County located mostly on land owned by The Nature Conservancy, with a

few plants occurring on adjoining roadside rights-of-way and private

property. The plant is restricted to sandy soils in open pine

woodlands. Texas trailing phlox is threatened primarily by habitat loss

due to canopy closure, encroachment of hardwood trees, and soil

disturbance associated with human activities.

The Texas trailing phlox recovery plan has been reviewed by the

appropriate Service staff in Region 2. The plan will be finalized and

approved following incorporation of comments and materials received

during this comment period.

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 the approval of the plan.

Authority

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

1533 (f).

Dated: July 21, 1994.

Joseph P. Mazzoni,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-18277 Filed 7-26-94; 8:45 am]

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