Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Republic of Palau for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Saltwater Crocodile

(Crocodylus porosus) in the Republic of Palau for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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

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

availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the

saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus) in the Republic of Palau. The

population of this species within this Pacific archipelago is estimated

at 150 animals.

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

before April 11, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for

inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the

following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 50167,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (Building address: 300 Ala Moana Blvd., room

6307, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813) (phone 808/541-2749); and the Palau

Bureau of Natural Resources and Development, Ministry of Resources and

Development, P.O. Box 117, Koror, Republic of Palau 96940 (phone 680/

488-1475). Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and written

comments and materials regarding the plan should be addressed to

regarding the plan should be addressed to Robert P. Smith, Field

Supervisor of the Pacific Islands Office, at the Honolulu address given

above. Comments and materials received are available upon request for

public inspection and by appointment during normal business hours at

the above Honolulu address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen W. Rosa, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at the Honolulu address

given above.

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 and affiliated nations. Recovery plans describe actions

considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establish

criteria for the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and

estimate time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act, 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

public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be

provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider

all information presented during the public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised Recovery Plan. Substantive technical

comments will result in changes to the plans. Substantive comments

regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in

changes to the recovery plans, but will be forwarded to appropriate

Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into

account during the course of implementing recovery actions.

Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.

The species being considered in this recovery plan is Crocodylus

porosus. The population addressed in this plan is located in the

Republic of Palau. C. porosus has been severely depleted throughout its

range, and the Palau population is presently estimated at 150 animals.

Foremost among the threats facing this crocodile are the hunting of

wild populations for skins and meat and loss of habitat. Another

limiting factor is the taking of live animals for local exhibition. The

crocodile is not protected under Palauan law.

Recovery efforts will focus on the establishment and management of

three protected areas, securing of illegally-held captive crocodiles,

enforcement of U.S. laws and development and enforcement of Palauan

laws to protect the species throughout Palau, and initiation of

research and public education programs.

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 these plans.

Authority

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

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

Dated: January 24, 1994.

Marvin L. Plenert,

Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.

[FR Doc. 94-3129 Filed 2-9-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M