Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Arizona Cliffrose for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Arizona Cliffrose

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 Arizona

cliffrose (Purshia subintegra), which the Service listed as an

endangered species on May 29, 1984 (49 FR 22329). The plant, Arizona

cliffrose, is known only from four disjunct populations that occur on

the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert in Central Arizona. All four

populations are found within a total distance of 200 miles. 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 April 18, 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

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:

Susan Rutman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Botanist; telephone (602)

379-4720, 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 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 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 take these comments into account in the course

of implementing approved recovery plans.

The Arizona cliffrose (Purshia subinteqra) is a rare edaphic

endemic, restricted to nutrient deficient calcareous soils in central

Arizona. The disjunct distribution of this species is unique. No other

plant species occurs only in the same four sites as the Arizona

cliffrose. Each population has unique biological/ecological

characteristics and is faced with a variety of threats. These threats

include: livestock, wildlife, and burro grazing; mineral exploration

and development; construction and maintenance of roads and utility

right-of-ways; recreation; poor reproduction; off-road vehicle use;

urbanization; pesticides; and inundation. The relative importance of

each threat varies among the four populations. The recovery plan

addresses each population as an individual recovery unit, believed

necessary for the survival and recovery of the species.

The Arizona cliffrose recovery plan has been reviewed by the

appropriate Service staff in Region 2 and selected experts on the

biology of the species. 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 Endangered

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

Dated: February 2, 1994.

John G. Rogers,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-3488 Filed 2-14-94; 8:45 am]

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