Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Amaranthus Pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth), a Plant Species, for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery

Plan for Amaranthus Pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth), a Plant Species, 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 technical/agency draft recovery

plan for Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth). This rare annual plant

grows on accreting beaches of barrier islands in New York, North

Carolina, and South Carolina. Historically, it occurred on beaches all

along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod, MA, to South Carolina. It has

now been eliminated from two-thirds of its former range, primarily as a

result of beach ``armoring'' with structures such as sea walls. Other

potential threats to the species include mechanized beach grooming,

herbivory by insects and feral animals, and, in certain circumstances,

off-road vehicles. The Service solicits review and comments from the

public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the technical/agency draft recovery plan must be

received on or before December 27, 1995, to receive consideration by

the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the technical/agency draft

recovery plan may obtain a copy by contacting the Asheville Field

Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville,

North Carolina 28801 (Telephone 704/258-3939). 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 and telephone number shown above (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

the 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.

[[Page 50214]]

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 the

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

Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach amaranth). The areas of emphasis for

recovery actions for this plant are the Atlantic coastal areas from

Massachusetts to South Carolina. Initial attention will be focused on

those coastal areas in New York (Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens Counties);

North Carolina (Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Carteret, Onslow, Pender, New

Hanover, and Brunswick Counties); and South Carolina (Horry,

Georgetown, and Charleston Counties) where the species still survives.

Habitat protection, reintroduction, and the preservation of genetic

material are the 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: September 22, 1995.

Brian P. Cole,

Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 95-24092 Filed 9-27-95; 8:45 am]

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