Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Rock Gnome Lichen (Gymnoderma lineare), a Plant Species, for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery

Plan for Rock Gnome Lichen (Gymnoderma lineare), 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 Gymnoderma lineare (rock gnome lichen). This rare lichen grows

in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, on rocks in areas of

high humidity, either at high elevations, where it is frequently bathed

in fog, or in deep gorges at lower elevations. Only 33 populations

survive, with most of these covering an area smaller than two square

meters. The species is threatened by collection, logging, and habitat

disturbance due to heavy use by hikers and climbers. It is also

indirectly threatened by exotic insect pests and possibly air

pollution, which are contributing to the demise of the Fraser fir

forests at higher elevations in the Southern Appalachians. 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 November 4, 1996, 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 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:

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, criteria for recognizing the recovery

levels for downlisting or delisting them, and initial estimates of time

and cost to implement 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 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

Gymnoderma lineare (rock gnome lichen). The areas of emphasis for

recovery actions for this plant are the southern Appalachian Mountains

of North Carolina and Tennessee. Initial attention will be focused on

high-elevation cliffs and rock outcrops, and lower elevation river

gorges in Tennessee (Sevier County) and North Carolina (Mitchell,

Jackson, Yancey, Swain, Transylvania, Buncombe, Avery, Ashe,

Rutherford, and Haywood Counties). Research on threats, 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: August 28, 1996.

Brian P. Cole,

State Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 96-22476 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]

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