Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Multi-Island Plant Cluster for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Multi-Island Plant

Cluster for Review and Comment

AGENCY: U.S. 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 the Draft Recovery Plan for the

Multi-Island Plant Cluster. There are 12 taxa of plants included in

this plan. These 12 taxa are currently found on one or more of the

following Hawaiian Islands: Laysan, Necker, Nihoa, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu,

Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii.

DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before

December 30, 1996.

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, Pacific Islands

Ecoregion Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, room 3108, P.O. Box 50088,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone 808/541-3441); U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Regional Office, Ecological Services, 911 N.E. 11th Ave.,

Eastside Federal Complex, Portland Oregon 97232-4181 (phone 503/231-

6131); the Molokai Public Library, 15 Ala Malama Street, Kaunakakai,

Hawaii 96748; Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-

Kona, HI 96740; Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI,

96720; Kauai Regional Library, 4344 Hardy Avenue, Lihue, HI, 96766;

and, the Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, Maui.

Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and

materials regarding this plan should be addressed to Brooks Harper,

Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, at the above Honolulu address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Rosa, Fish and Wildlife

Biologist, at the above Honolulu address.

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 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. 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.

[[Page 51123]]

Individualized responses to comments will not be provided.

The 12 taxa being considered in this recovery plan are: Adenophorus

periens (pendant kihi fern), Bonamia menziesii (no common name (NCN)),

Diellia erecta (NCN), Flueggea neowawraea (mehamehame), Hibiscus

brackenridgei (ma`o hau hele), Mariscus pennatiformis (NCN), Neraudia

sericea (ma`aloa), Plantago princeps (ale), Sesbania tomentosa (`ohai),

Solanum incompletum (thorny popolo), Spermolepis hawaiiensis (NCN), and

Vigna o-wahuensis (Oahu vigna).

These 12 taxa are all Federally listed as endangered and are

currently found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands:

Laysan, Necker, Nihoa, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe,

Maui, and Hawaii. They are found in a wide range of vegetation

communities (grasslands, shrublands, and forests), elevational zones

(coastal to subalpine), and moisture regimes (dry to wet). They have

been variously affected or are currently threatened by: habitat

degradation and/or predation by pigs, goats, deer, and cattle; invasion

and competition from naturalized, introduced vegetation; habitat loss

from fires; human impacts from recreational activities; insect

infestations; and the potential for extinction from stochastic events

because of small population size and/or limited distribution.

The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the

recovery of these 12 taxa so that their protection by the Endangered

Species Act (ESA) is no longer necessary. Immediate actions necessary

for the prevention of extinction of these taxa include fencing for

exclusion of ungulates, alien plant control, protection from fire,

population and plant community monitoring and management, ex situ

propagation, and augmentation of populations, as appropriate. Long-term

activities necessary for the perpetuation of these taxa in their

natural habitats additionally include public education, maintenance of

fenced areas, long-term monitoring and management of populations and

communities, and re-establishment of populations within the historic

ranges of some taxa. Further research regarding current range,

reproduction and reproductive status, pollinators, life history,

limiting factors, habitat requirements, and minimum viable population

sizes is needed to facilitate appropriate management decisions

regarding the long-term perpetuation of each of these taxa.

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: September 23, 1996.

Donald V. Friberg

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific

Region.

[FR Doc. 96-24795 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P