Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Western Lily for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Western Lily for

Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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

availability for public review of a draft Western Lily Recovery Plan.

The species occurs on the Pacific Coast from Coos Bay, Oregon, to

Eureka, California.

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

before October 6, 1997 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, Oregon State

Office 2600 S.E. 98th Ave., Suite 100 Portland, Oregon 97266-1398.

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

materials regarding this plan should be addressed to Russell D.

Peterson, State Supervisor, at the above Oregon State Office address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Andrew F. Robinson Jr., Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at the above

Oregon State Office address, telephone (503) 231-6179.

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 down listing 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

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plan development. The Service will consider all information presented

during the public comment period prior to approval of each new or

revised Recovery Plan. Substantiative 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 western lily (Lilium occidentale) is a distinctive and

spectacular species in a genus known for its striking beauty and

horticultural appeal. The range of the western lily is very limited,

and its habitat and ecosystem processes have been dramatically altered

this century. The western lily is limited to low lying poorly drained

areas along a narrow band of the Pacific Coast, no more than 4 miles

inland, from Humboldt Bay near Eureka, California on the south, north

some 200 miles to Coos Bay Oregon. Many western lily western lily

populations and much of its habitat have been lost to various forms of

development, including agricultural uses (pasture or cranberry bogs)

and infrastructure projects (roads, campgrounds, and utilities).

Western lily has been reported from approximately 58 sites, 20 of which

appear to have been extirpated.

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

recovery of the western lily so that its protection by the ESA is no

longer necessary. Actions necessary for the prevention of extinction of

this plant include conservation and management of existing sites, by

maintaining shrubby vegetation with openings and preventing

encroachment by trees. The plan also recommends establishment of a seed

bank and development of methods to reintroduce the plant to suitable

sites or augment existing wild populations. The plan also is intended

to encourage public awareness, understanding and participation in

western lily recovery.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the western lily recovery

plan. 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: August 5, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

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

Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97-23585 Filed 9-4-97; 8:45 am]

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