Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery

Plan for the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider 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 the technical/agency draft recovery

plan for the spruce-fir moss spider (Microhexura montivaga).

Historically, at least five different mountain peaks in the Southern

Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee

are known to have supported populations of the spruce-fir moss spider.

Today, however, only two small relict populations of the spider are

known to survive--one on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina and one

on Mount LeConte in Tennessee. The typical habitat of the spruce-fir

moss spider is found in well-drained moss mats growing on rocks and

boulders in well-shaded situations in mature high-elevation conifer

forests dominated by Fraser fir (Abier fraseri) and scattered red

spruce (Picea rubens). These factors are deteriorating rapidly,

primarily due to infestation and the resulting mortality of the fir by

the balsam woolly adelgid (an exotic insect pest) and possibly air

population and other factors now yet fully understood. The spider

requires situations of high and constant humidity, and the loss of

forest canopy, leading to increased light and decreased moisture on the

forest floor (resulting in desiccation of the moss mats), appears to be

the major threat to its continued existence. Unless new populations are

found or reestablished and existing population are maintained, this

species will remain in jeopardy of extinction for the foreseeable

future. The Service solicits review and comments from the public on

this draft plan.

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

received on or before March 23, 1998 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: Mr. John Fridell, Fish and Wildlife

Biologist, at the address and telephone number shown in the Addresses

section (Ext. 225).

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. 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 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 the

spruce-fir moss spider (Microhexura montivaga). The area of emphasis

for recovery actions includes the Southern Appalachian Mountains of

western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. 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 final plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered

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

Dated: January 6, 1998.

Brian P. Cole,

State Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98-1232 Filed 1-16-98; 8:45 am]

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