Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Star Cactus (Astrophytum asterias) for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Star

Cactus (Astrophytum asterias) 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 announces the availability

for public review of a draft recovery plan for the star cactus

(Astrophytum asterias). This species occurs in the grasslands and

thornshrub of the Rio Grande Plains of Texas and Tamaulipas, Mexico. It

is found on gravelly clays or loams overlaying the Tertiary Catahoula

and Frio formations in the United States, and on soils of limestone

origin overlaying Cenozoic to Mesozoic marine sediments in Tamaulipas.

The historical range of star cactus included Cameron, Hidalgo, and

Starr Counties in South Texas and the states of Nuevo Leon and

Tamaulipas in Mexico. The cactus was historically and is still found on

private lands and may also occur on State lands or highway right-of-

ways. The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this

draft plan.

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

before May 11, 1998, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may

examine a copy by contacting Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Ecological Services Field Office, c/o TAMU-CC Campus Box 338,

6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412. Telephone (512) 994-

9005. Fax No. (512) 994-8262. Written comments and materials regarding

the plan should also be addressed to the above address. Comments and

materials received will be made available upon request for public

inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the same

address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Corpus Christi) at (512) 994-9005.

[[Page 6766]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point

where it is a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem, is a

primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species

program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares

recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the United

States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for

conservation of the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels

for reclassifying them from endangered to threatened status or removing

them from the list, and estimate the time and cost for implementing the

needed recovery measures.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.) 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 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 take these comments into account in the course of

implementing approved recovery plans.

The star cactus was listed as an endangered species on November 17,

1993. The primary objective of this recovery plan is to maintain

sufficient star cactus populations in natural habitats to ensure that

the species is safe from extinction. This species is threatened by

habitat destruction and modification through conversion of native

habitat to agricultural land uses and urban development; collection of

wild plants for the cactus trade; competition with exotic grasses

introduced for cattle forage and erosion control; and genetic

vulnerability due to low population numbers. The Recovery Plan is the

product of considerable biological and historical data developed by a

team of scientists, agency personnel, stakeholders from the management

community, conservation organizations, and the general public. It

provides scientific information about the species and establishes

management plans for the protection of native populations, and the

development of new populations to enhance its range and abundance to

the extent that no natural or man-caused disturbance will result in

irrevocable losses.

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: January 30, 1998.

Ren Loehefner,

Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife service, Region 2.

[FR Doc. 98-3232 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]

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