Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 189 / Tuesday, September 30, 1997 / Notices 51123

populations; most occur between Ben

Lomond, Mount Hermon, and

Glenwood. Outlying populations are

located near Bonny Doon. Populations

receiving some protection occur on

Bonny Doon Ecologic Preserve and

Quail Hollow Ranch. The remaining

populations are found on private land.

Scotts Valley polygonum (Polygonum

hickmanii) is known from four colonies

north of Scotts Valley, all of which

occur in the same general area as

Chorizanthe robusta var. hartwegii.

These taxa are variously threatened by

one or more of the following: sand

mining, urban development, agricultural

conversion, equestrian use, recreational

activities, alteration in fire cycles, and

competition with nonnatives vegetation.

For the two insect taxa, collection and

pesticide use are recognized as potential

threats. In addition, the very low

numbers of individuals and populations

of some of these taxa put them at great

risk of extinction due to random

naturally occurring events.

The objective of this plan is to

provide a framework for the recovery of

the two insects and the four plants so

that protection by the Act is no longer

necessary. Actions necessary to

accomplish this objective include:

protecting species habitats through

acquisition, conservation easements,

and Habitat Conservation Plans;

managing species habitats; conducting

management-oriented research on the

ecology and biology of the species;

reviewing and revising management and

recovery guidelines; and locating

additional populations.

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 final

approval of this plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section

4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16

U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: September 18, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland,

Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97–25838 Filed 9–29–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for

the Nightingale Reed-Warbler

(Acrocephalus luscinia) for Review and

Comment

AGENCY: 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 a draft

recovery plan for the nightingale reedwarbler (Acrocephalus luscinia). This

species is known only from the Mariana

Islands and is currently limited to

essentially 2 islands, with a remnant

population on a third island, in this

archipelago with a total population of

approximately 6,225–6,230 individuals.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery

plan received by December 29, 1997

will be considered 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, Pacific

Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana

Boulevard, Room 3108, P.O. Box 50088,

Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (phone: 808/

541–3441); the Northern Marianas

College Library, P.O. Box 1250, Asterlaje

Campus, Saipan, MP 96950 (phone:

670/234–5498, extension 1121/2); and

University of Guam, RFK Memorial

Library, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam

96923 (phone: 671/734–9412). Requests

for copies of the draft recovery plan and

written comments and materials

regarding the plan should be addressed

to Brooks Harper, Field SupervisorEcological Services of the Pacific Islands

Office at the Honolulu address given

above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Rosa, Assistant Field SupervisorEndangered Species, at the Honolulu

address given above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring endangered or threatened

animals and plants to the point where

they are again secure, self-sustaining

members of their ecosystem 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, its

Territories and Commonwealths.

Recovery plans describe actions

considered necessary for conservation of

the species, criteria for recognizing the

recovery levels for downlisting or

delisting them, and initial estimates of

times and costs 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

approval of each new or revised

recovery plan. Substantive technical

comments will result in changes to the

plan. Substantive comments regarding

recovery plan implementation may not

necessarily result in changes to the

recovery plan, 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 species being considered in this

recovery plan is the nightingale reedwarbler (Acrocephalus luscinia). The

species is historically known from five

islands in the Marianas archipelago:

Guam, Aguiguan, Saipan, Alamagan,

and Pagan. It is now extirpated from

Guam and Pagan, and near extirpation

on Aguiguan. Destruction of wetland

areas and predation by the introduced

brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) are

believed to have caused the extinction

on Guam. Habitat destruction due to

feral ungulates and, ultimately,

vulcanism, are believed to have

extirpated the Pagan population. Large

areas of reed-warbler habitat were

converted to agriculture during the

German (1899–1917) and Japanese

(1917–1944) administrations and native

forest was further damaged during

World War II battles. Although

populations of reed-warblers flourished

on Saipan with the reversion of former

agricultural land to scrubby habitats

after World War II, this trend has

reversed recently as land has been

developed for agriculture, homesteads,

and tourist-related facilities. Hence, the

amount of suitable habitat has been

declining. Habitat on Aguiguan and

Alamagan has been severely degraded

by the continuing presence of large feral

goat populations. All of these factors

have led to reduction or extirpation of

reed-warbler populations from most of

the Mariana Islands. A small remnant

population persists on Aguiguan, while

larger populations persist on Saipan and
51124 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 189 / Tuesday, September 30, 1997 / Notices

Alamagan. Habitat loss and exotic

predators, such as the brown tree snake,

monitor lizard (Varanus indicus), rat

(Rattus spp.), and domestic cat (Felis

catus), continue to be the greatest

threats to the survival of the nightingale

reed-warbler.

The nightingale reed-warbler is

currently represented by populations on

three islands with a total number of

individuals estimated to be 6,225–6,230

birds. The objective of this plan is to

provide a framework for the recovery of

this species so that protection by the

Endangered Species Act (ESA) is no

longer necessary. Recommended

recovery actions emphasize protection

of the existing populations from

introduction of the brown tree snake

and from existing threats, such as other

predators, feral ungulates, and habitat

alteration. It is recommended that

populations be established on at least

three additional islands in the Mariana

Island chain. Further research on

population dynamics is also needed.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments

on the recovery plan described. All

comments received by the data specified

above will be considered prior to

approval of this plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section

4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16

U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: September 24, 1997.

Michael J. Spear,

Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97–25839 Filed 9–29–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for

the Endangered Speckled Dace of

Clover and Independence Valleys

(Rhinichthys osculus lethoporus and

Rhinichthys osculus oligoporus) for

Review and Comment

AGENCY: 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 a draft

recovery plan for the endangered

speckled dace of Clover and

Independence Valleys in Elko County,

Nevada. This plan undertakes a

multispecies approach by discussing the

recovery needs of two native,

endangered fish species.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery

plan received by December 29, 1997

will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the draft recovery plan may obtain a

copy by contacting the State Supervisor,

Nevada State Office, Fish and Wildlife

Service, 4600 Kietzke Lane, Suite 125C,

Reno, Nevada 89502 (telephone: 702/

784–5227). Written comments and

materials regarding the plan should be

addressed to the State Supervisor at the

above Reno, Nevada address. Comments

and materials received are available on

request for public inspection, by

appointment, during normal business

hours at the above Reno, Nevada

address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Stephanie Byers at the above Reno,

Nevada address (telephone: 702/784–

5227).

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 needed to

downlist or delist them, and estimate

time and cost for implementing the

necessary recovery measures.

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

plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented

during the 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.

Individualized responses to comments

will not be provided.

Independence Valley speckled dace

inhabit the Independence Valley Warm

Springs system in Elko County, Nevada,

and it is the only system from which

these fish are known. Clover Valley

speckled dace reside in three spring

systems in Clover Valley in Elko

County, Nevada. These springs are

Clover Valley Warm Springs, Bradish

Spring, and Wright Ranch Spring.

Current population distributions and

abundances are unknown for either

dace. Primary threats to each species at

the time of listing were a limited

distribution, habitat manipulation,

small population size, and nonnative

fish introductions. Recovery of these

species will require removal and/or

control of nonnative fishes and

cooperative agreements with

landowners to protect habitat.

The Service solicits written comments

on the recovery plan. All comments

received by the date specified above

will be considered prior to revision and

approval of this plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section

4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16

U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: September 24, 1997.

Michael J. Spear,

Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97–25840 Filed 9–29–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan

for the El Segundo Blue Butterfly for

Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) announces the availability for

public review of a draft recovery plan

for the El Segundo blue butterfly

(Euphilotes battoides allyni). The El

Segundo blue butterfly occurs on local

and private lands in southwestern Los

Angeles County, California. The Service

solicits review and comment from the

public on this plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery

plan must be received on or before

December 29, 1997 to receive

consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the draft recovery plan may obtain a

copy by contacting the Field Supervisor

at the following address: Carlsbad Field

Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad,

California 92008. Telephone requests

may be made by calling 760/431–9440.

Comments and material received are

available for public inspection by