[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7793-7794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4094]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Florida Salt Marsh 
Vole (Microtus Pennsylvanicus Dukecampbelli), 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Florida 
salt marsh vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli), a federally 
endangered rodent that is known from only one site in Waccasassa Bay, 
near Cedar Key, Levy County, Florida. 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 April 21, 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, Jacksonville Field Office, 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, 
Jacksonville, Florida 32216 (Telephone: 904-232-2580, FAX 904-232-
2404). 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: Linda Finger at the above address 
(Telephone: 904-232-2580 ext. 107).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened plants and animals to the point 
where they are secure self-sustaining members

[[Page 7794]]

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 conservation of the species, establish criteria for the 
recovery levels for downlisting or delisting species, and estimate time 
and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    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 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 take these comments into account in the course of 
implementing approved recovery plans.
    The Florida salt marsh vole inhabits one known coastal marsh site 
in Levy County, Florida. The vole is limited by two factors, an 
extremely restricted range encompassing only one known population, and 
the threat of losing this population to a storm event or population 
fluctuations.
    The immediate goal of this recovery plan is to prevent extinction 
of the salt marsh vole by protecting the existing population. The 
actions needed to recover this species are: (1) Protect existing 
population, (2) conduct surveys to locate additional populations, and 
(3) conduct life history studies.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan. All 
comments received by the date specified above will be considered prior 
to the approval of the plans.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
David Hankla,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-4094 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
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