[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32237-32238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15646]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery 
Plan for Helianthus eggertii (Eggert's Sunflower) 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 announces the availability 
for public review of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for 
Eggert's sunflower. Eggert's sunflower (Helianthus eggertii) is a 
perennial herb that grows in the barrens of Alabama, Kentucky, and 
Tennessee. 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 August 11, 1998, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor. Asheville Field Office, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North 
Carolina 28801 (Telephone 828/258-3939). Written comments and materials 
regarding the plan should be addressed to the State 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. J. Allen Ratzlaff at the address and telephone number (Ext. 229) 
shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals or plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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

[[Page 32238]]

considered necessary for 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.
    Based upon available information concerning the range, biology, and 
threats to its continued survival, it is not yet possible to determine 
if or when full recovery of Eggert's sunflower is possible. 
Accordingly, this draft recovery plan outlines a mechanism that 
provides for the protection and maintenance of all known populations, 
with emphasis on determining the autecological factors necessary to 
manage the species. Eggert's sunflower was officially listed as an 
endangered species in 1996, primarily because of loss of habitat, 
competition from invasive exotic and other competitive plants, fire 
suppression, and other detrimental impacts that result from site 
disturbance. Comments and information provided during this review will 
be used in preparing the final 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 plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: June 2, 1998.
Brian P. Cole,
State Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-15646 Filed 6-11-98; 8:45 am]
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