[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17364-17365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8245]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan Revision for the Florida 
Manatee 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 (Service) proposes to 
extend the [[Page 17365]] public comment period for a technical/agency 
draft recovery plan: the second revision of the Florida manatee 
(Trichechus manatus latirostris) Recovery Plan.
    The Service solicits additional review and comment from the public 
on this plan. During the previous comment period (December 27, 1994-
February 27, 1995), there was some concern expressed that certain 
individuals and/or groups were not adequately informed of the 
availability of the draft for public review.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan revision must be received on 
or before June 5, 1995 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 South Point Dr., South, Suite 310, 
Jacksonville, Florida 32216 (Telephone: 904-232-2580). Written comments 
and materials regarding the plan should be addressed to David J. 
Wesley, Field Supervisor, at the above Jacksonville, Florida address. 
Comments and materials received are available upon request for public 
inspection, by appointment, and during normal business hours at the 
above Jacksonville, Florida address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert O. Turner, Manatee Coordinator, at the Jacksonville, Florida, 
address (Telephone: 904-232-2580).

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 necessary for the conservation of the 
species, establish criteria for 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 (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 Manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, was 
originally listed under the Endangered Species Act on March 11, 1967. 
The Service developed an initial recovery plan for manatees in 1980. 
The 1980 plan focused primarily, but not exclusively, on manatees in 
Florida. In 1986 the Service adopted a separate Recovery Plan for 
manatees in Puerto Rico. To reflect new information and planning needs 
for manatees in Florida, the Service revised the original plan in 1989 
focusing exclusively on Florida's manatees. The revised plan covered a 
five-year planning period ending in Fiscal Year 1994. In view of 
progress since 1989 and planning needs beyond 1994, the Service is once 
again updating and revising the plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the revised recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified will be 
considered prior to the 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: March 27, 1995.
David J. Wesley,
Field Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-8245 Filed 4-4-95; 8:45 am]
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