[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 15787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7449]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Mexican 
Spotted Owl 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 (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Mexican 
spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) which the Service listed as a 
threatened species on March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14271). The Mexican spotted 
owl is one of three spotted owl subspecies recognized by the American 
Ornithologists' Union. This subspecies was originally described from a 
specimen collected at Mount Tancitaro, Michoacan, Mexico. The Mexican 
spotted owl is a medium-sized bird found from parts of central Colorado 
and Utah south through Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas to the 
State of Michoacan, Mexico. This owl commonly inhabits mountains and 
canyons containing dense, multistoried forests with closed canopies. 
Its survival is threatened by destruction and modification of habitat 
caused by timber harvest, forest fires, and increased predation 
associated with habitat fragmentation. The draft recovery plan 
recommends management actions to be taken by Federal, State, and tribal 
land management agencies to remove recognized threats and recover the 
spotted owl. 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 June 26, 1995, to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Supervisor, Ecological Services State Office, 
2105 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. Written comments and 
materials regarding the plan should be addressed to the Regional 
Director 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: Jennifer Fowler-Propst, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 505/761-4525; 
facsimile 505/761-4542).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened plant or animal to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its 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. 
Recovery plans describe site-specific management actions considered 
necessary for conservation and survival of the species; establish 
objective, measurable 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 public comment 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.
    The recovery plan provides a basis for management actions to be 
undertaken by Federal, State, and tribal land management agencies to 
remove threats to the Mexican spotted owl's continued existence. The 
recovery plan contains six basic elements: 1. A recovery goal and set 
of delisting criteria that will allow the Mexican spotted owl to be 
removed from the endangered species list; 2. strategies for management 
that provide varying levels of habitat protection depending on the 
owl's needs and habitat use; 3. recommendations for population and 
habitat monitoring; 4. research to address critical information needs 
to better understand the owl's life history; 5. implementation 
procedures that specify oversight and coordination responsibilities for 
the owl's recovery; and 6. information on the approximate costs of 
carrying out the tasks set forth in the draft recovery plan.
    The Mexican spotted owl recovery plan has been prepared by a team 
of experts on the owl and its habitat requirements. This recovery plan 
will be finalized and approved following incorporation of comments and 
materials received during this comment period.

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 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 7, 1995.
James A. Young,
Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 95-7449 Filed 3-24-95; 8:45 am]
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