[PCA] Availability of Final Recovery Plan for Pecos Sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus)

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

http://epa.gov/EPA-SPECIES/2005/September/Day-15/
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[Federal Register: September 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 178)]
[Notices]
[Page 54567-54568]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se05-52]

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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Final Recovery Plan for the Pecos
Sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[[Page 54568]]

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability of the Final Recovery Plan for the Pecos sunflower
(Helianthus paradoxus). The Pecos sunflower is a wetland annual plant
that grows on wet, alkaline soils at spring seeps, wet meadows and pond
margins. It occurs in seven widely spaced populations in west-central
and eastern New Mexico and west Texas. Loss and/or alteration of
wetland habitat is the primary threat to Pecos sunflower, primarily by
surface water diversion and wetland filling for agriculture and
recreational uses, and groundwater pumping and aquifer depletion for
municipal uses. The Recovery Plan outlines the necessary criteria,
objectives, and actions to reduce these threats and accomplish the goal
of delisting the Pecos sunflower.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Recovery Plan may be requested by contacting
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services
Field Office, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87113. The
Recovery Plan can also be obtained from the Internet at
<A HREF="http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/
">http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/</A>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, New Mexico
Ecological Services Field Office, at the above address; telephone 505/
346-2525, facsimile 505/346-2542.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Pecos sunflower was listed as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, on October 20, 1999 (64 FR
56582-56590). The threats facing the survival and recovery of this
species are the loss and alteration of its wetland habitat due to
aquifer depletions, diversions of surface water, and filling wetlands
for conversion to dry land; competition from non-native plant species,
including Russian olive and tamarisk; excessive livestock grazing; and
highway maintenance and mowing. The Final Recovery Plan includes
scientific information about the species and provides the objectives,
criteria, and actions needed to delist the species. Recovery actions
designed to achieve the objectives and criteria include identifying and
securing core conservation habitats essential for the long-term
survival of this species, continuing life history, population, and
habitat studies, ensuring compliance with existing regulations, and
promoting opportunities for voluntary conservation of the species.
    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant 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 actions considered necessary for conservation
of listed species, establish criteria for downlisting or delisting
those species, and estimate time and costs for implementing the
recovery measures needed.
    The 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
considers all information presented during a public comment period
prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and
others also take these comments into account in the course of
implementing recovery plans.
    A Draft Recovery Plan for Pecos sunflower was available for a 30-
day public comment period beginning July 2, 2004 (69 FR 40409). The
Service also requested and received peer review from two independent
specialists with expertise regarding Pecos sunflower and closely
related species. During the comment period, we received letters from
seven individuals and organizations, including both peer reviewers. In
response to two requests to extend the public comment period, we re-
opened the comment period for an additional 30 days on September 14,
2004 (69 FR 55447). No additional comments were received during that
time. The recovery plan was modified to address many of the comments
and specific responses for substantive comments are summarized in
appendix A of the Final Recovery Plan.

Authority

    This document is published under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: August 17, 2005.
H. Dale Hall,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05-18324 Filed 9-14-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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