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Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: August 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 163)]
[Notices]
[Page 49418]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23au06-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 081606B]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the
availability for public review of the draft updated Recovery Plan
(Plan) for the U.S. Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of smalltooth
sawfish (Pristis pectinata). NMFS is soliciting review and comments
from the public and all interested parties on the draft Plan, and will
consider all substantive comments received during the review period
before submitting the Plan for final approval.
DATES: Comments on the draft Plan must be received by close of business
on October 23, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Smalltooth Sawfish Coordinator.
Comments may be submitted by:
? E-mail: smalltoothsawfish.recoveryplan@noaa.gov,
include in the subject line the following document identifier:
Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Plan. E-mail comments, with or without
attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes;
? Smalltooth Sawfish Coordinator, NMFS, Southeast Regional
Office, Protected Resources Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St.
Petersburg, Florida 33071; or
? Fax: (727) 824-5309. Interested persons may obtain the
Plan for review from the above address or on-line from
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shelley Norton, (727) 824-5312, or by
e-mail Shelley.Norton@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (15
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA) requires that NMFS develop and implement
recovery plans for the conservation and survival of threatened and
endangered species under its jurisdiction, unless it is determined that
such plans would not promote the conservation of the species. Section
4(f) of the ESA, as amended in 1988, requires that public notice and
opportunity to review and comment be provided during recovery plan
development.
The U.S. DPS of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) was listed
as endangered under the ESA on April 1, 2003 (68 FR 15680) subsequent
to a 1999 listing petition from The Ocean Conservancy (formerly the
Center for Marine Conservation). Smalltooth sawfish were once prevalent
throughout Florida and were commonly encountered from Texas to North
Carolina. Currently, smalltooth sawfish can only be found with any
regularity in south Florida between the Caloosahatchee River and the
Florida Keys.
The draft recovery plan for the U.S. DPS of smalltooth sawfish was
prepared for NMFS by the smalltooth sawfish recovery team. The team is
composed of nine members from Federal, State, non-governmental, and
non-profit organizations. The goal of the recovery plan is to rebuild
and assure the long-term viability of the U.S. DPS of smalltooth
sawfish in the wild, allowing initially for reclassification from
endangered to threatened status (downlisting) and ultimately to
recovery and subsequent removal from the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife (delisting). NMFS will consider all substantive
comments and information presented during the public comment period in
the course of finalizing this Plan.
Dated: August 17, 2006.
Maria Boroja,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13975 Filed 8-22-06; 8:45 am]
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