New critical habitat
plan issued for 2 isles

---

Star-Bulletin staff

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a revised proposal to designate critical habitat for 83 threatened and endangered plant species on Kauai and Niihau.

If approved, the proposal would establish about 99,900 acres of critical habitat on the two islands.

The proposed rule published in the Federal Register addresses 95 species and proposes critical habitat desig- nations for 83 species.

Also, the rule identifies 16 critical habitat units, primarily in northwestern Kauai. Most of the proposed critical habitat is in the Alakai Wilderness Preserve, portions of Kokee State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park, and several state natural areas and forest reserves.

A smaller unit includes lands owned or leased by the Department of Defense.

"The most significant change in this proposed rule is the inclusion of unoccupied habitat -- areas where the threatened and endangered plants do not currently exist but that provide the appropriate elements needed by plants for their survival and recovery," said regional director Anne Badgley of the Pacific region.

"Existing occupied habitat may not be sufficient to allow for the recovery of many of these plants," Badgley said.

Public comments on the revised proposal will be accepted until March 29.

Comments can be sent to Paul Henson, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Pacific Islands, Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will soon be revising proposed rules for plant species on Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai and Molokai.

Proposed rules for plant species on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Big Island and Oahu are scheduled to be published for the first time within the next six months.