[Federal Register: February 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 6697-6698]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe10-100]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-ES-2009-N273; 20124-1113-0000-C2]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Yuma Clapper
Rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis) Recovery Plan, First Revision
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability for public review: draft
revised recovery plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the Draft Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris
yumanensis) Recovery Plan, First Revision under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The species currently inhabits the
mainstem Colorado River in Arizona, California, and Nevada; the Virgin
River in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah; the Gila River in Arizona; and the
Salton Sea in California. The Service solicits review and comment from
the public on this draft revised recovery plan. The Service will also
accept any new information on the status of the Yuma clapper rail
throughout its range to assist in finalizing the revised recovery plan.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive any comments no later
than April 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft revised recovery plan
can obtain a paper or electronic copy from the Arizona Ecological
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 W. Royal
Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; by phone at (602) 242-
0210 extension 236; by e-mail at ycrrecovery@fws.gov; or on our Web
site at www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/. Written comments and
materials on the draft revised recovery plan may be mailed to ``Field
Supervisor'' at the address above or e-mailed to ycrrecovery@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lesley Fitzpatrick (see ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
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. Recovery plans help guide the recovery effort by
describing actions considered necessary for the conservation of the
[[Page 6698]]
species, and estimating time and costs for implementing the measures
needed for recovery. A recovery plan was originally completed for Yuma
clapper rail in 1983, but the recommendations contained in that plan
are outdated given the species' current status.
Section 4(f) of the Act requires that we provide public notice and
an opportunity for public review and comment 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 also take
these comments into account in the course of implementing recovery
actions. In fulfillment of this requirement, we are making this draft
first revision of the recovery plan for Yuma clapper rail available for
a 60-day public comment period.
The document submitted for review is the first revision of the
recovery plan for the Yuma clapper rail. It was listed as an endangered
species in the United States on March 11, 1967 (32 FR 4001). It was not
included on the list of foreign species established under the
Endangered Species Conservation Act, so is not listed throughout its
historical range in Mexico. Critical habitat has not been designated.
The primary threats to the Yuma clapper rail are habitat loss and
degradation due to changes in historical hydrographs, channelization,
and diversion of river flows for agricultural and municipal purposes.
The draft revised recovery plan includes scientific information
about the species and provides criteria and actions needed to downlist
or delist the species. Downlisting of the species may be considered
when annual surveys document a stable or increasing population trend
over five consecutive years, habitat management plans are in place for
all important Federal and state-owned habitat areas, and long-term
contracts for water supplies at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge and Imperial State Wildlife Area in California are in place.
Delisting of the species may be considered when annual surveys document
an additional five consecutive years of a stable or increasing
population trend; the amount of habitat needed to support the desired
minimum population size in the United States is established and
protected, and management plans are in place for that habitat; an
assessment of the risks of selenium to the species is completed and
protective measures implemented if needed; and a secure water supply
for the Cienega de Santa Clara in Mexico is established. Recovery
actions designed to achieve these criteria are included in the draft
revised recovery plan and include population and habitat monitoring and
evaluation, directed research on habitat and threats, efforts to obtain
secure water supplies for important habitats, and cooperation between
interested parties in the United States and Mexico.
The draft Yuma Clapper Rail Recovery Plan, First Revision, is being
submitted for review to all interested parties. After consideration of
comments received during the public comment period, the revised
recovery plan will be submitted for final approval.
Request for Public Comments
We are accepting written comments and information during this
comment period on the revised draft recovery plan. All comments
received by the date specified above will be considered prior to
approval of the final recovery plan. Comments and materials we receive
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal
business hours at the Arizona Ecological Services Field Office in
Phoenix (see ADDRESSES).
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying
information, may be made publically available at any time. While you
can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533 (f).
Dated: November 20, 2009.
Brian Millsap,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2010-2921 Filed 2-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P