[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, =
2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 61379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [http://www.gpo.gov/]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25483]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2011-N183; 21450-1113-0000-C2]


Final Recovery Plan, Bexar County Karst Invertebrates

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability=20
of our final recovery plan, for the nine Bexar County Karst=20
Invertebrates under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended=20
(Act). These species occur in Bexar County, Texas.

ADDRESSES: You may download the recovery plan from the internet at=20
http:/=
/www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html, or you may=20
obtain a copy from Cyndee Watson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711=20
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX (512-490-0057 ext. 223).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zerrenner, at the above address;=20
by phone at 512-490-0057, ext. 249; or by e-mail at Adam_Zerrenner@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20

Background

    Recovering endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point=20
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their=20
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program and the=20
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status=20
of listed species to the point at which listing is no longer=20
appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the Act.=20
The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed species,=20
unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular=20
species.

Species' History

    The following nine Bexar County karst invertebrates were listed as=20
endangered species on December 26, 2000 (65 FR 81419): Rhadine exilis,=20
R. infernalis, Batrisodes venyivi, Texella cokendolpheri, Neoleptoneta=20
microps, Cicurina baronia, C. madla, C. venii, and C. vespera. These=20
invertebrates are troglobites, spending their entire lives underground.=20
They inhabit caves and mesocaverns (humanly impassable voids in karst=20
limestone) in Bexar County, Texas. They are characterized by small or=20
absent eyes and pale coloration.

Final Recovery Plan

    The final recovery plan includes scientific information about the=20
species and provides objectives and actions needed to recover the Bexar=20
County karst invertebrates and to ultimately remove them from the list=20
of threatened and endangered species. It also has incorporated public=20
and peer review comments as applicable. Recovery actions designed to=20
achieve these objectives include reducing threats to the species by=20
securing an adequate quantity and quality of habitat. This includes=20
selecting caves or cave clusters that represent the range of the=20
species and potential genetic diversity for the nine species, and then=20
preserving these karst habitats, including their drainage basins and=20
surface communities upon which they rely. Some of the changes from the=20
draft recovery plan include changes in the acreage requirements for=20
medium and high quality preserves as well as the configuration of the=20
preserves required to meet the recovery criteria. Because many aspects=20
of the population dynamics and habitat requirements of the species are=20
poorly understood, recovery is also dependant on incorporating research=20
findings into adaptive management actions. Because three of these=20
species are known to occur in only one cave, full recovery may not be=20
possible for these species.

Authority

    We developed our final recovery plan under the authority of section=20
4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under=20
section 4(f) Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531=20
et seq.).

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: September 13, 2011.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-25483 Filed 10-3-11; 8:45 am]
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