[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 790-795] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-00436] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-HQ-ES-2018-N112; FXES11130100000C4-189-FF02ENEH00] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 26 Draft Recovery Plan Amendments for 42 Species Across the United States AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of public comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 791]] SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of 26 draft recovery plan amendments for 42 endangered and threatened species. We are amending recovery criteria to better assist in determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that it may be reclassified as threatened, or that the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), are no longer necessary and the endangered species may be removed from the Act's protections. We request review and comments on these draft recovery plan amendments from local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. DATES: In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan amendments must be received on or before April 1, 2019. ADDRESSES: Reviewing documents: If you wish to review these draft recovery plan amendments, you may obtain copies from the website addresses listed in the table provided in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. You may also request copies of draft recovery plan amendments by contacting the individuals listed in the table provided in this notice, relevant to each species or recovery plan, or both. Submitting comments: If you wish to comment, see the table provided in this notice and you may submit your comments by one of the following methods: 1. You may submit written comments and materials to each field office mailing address for the species in which you are interested; 2. You may hand-deliver written comments to each field office, in the table at the identified address, for the species in which you are interested; or 3. You may send comments by email to the identified contact person's email address in the table, for each species. Please include ``Amended Recovery Plan Comments'' in the subject line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on a particular species, contact the appropriate person listed in the table for each species in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Individuals who are hearing impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background In this notice, we announce the availability of 26 draft recovery plan amendments, which revise recovery criteria for 42 endangered and threatened species, for public review and comment. These 26 draft recovery plan amendments are a subset of a larger effort under way to revise up to 182 recovery plans covering up to 305 species in order to achieve the following Department of the Interior Agency Priority Performance Goal outlined in the Department's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-2022: ``By September 30, 2019, 100% of all Fish and Wildlife Service recovery plans will have quantitative criteria for what constitutes a recovered species.'' Given the timeline associated with this Agency Priority Performance goal, we are relying on the public comment period to facilitate an efficient communication, coordination, and collaboration process with the wide variety of potential stakeholders we consider essential to the development and implementation of recovery plans. Recovery plans must be designed so that all stakeholders and the public understand the rationale behind the recovery program, whether they were involved in writing the plan or not, and recognize their role in its implementation. We are, therefore, requesting submission of any information that may help achieve (1) the necessary understanding of species' biology, threats and recovery needs; (2) identification of implementation issues and concerns; and (3) facilitation of more effective implementation, associated with these draft amendments that revise recovery criteria for these 42 species. The Service is required to develop and implement recovery plans ``for the conservation and survival'' of listed species under section 4(f) of the Act, unless the Service finds that developing a recovery plan would not promote the conservation of the species. The Act also requires inclusion of: (1) ``Site-specific management actions as may be necessary to achieve the plan's goal for the conservation and survival of the species''; (2) ``Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination . . . that the species be removed from the list''; and (3) ``Estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures needed to achieve the plan's goal and to achieve intermediate steps toward that goal.'' The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a roadmap for a species' recovery, with the goal of improving its status and managing its threats to the point at which protections under the Act are no longer needed. A recovery plan identifies, organizes, and prioritizes recovery actions and is, therefore, an important guide to ensure sound scientific decision-making throughout the recovery process, which can take decades. Recovery plans provide important guidance to the Service, States, other partners, and the general public on methods of minimizing threats to listed species and measurable objectives against which to measure the progress towards recovery; they are guidance and not regulatory documents. Recovery plans should be consulted frequently, used to initiate recovery activities, and updated as needed. Keeping recovery plans current will ensure that the species benefits through timely, partner- coordinated implementation, based on the best available information. A review of the recovery plan and its implementation, however, may show that the recovery plan is out of date or its usefulness is limited and, therefore, warrants modification. The need for, and extent of, recovery plan modifications will vary considerably among recovery plans, depending on the scope and complexity of the initial plan, the structure of the document, and the involvement of stakeholders. The need for revision may be triggered when, among other possibilities: (1) New information has been identified, such as population-level threats to the species or previously unknown life- history traits, that necessitates new or revised recovery strategy, actions, or criteria, or revision of all three; (2) the current recovery plan is out of date with regard to the information presented in it or requirements for an adequate recovery plan (a recovery strategy, threats-based recovery criteria, etc.); or (3) the current plan is not achieving its objectives. An amendment, a type of recovery plan revision, is more limited in scope than a full revision of the recovery plan and modifies an existing plan, rather than replacing the entire existing recovery plan. Revisions benefit endangered and threatened species, our partners, and the public by incorporating new information about life history, threats, and/or species' response to management from study findings and focusing on what is really needed for species' recovery. Recovery criteria serve as objective, measurable guidelines to assist in determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that it may be downlisted to threatened, or that the protections afforded by the Act are no longer necessary and the species may be delisted. Delisting is the removal of a species from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Downlisting is the reclassification of a species from an endangered species to a threatened species. The term ``endangered species'' [[Page 792]] means any species (species, subspecies, or distinct population segment) that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The term ``threatened species'' means any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Recovery criteria should help indicate when we would anticipate that an analysis of the species' status under section 4(a)(1) would result in a determination that the species is no longer an endangered or threatened species. A decision to revise the status of or remove a species from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, however, is ultimately based on an analysis of the threats to the species in accordance with sections 4(a)(1) and 4(b) of the Act and made ``solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available,'' regardless of whether that information differs from the recovery plan. When changing the status of a species, we first propose the action in the Federal Register to seek public comment and peer review, followed by a final decision announced in the Federal Register. Revision of recovery plans requires public notice and comment under section 4(f)(4) of the Act, including: (1) A Federal Register notice of availability to give opportunity for public review and comment; (2) consideration of all information presented during the public comment period; and (3) approval by the Regional Director. When finalized, these recovery plan amendments will be made publicly available on the internet through our Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS, https://ecos.fws.gov). What plans are being made available for public review and comment? This notice announces our draft recovery plan amendments for the species listed in the table below. Proposed Recovery Plan Amendments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uniform resource Listing Current locator to Contact person, Contact person's Common name Scientific name status \1\ range Recovery plan name proposed recovery phone, email U.S. mail address plan amendment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Region (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Snails, Oahu tree.............. Achatinella spp... E HI Recovery Plan for https:// Gregory A. Koob, Pacific Islands .................. .......... .......... the Oahu Tree ecos.fws.gov/ Assistant Field Fish and .................. .......... .......... Snails of the docsrecovery_pla Supervisor, 808- Wildlife Office, .................. .......... .......... Genus Achatinella. n/ 792-9449, 300 Ala Moana .................. .......... .......... .................. Achatinella_Draf gregory_koob@fws Boulevard, Room Silversword, Mauna Loa (=Ka'u). Argyroxiphium T HI .................. t%20Recovery%20P .gov. 3-122, Box kauense. Recovery Plan for lan%20Amendment_ 50088, Honolulu, the Ka`u 20180801.pdf. HI 96850. Silversword https:// (Argyroxiphium ecos.fws.gov/ kauense). docsrecovery_pla n/ ARGKAU_Draft%20R ecovery%20Plan%2 0Amendment_20180 801.pdf. `Ahinahina..................... Argyroxiphium E HI Recovery Plan for https:// ................. sandwicense ssp. the Mauna Kea ecos.fws.gov/ sandwicense. Silversword docsrecovery_pla (Argyroxiphium n/ sandwicense ARGSANSAN_Draft% ssp.sandwicense). 20Recovery%20Pla n%20Amendment_20 180801.pdf. Koki`o......................... Kokia drynarioides E HI Recovery Plan for https:// ................. Caesalpinia ecos.fws.gov/ kavaiensis and docsrecovery_pla Kokia n/ drynarioides. KOKDRY_Draft%20R ecovery%20Plan%2 0Amendment_20180 801.pdf. Uhi uhi........................ Mezoneuron E HI https:// kavaiense. ecos.fws.gov/ docsrecovery_pla n/ MEZKAV_Draft%20R ecovery%20Plan%2 0Amendment_20180 801.pdf. Aupaka......................... Isodendrion E HI Recovery Plan for https:// hosakae. Lipochaeta venosa ecos.fws.gov/ and Isodendrion docsrecovery_pla hosakae. n/ ISOHOS_Draft%20R ecovery%20Plan%2 0Amendment_20180 801.pdf. No common name................. Lipochaeta venosa. E HI https://ecos.fws.gov/docsrecovery_plan/LIPVEN_Draft%20Recovery%20Plan%20Amendment_20180801.pdf. Hawaiian petrel................ Pterodroma E HI Hawaiian Dark- https:// sandwichensis. rumped Petrel and ecos.fws.gov/ Newell's Manx docsrecovery_pla Shearwater n/ Recovery Plan. HAPE_Draft_Recov ery_Plan_Amendme nt_20180806.pdf. [[Page 793]] Newell's Townsend's shearwater. Puffinus T HI https:// auricularis ecos.fws.gov/ newelli. docsrecovery_pla n/ NESH_Draft_Recov ery_Plan_Amendme nt_20180806.pdf. Vetch, Hawaiian................ Vicia menziesii... E HI Vicia menziesii https:// Recovery Plan. ecos.fws.gov/ docsrecovery_pla n/ VICMEN_Draft%20R ecovery%20Plan%2 0Amendment_20180 801.pdf. Rabbit, Columbia Basin Pygmy... Brachylagus E WA Recovery Plan for https:// Michelle Eames, Eastern idahoensis. the Columbia ecos.fws.gov/ Fish and Washington Field Basin Distinct docsrecovery_pla Wildlife Office, 11103 E. Population n/ Biologist, 509- Montgomery Dr., Segment of the Pygmy%20Rabbit%2 891-6839, Spokane Valley, Pygmy Rabbit 0Draft%20Recover michelle_eames@f WA 99206. (Brachylagus y%20Plan%20Amend ws.gov. idahoensis). ment%2020180731. pdf. Stickseed, showy............... Hackelia venusta.. E WA Recovery Plan for https:// Gregg Kurz, 509- Central Hackelia venusta ecos.fws.gov/ 665-3508, Washington Field (Showy Stickseed). docsrecovery_pla gregg_kurz@fws.g Office, 215 n/ ov. Melody Lane, Hackelia_venusta Suite 103, _Draft_Recovery_ Wenatchee, WA Plan_Amendment_2 98801. 0180806.pdf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southwest Region (Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brady pincushion cactus........ Pediocactus bradyi E AZ Brady Pincushion https:// Field Supervisor, Arizona Cactus ecos.fws.gov/ 602-242-0210, Ecological (Pediocactus docsrecovery_pla AZcriteria@fws.g Services Field bradyi) Recovery n/ ov. Office, 9828 Plan. Draft%20Recovery North 31st %20Plan%20Amendm Avenue, #C#, ent_Brady%20Pinc Phoenix, Arizona ushion_clean.pdf. 85051. Siler pincushion cactus........ Pediocactus sileri T AZ, UT Siler Pincushion https:// Cactus ecos.fws.gov/ (Pediocactus docsrecovery_pla sileri) Recovery n/ Plan. Draft%20Recovery %20Plan%20Amendm ent_Siler%20Pinc ushion_clean.pdf. Sacramento prickly poppy....... Argemone E NM Sacramento Prickly- https:// Susan Millsap, New Mexico pleiacantha ssp. Poppy (Argemone ecos.fws.gov/ Field Office Ecological pinnatisecta. pleiacantha ssp. docsrecovery_pla Supervisor, 505- Services Field pinnatisecta ) n/ 761-4781, Office, 2105 Recovery Plan. 20180816_Draft%2 susan_millsap@fw Osuna NE, 0Recovery%20Plan s.gov. Albuquerque, New %20Amendment_Sac Mexico 87113. ramento%20prickl y%20poppy_clean. pdf. Lee pincushion cactus.......... Coryphantha T NM Sneed and Lee https:// sneedii var. leei. Pincushion Cacti ecos.fws.gov/ (Coryphantha docsrecovery_pla sneedii var. n/ sneedii and Draft%20Recovery Coryphantha %20Plan%20Amendm sneedii var. ent_SneedLee%20P leei) Recovery incuschion_clean Plan. .pdf. Sneed pincushion cactus........ Coryphantha E NM, TX sneedii var. sneedii. Kuenzler hedgehog cactus....... Echinocereus T NM Kuenzler Hedgehog https:// fendleri var. Cactus ecos.fws.gov/ kuenzleri. (Echinocereus docsrecovery_pla fendleri var. n/ kuenzleri) Draft%20Recovery Recovery Plan. %20Plan%20Amendm ent_Kuenzler%20H edgehog%20Cactus _clean.pdf. Zuni fleabane.................. Erigeron T AZ, NM Zuni Fleabane https:// rhizomatus. (Erigeron ecos.fws.gov/ rhizomatus) docsrecovery_pla Recovery Plan. n/ Draft%20Recovery %20Plan%20Amendm ent_Zuni%20Fleab ane_clean.pdf. [[Page 794]] Holy Ghost ipomopsis........... Ipomopsis sancti- E NM Holy Ghost https:// spiritus. Ipomopsis ecos.fws.gov/ (Ipomopsis sancti- docsrecovery_pla spiritus) n/ Recovery Plan. 20180816_Draft%2 0Recovery%20Plan %20Amendment_Hol y%20Ghost%20Ipom opsis_clean.pdf. Knowlton's cactus.............. Pediocactus E CO,Knowlton's Cactus https:// knowltonii. (Pediocactus ecos.fws.gov/ knowltonii) docsrecovery_pla Recovery Plan. n/ Draft%20Recovery %20Plan%20Amendm ent_Knowltons%20 cactus_clean.pdf. Socorro isopod................. Thermosphaeroma E NM Soccoro Isopod https:// thermophilus. Recovery Plan. ecos.fws.gov/ docsrecovery_pla n/ Draft%20Recovery %20Plan%20Amendm ent_Socorro%20Is opod_clean.pdf. Star cactus.................... Astrophytum E TX Star Cactus https:// Dawn Gardiner, Texas Coastal asterias. (Astrophytum ecos.fws.gov/ Assistant Field Ecological asterias) docsrecovery_pla Supervisor, 361- Services Field Recovery Plan. n/ 994-9005x259, Office--Corpus Draft%20Recovery dawn_gardiner@fw Christi, 4444 %20Plan%20Amendm s.gov. Corona Drive, ent_Star%20Cactu Suite 215, s_clean.pdf. Corpus Christi, Texas 78411. Zapata bladderpod.............. Lesquerella E TX Zapata Bladderpod https:// thamnophila. (Lesquerella ecos.fws.gov/ thamnophila) docsrecovery_pla Recovery Plan. n/ Draft%20Rec%20Pl an%20Amendment_Z %20bladderpod_cl ean.pdf. Coffin Cave mold beetle........ Batrisodes texanus E TX Endangered Karst https:// Adam Zerrenner, Austin Ecological Tooth Cave spider.............. Neoleptoneta E TX Invertebrates ecos.fws.gov/ Field Services Field Tooth Cave ground beetle....... myopica. E TX (Travis and docsrecovery_pla Supervisor, 512- Office, 10711 Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion...... Rhadine persephone E TX Williamson n/ 490-0057x248, Burnet Road, Tartarocreagris Counties, Texas) Draft%20Recovery adam_zerrenner@f Suite 200 texana. Recovery Plan. %20Plan%20Amendm ws.gov. Austin, Texas ent_Travis- 78758. Williamson-Karst- Inverts_clean.pd f. Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle... Texamaurops E TX reddelli. Bee Creek Cave harvestman...... Texella reddelli.. E TX Bone Cave harvestman........... Texella reyesi.... E TX Tobusch fishhook cactus........ Sclerocactus E TX Tobusch Fishhook https:// brevihamatus ssp. Cactus ecos.fws.gov/ tobuschii. (Ancistrocactus docsrecovery_pla tobuschii) n/ Recovery Plan. Draft%20SCLTOB%2 0Recovery%20Plan %20Amendment_cle an.pdf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Southwest Region (California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin area of Oregon) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marsh sandwort................. Arenaria E CA,Recovery Plan for https:// Cat Darst, Ventura Fish and Gambel's watercress............ paludicola. E CA Marsh Sandwort ecos.fws.gov/ Assistant Field Wildlife Office, Rorippa gambellii. (Arenaria docsrecovery_pla Supervisor, 805- 2493 Portola paludicola) and n/ 644-1766, Road, Suite B, Gambel's Draft%20Recovery r8ventura- Ventura, CA Watercress %20Plan%20Amendm recoverycomments 93003. (Rorippa ent%20NAGA%20ROG @fws.gov. gambelii). A.pdf. Pismo clarkia.................. Clarkia speciosa E CA Recovery Plan for https:// ssp. immaculata. .......... .......... the Morro ecos.fws.gov/ Chorro Creek bog thistle....... Cirsium fontinale E CA Shoulderband docsrecovery_pla Indian Knob mountainbalm....... var. obispoense. .......... .......... Snail and Four n/ Eriodictyon E CA Plants from San Draft%20Recovery altissimum. Luis Obispo %20Plan%20Amendm County, ent%20IKMB%20CCB California. T%20PismoClarkia .pdf. [[Page 795]] Scotts Valley spineflower...... Chorizanthe E CA Recovery Plan for https:// robusta var. Insect and Plant ecos.fws.gov/ hartwegii. Taxa from the docsrecovery_pla Santa Cruz n/ Mountains in Draft%20Recovery California. %20Plan%20Amendm ent%20ScottsVall eySpineflower.pd f. Coastal dunes milk-vetch....... Astragalus tener E CA Recovery Plan for https:// Yadon's piperia................ var. titi. E CA Five Plants from ecos.fws.gov/ Hickman's potentilla........... Piperia yadonii... E CA Monterey County, docsrecovery_pla Monterey clover................ Potentilla E CA California. n/ hickmanii. Draft%20Recovery Trifolium %20Plan%20Amendm trichocalyx. ent%20MClover%20 CDMVetch%20YAPP% 20HickPot.pdf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ E = endangered; T = threatened. How do I ask questions or provide information? If you wish to provide information for any species listed above, please submit your comments and materials to the appropriate contact in the table above. You may also direct questions to those contacts. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance. Request for Public Comments We request written comments on the draft recovery plan modifications. We will consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES prior to final approval of the plans. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email 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 publicly 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: August 28, 2018. James W. Kurth, Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising the Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2019-00436 Filed 1-30-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P