[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38291-38294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16750]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-ES-2019-N048; FXES11130100000C4-190-FF02ENEH00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 21 Draft Recovery
Plan Revisions for 43 Southeastern Species
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of public comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability for public review and comment of 21 draft recovery plan
revisions, which update recovery criteria for 43 endangered or
threatened species located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and
Tennessee, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British
Virgin Islands. We are updating 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 (ESA) are no longer necessary and the
species may be removed from the ESA's protections. We request review of
these draft recovery plan revisions and invite comments from local,
State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and
the public.
DATES: We must receive comments on the draft recovery plan revisions on
or before September 5, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Reviewing documents: If you wish to review the draft
recovery plan revisions, you may obtain copies from the website
addresses in the table in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. You may also
request copies of the draft recovery plan revisions by contacting the
individuals listed in the table.
Submitting comments: If you wish to comment, see the table in
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION and submit your comments by one of the
following methods:
1. U.S. Mail or hand-delivery: You may submit written comments and
materials to the appropriate field office mailing address for the
species in which you are interested;
2. Email: You may send comments by email to the identified contact
person's email address in the table, for each species. Please include
``Draft Recovery Plan Revision Comments'' in the subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on a particular
species, contact the appropriate person listed in the table for that
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 for public review and comment the
availability of 21 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery
criteria for 43 endangered or threatened species located in Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. This group of 21 draft
recovery plan revisions is part of a larger effort underway 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 percent of all Fish and Wildlife
Service recovery plans will have quantitative criteria for what
constitutes a recovered species.''
The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a feasible and
effective roadmap for a species' recovery, with the goal of improving
its status and managing its threats to the point at which protections
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) are no
longer needed. 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 requesting submission of any
information that enhances the necessary understanding of the (1)
species' biology and threats and (2) recovery needs and related
implementation issues or concerns, to ensure that we have assembled,
considered, and incorporated the best available scientific and
commercial information into the draft recovery plan revisions for these
43 species.
[[Page 38292]]
Recovery plans provide important guidance to the Service, States,
other partners, and the general public on methods of minimizing threats
to listed species and objectives against which to measure the progress
towards recovery; they are guidance and not regulatory documents. A
recovery plan identifies, organizes, and prioritizes recovery actions
and is an important guide that ensures sound scientific decision-making
throughout the recovery process, which can take decades. Keeping
recovery plans current ensures that threatened species and endangered
species benefit through timely partner-coordinated implementation,
based on the best available information.
A review of a recovery plan and its implementation may show that
the plan is out of date or its usefulness is limited and that the plan
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. Recovery plan
modifications can range from relatively minor updates to a substantial
rewrite that revises the existing plan in part (i.e., an amendment to
one of the sections that modifies the existing plan), or in full (i.e.,
a full revision that completely replaces the existing plan). The need
for a recovery plan 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, which necessitates new or revised recovery strategy,
actions, or criteria, or revision of all three in order to maintain the
adequacy of the plan; and (2) the current plan is not achieving its
objectives. Revisions benefit endangered and threatened species, our
partners, and the public by incorporating the best available
information on what is needed for species' recovery.
Revision of recovery plans requires public notice and comment under
section 4(f)(4) of the ESA, 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 revisions 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 revisions for the
species listed in the table below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet
Listing Recovery plan availability of Contact person, Contact person's
Common name Scientific name status \1\ Current range name proposed recovery phone, email U.S. mail
plan revision address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morefield's leather flower.... Clematis E AL, TN.......... Morefield's https:// Stephen Ricks, Mississippi
morefieldii. Leather Flower ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 601-321-1122, Ecological
Clematis recovery_plan/ stephen_ricks@f Services Field
morefieldii Morefields%20Leat ws.gov. Office, 6578
Recovery Plan her%20Flower%20Re Dogwood View
\2\. covery%20Plan%20A Pkwy, Suite A,
mendment.pdf. Jackson, MS
39213.
Southern combshell............ Epioblasma E AL, MS.......... Five Tombigbee https://
penita. River Mussels ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Recovery Plan recovery_plan/
\2\. Southern%20Combsh
ell%20and%20Black
%20Clubshell%20Re
covery%20Plan%20A
mendment.pdf.
Black clubshell............... Pleurobema E AL, MS..........
curtum.
Fat pocketbook................ Potamilus capax. E AR, IL, IN, KY, A Recovery Plan https://
LA, MO, MS, TN. for the Fat ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Pocketbook recovery_plan/
Pearly Mussel Fat%20Pocketbook%
Potamilus capax 20Mussel%20Recove
\2\. ry%20Plan%20Amend
ment.pdf.
Alabama redbellied turtle..... Pseudemys E AL, MS.......... Draft Revised https://
alabamensis. Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/docs/
for the Alabama recovery_plan/
Red-Bellied Alabama%20Red%20B
Turtle ellied%20Turtle%2
(Pseudemys 0Draft%20Revised%
alabamensis) 20Recovery%20Plan
\3\. .pdf.
Dusky gopher frog............. Rana sevosa..... E AL, MS.......... Dusky Gopher https://
Frog (Rana ecos.fws.gov/docs/
sevosa) recovery_plan/
Recovery Plan Dusky%20Gopher%20
\2\. Frog%20Recovery%2
0Plan%20Amendment
.pdf.
Alabama canebrake pitcher- Sarracenia rubra E AL.............. Alabama https://
plant. ssp. Canebrake ecos.fws.gov/docs/
alabamensis. Pitcher Plant recovery_plan/
(Sarracenia Alabama%20Canebra
rubra ssp. ke%20Pitcher%20Pl
alabamensis) ant%20Recovery%20
Recovery Plan Plan%20Amendment_
\2\. 1.pdf.
Alabama cavefish.............. Speoplatyrhinus E AL.............. Alabama Cavefish https://
poulsoni. Speoplatyrhinus ecos.fws.gov/docs/
poulsoni recovery_plan/
Recovery Plan Alabama%20Cavefis
(Second h%20Recovery%20Pl
Revision) \2\. an%20Amendment.pd
f.
Alabama beach mouse........... Peromyscus E AL.............. Recovery Plan https:// William J. Alabama
polionotus for the Alabama ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Pearson, 251- Ecological
ammobates. Beach Mouse recovery_plan/ 441-5870, Services Field
(Peromyscus Alabama%20Beach%2 bill_pearson@fw Office, U.S.
polionotus 0Mouse%20Recovery s.gov. Fish and
ammobates), %20Plan%20Amendme Wildlife
Perdido Key nt.pdf. Service, 1208-B
Beach Mouse (P. Main Street,
p. Daphne, AL
trissyllepsis), 36526.
and
Choctawhatchee
Beach Mouse (P.
p. allophrys)
\2\.
Choctawhatchee beach mouse.... Peromyscus E FL.............. ................ https:// Catherine T. Panama City
polionotus ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Phillips, Field Office,
allophrys. recovery_plan/ Ph.D., 850-769- 1601 Balboa
Choctawhatchee%20 0552, Avenue, Panama
Beach%20Mouse%20% catherine_phill City, FL 32405.
20Recovery%20Plan ips@fws.gov.
%20Amendment.pdf.
Perdido Key beach mouse....... Peromyscus E AL, FL.......... ................ https://
polionotus ecos.fws.gov/docs/
trissyllepsis. recovery_plan/
Perdido%20Key%20B
each%20Mouse%20Re
covery%20Plan%20A
mendment.pdf.
[[Page 38293]]
Apalachicola rosemary......... Conradina glabra E FL.............. Recovery Plan https://
for ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Apalachicola recovery_plan/
Rosemary Apalachicola%20Ro
(Conradina semary%20Recovery
glabra) \2\. %20Plan%20Amendme
nt.pdf.
Ochlockonee moccasinshell..... Medionidus E FL, GA.......... Recovery Plan https://
simpsonianus. for Endangered ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Fat Threeridge, recovery_plan/
Shinyrayed Ochlockonee%20Moc
Pocketbook, casinshell%20Reco
Gulf very%20Plan%20Ame
Moccasinshell, ndment.pdf.
Ochlockonee
moccasinshell,
Oval Pigtoe and
Threatened
Chipola
Slabshell, and
Purple
bankclimber \2\.
Chapman rhododendron.......... Rhododendron E FL.............. Recovery Plan https://
chapmanii. for Chapman's ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Rhododendron, recovery_plan/
Rododendron Chapmans%20Rhodod
chapmanii \2\. endron%20Recovery
%20Plan%20Amendme
nt.pdf.
Gentian pinkroot.............. Spigelia E AL, FL.......... Recovery Plan https://
gentianoides. for Spigelia ecos.fws.gov/docs/
gentianoides recovery_plan/
(Gentian Gentian%20Pinkroo
pinkroot) \2\. t%20Recovery%20Pl
an%20Amendment.pd
f.
Florida scrub-jay............. Aphelocoma T FL.............. Draft Revised https:// Jay B. Northeast
coerulescens. Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Herrington, 904- Florida
for the Florida recovery_plan/ 731-3191, Ecological
Scrub-Jay Florida%20Scrub- jay_herrington@ Services Field
(Aphelocoma Jay%20Draft%20Rev fws.gov. Office, 7915
coerulescens) ised%20Recovery%2 Baymeadows Way,
\3\. 0Plan.pdf. Suite 200,
Jacksonville,
FL 32256.
Four-petal pawpaw............. Asimina E FL.............. South Florida https:// Roxanna Hinzman, South Florida
tetramera. Multi-Species ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 772-469-4309, Ecological
Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ SouthFL_recover Services Field
\2\. Four%20Petal%20Pa yplancomments@f Office, 1339
wPaw%20Recovery%2 ws.gov. 20th Street,
0Plan%20Amendment Vero Beach, FL
.pdf. 32960.
Fragrant prickly-apple........ Cereus E FL.............. ................ https://
eriophorus var. ecos.fws.gov/docs/
fragrans. recovery_plan/
Fragrant%20Prickl
y%20Apple%20Recov
ery%20Plan%20Amen
dment.pdf.
Florida perforate cladonia.... Cladonia E FL.............. ................ https://
perforata. ecos.fws.gov/docs/
recovery_plan/
Florida%20Perfora
te%20Cladonia%20R
ecovery%20Plan%20
Amendment.pdf.
Short-leaved rosemary......... Conradina E FL.............. ................ https://
brevifolia. ecos.fws.gov/docs/
recovery_plan/
Lake%20Wales%20Ri
dge%20Plants%20Re
covery%20Plan%20A
mendment.pdf.
Avon Park harebells........... Crotalaria E FL..............
avonensis.
Garrett's mint................ Dicerandra E FL..............
christmanii.
Scrub mint.................... Dicerandra E FL..............
frutescens.
Snakeroot..................... Eryngium E FL..............
cuneifolium.
Highlands scrub hypericum..... Hypericum E FL..............
cumulicola.
Scrub blazingstar............. Liatris E FL..............
ohlingerae.
Lewton's polygala............. Polygala E FL..............
lewtonii.
Wireweed...................... Polygonella E FL..............
basiramia.
Sandlace...................... Polygonella E FL..............
myriophylla.
Carter's mustard.............. Warea carteri... E FL..............
Florida ziziphus.............. Ziziphus celata. E FL..............
American crocodile [FL DPS]... Crocodylus T FL.............. ................ https://
acutus. ecos.fws.gov/docs/
recovery_plan/
American%20Crocod
ile%20Recovery%20
Plan%20Amendment.
pdf.
Okeechobee gourd.............. Cucurbita E FL.............. ................ https://
okeechobeensis ecos.fws.gov/docs/
ssp. recovery_plan/
okeechobeensis. Okeechobee%20Gour
d%20Recovery%20Pl
an%20Amendment.pd
f.
Snail kite.................... Rostrhamus E FL.............. ................ https://
sociabilis ecos.fws.gov/docs/
plumbeus. recovery_plan/
Everglade%20Snail
%20Kite%20Recover
y%20Plan%20Amendm
ent.pdf.
Key tree-cactus............... Pilosocereus E FL.............. ................ https://
robinii. ecos.fws.gov/docs/
recovery_plan/
Key%20Tree%20Cact
us%20Recovery%20P
lan%20Amendment.p
df.
Eastern indigo snake.......... Drymarchon T AL, FL, GA...... Draft Revised https:// Donald W. Imm, Georgia
corais couperi. Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Ph.D., cell: Ecological
for the Eastern recovery_plan/ 850-532-2046, Services Field
Indigo Snake Eastern%20Indigo% office: 706-208- Office, 355
\3\. 20Snake%20Draft%2 7501, fax: 706- East Hancock
0Revised%20Recove 613-6059, Avenue, Room
ry%20Plan.pdf. donald_imm@fws. 320 Box 7,
gov. Athens, GA
30601.
Amber darter.................. Percina E GA, TN.......... Draft Revised .................. https://
antesella. Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/
for the Amber docs/
Darter (Percina recovery_plan/
antesella) \3\. Amber%20Darter%
20Draft%20Revis
ed%20Recovery%2
0Plan.pdf.
[[Page 38294]]
Conasauga logperch............ Percina jenkinsi E GA, TN.......... Draft Revised .................. https://
Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/
for the docs/
Conasauga recovery_plan/
Logperch Conasauga%20Log
(Percina perch%20Draft%2
jenkinsi) \3\. 0Revised%20Reco
very%20Plan.pdf.
Louisiana pearlshell.......... Margaritifera T AR, LA.......... Draft Revised https:// Joseph Ranson, Louisiana
hembeli. Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 337-291-3113, Ecological
for the recovery_plan/ joseph_ranson@f Services Field
Louisiana Louisiana%20Pearl ws.gov. Office, 200
Pearlshell shell%20Draft%20R Dulles Drive,
(Margaritifera evised%20Recovery Lafayette, LA
hembeli) \3\. %20Plan.pdf. 70506.
Puerto Rican sharp-shinned Accipiter E Puerto Rico..... Puerto Rican https:// Edwin E. Caribbean
hawk. striatus Broad-Winged ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Mu[ntilde]iz, Ecological
venator. Hawk and Puerto recovery_plan/ 787-851-7297, Services Field
Rican Sharp- Puerto%20Rican%20 edwin_muniz@fws Office, P.O.
Shinned Hawk Broad- .gov. Box 1600, Rio
Recovery Plan Winged%20Hawk%20a Grande, PR
\2\. nd%20Puerto%20Ric 00745.
an%20Sharp-
Shinned%20Hawk%20
Recovery%20Plan%2
0Amendment.pdf.
Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk Buteo E Puerto Rico.....
platypterus
brunnescens.
Puerto Rican boa.............. Epicrates E Puerto Rico..... Recovery Plan https://
inornatus. for the Puerto ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Rican Boa \2\. recovery_plan/
Puerto%20Rican%20
Boa%20Recovery%20
Plan%20Amendment.
pdf.
Virgin Islands tree boa....... Epicrates E Puerto Rico, Recovery Plan https://
monensis granti. Virgin Islands. for the Virgin ecos.fws.gov/docs/
Islands Tree recovery_plan/
Boa (Epicrates Virgin%20Island%2
monensis 0Tree%20Boa%20Rec
granti) \2\. overy%20Plan%20Am
endment.pdf.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ E = endangered; T = threatened.
\2\ Denotes a partial revision (i.e., amendment) to the recovery plan.
\3\ Denotes a full revision of the recovery plan.
How do I ask questions or provide information?
For any species listed above, please submit your questions,
comments, and materials to the appropriate contact in the table above.
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: July 19, 2019.
Margaret E. Everson,
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising
the Authority of the Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-16750 Filed 8-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P