[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16232-16233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06234]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2021-N016; FXES11130100000C4-190-FF02ENEH00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Four Draft
Recovery Plans
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the
availability for public review and comment of four draft recovery
plans. The endangered or threatened species are in Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The draft
recovery plans include specific recovery objectives and criteria based
on the species status assessment. We request review and comment on
these draft recovery plans from local, State, and Federal agencies,
nongovernmental organizations, Tribes, and the public.
DATES: We must receive comments on the draft recovery plans on or
before April 26, 2021.
ADDRESSES:
Reviewing documents: If you wish to review the recovery plans, you
may obtain copies from the website addresses in the table in
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. You may also request copies of the draft
recovery plans 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 the following
method:
1. 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 general information, contact Aaron
Valenta, at 404-679-4144 or Aaron_Valenta@fws.gov. 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
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. Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires development of
recovery plans for listed species unless a plan would not promote the
conservation of a particular species. Recovery plans should 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, (2) recovery needs and related
implementation issues or concerns, and (3) information on ongoing
beneficial management efforts to ensure that we have assembled,
considered, and incorporated the most current and highest quality
information, into the draft recovery plans for these four species.
Recovery plans provide important guidance to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), States, other partners, and the general
public on methods of minimizing threats to listed species and
[[Page 16233]]
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. Writing robust recovery plans ensures
that threatened species and endangered species benefit from timely
partner-coordinated implementation, based on the most current and
highest quality information.
We must submit draft recovery plans for 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 and (2) consideration of all information presented during the
public comment period, prior to their approval by the Regional
Director. When finalized, recovery plans 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 plans for the species
listed in the table below.
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Listing Contact person, Contact person's
Scientific name status \1\ Current range Recovery plan name phone, email U.S. mail address
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Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander.. Ambystoma bishopi... E AL, GA, FL...... U.S. Fish and Lourdes Mena, 904- U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service 731-3134, Lourdes_ Wildlife Service,
Draft Recovery Plan Mena@fws.gov. South Florida
for the Reticulated Ecological Services
Flatwoods Office, 1339 20th
Salamander Street, Vero Beach,
(Ambystoma bishopi). FL 32960.
Frosted Flatwoods Salamander...... Ambystoma cingulatum T SC, GA, FL...... U.S. Fish and Lourdes Mena, 904- U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service 731-3134, Lourdes_ Wildlife Service,
Draft Recovery Plan Mena@fws.gov. South Florida
for the Frosted Ecological Services
Flatwoods Office, 1339 20th
Salamander Street, Vero Beach,
(Ambystoma FL 32960.
cingulatum).
Fluted Kidneyshell................ Ptychobranchus E AL, KY, TN, VA.. U.S. Fish and Lee Andrews, 502-695- Interior Region 1--
subtentum (=sub Wildlife Service 0468, x108, Lee_ North Atlantic-
tentus). Draft Recovery Plan Andrews@fws.gov. Appalachian
for the Fluted (Kentucky), 330
Kidneyshell West Broadway, Room
(Ptychobranchus 265 Frankfort, KY
subtentum 40601.
(=subtentus)).
Kentucky Glade Cress.............. Leavenworthia exigua T KY.............. U.S. Fish and Lee Andrews, 502-695- Interior Region 1--
var. laciniata. Wildlife Service 0468, x108, Lee_ North Atlantic-
Draft Recovery Plan Andrews@fws.gov. Appalachian
for the Kentucky (Kentucky), 330
Glade Cress West Broadway, Room
(Leavenworthia 265 Frankfort, KY
exigua var. 40601.
laciniata).
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\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 plans. We will
consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES prior
to final approval of the plans.
Public Availability of Comments
All comments received, including names and addresses, will become
part of the administrative record and will be available to the public.
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)).
Leopoldo Miranda-Castro,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2021-06234 Filed 3-25-21; 8:45 am]
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