[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Suite200, 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] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P