[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 30760-30764] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-13708] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-HQ-ES-2018-N157; FXES11130100000C4-189-FF02ENEH00] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 29 Draft Recovery Plan Revisions for 42 Species Across the United States 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 for public review and comment the availability of 29 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery criteria for 42 endangered or threatened species located in 11 States (Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina) and 4 unincorporated territories (Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. 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 of 1973, as amended (Act), are no longer necessary and the species may be removed from the Act's protections. We request review of these draft recovery plan revisions and comments from local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. DATES: In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan revisions must be received on or before July 29, 2019. ADDRESSES: Reviewing documents: If you wish to review these draft recovery plan revisions, 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 revisions 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: [[Page 30761]] Background In this notice, we announce for public review and comment the availability of 29 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery criteria for 42 endangered or threatened species located in 11 States (Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina) and 4 unincorporated territories (Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands). This group of 29 draft recovery plan revisions is the second batch 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 revisions 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. Twenty-eight of the 29 proposed recovery plan revisions noticed in this announcement are modified with amendments that replace only a portion of those plans, while one recovery plan (Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle) is fully revised and completely replaces the existing plan. 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'' 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) of the Act would result in a determination that the species is no longer an endangered species or a 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 revisions will be made publicly available on the internet through our Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS, https://ecos.fws.gov). [[Page 30762]] 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. Proposed Recovery Plan Revisions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uniform resource Listing Recovery plan locator to Contact person, Contact person's Common name Scientific name status \1\ Current range name proposed recovery phone, email U.S. mail plan revision address -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Region (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laysan finch.................. Telespyza E HI.............. Northwestern https:// Gregory A. Koob, Pacific Islands cantans. Hawaiian ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 808-792-9449, Fish and Islands recovery_plan/ gregory_koob@fw Wildlife Passerines NWHI_Passerine_Dr s.gov. Office, 300 Ala Recovery Plan aft_Recovery_Plan Moana \2\. _Amendment_201811 Boulevard, Room 09.pdf. 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850. Nihoa finch................... Telespyza ultima E HI.............. Nihoa millerbird.............. Acrocephalus E HI.............. familiaris kingi. Guam rail..................... Rallus owstoni.. E Guam............ Native Forest https:// Birds of Guam ecos.fws.gov/docs/ and Rota of the recovery_plan/ Commonwealth of Guam_Rail_Draft_R the Northern ecovery_Plan_Amen Mariana Islands dment_20181109.pd Recovery Plan f. \2\. Mariana gray swiftlet......... Aerodramus E Guam, Northern Mariana Islands https:// vanikorensis Mariana Islands. Population of ecos.fws.gov/docs/ bartschi. the Vanikoro recovery_plan/ Swiftlet Mariana_Swiftlet_ (Aerodramus Draft_Recovery_Pl vanikorensis an_Amendment_2018 bartschi) \2\. 1109.pdf. Rota bridled white-eye........ Zosterops E Guam, Northern Recovery Plan https:// rotensis. Mariana Islands. for the Nosa ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Luta or Rota recovery_plan/ Bridled White- Rota_Bridled_Whit Eye (Zosterops e_Eye_Draft_Recov rotensis) \2\. ery_Plan_Amendmen t_20181109.pdf. Mariana common moorhen........ Gallinula E Northern Mariana Recovery Plan https:// chloropus guami. Islands. for the Mariana ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Common Moorhen recovery_plan/ (Gallinula Mariana_Common_Mo chloropus orhen_Draft_Recov guami) \ 2\. ery_Plan_Amendmen t_20181109.pdf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southeast Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interrupted rocksnail......... Leptoxis E AL, GA.......... Recovery Plan https:// Tom McCoy, 843- South Carolina foremani. for Georgia ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 727-4707, Ecological Pigtoe Mussel recovery_plan/ thomas_mccoy@fw Services Field (Pleurobema Interrupted%20Roc s.gov. Office, 176 hanleyianum) ksnail%20Recovery Croghan Spur Interrupted %20Plan%20Amendme Road, Suite rocksnail nt.pdf. 200, (Leptoxis Charleston, SC foremani), and 29407. Rough hornsnail (Pleurocera foremani) \2\. American chaffseed............ Schwalbea E AL, FL, GA, LA, American https:// William J. Alabama americana. MA, NJ, NC, SC. Chaffseed ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Pearson, 251- Ecological (Schwalbea recovery_plan/ 441-5870, Services Field americana) Recovery%20Plan%2 bill_pearson@fw Office, 1208-B Recovery Plan 0Schwalbea%20amer s.gov. Main Street, \2\. icana_Amendment.p Daphne, AL df. 36526. Palo de Ramon................. Banara E Puerto Rico..... Banara https:// Edwin E. Caribbean vanderbiltii. vanderbiltii ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Mu[ntilde]iz, Ecological Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ 787-851-7297, Services Field \2\. Final%20Draft%20R edwin_muniz@fws Office, P.O. ecovery%20Plan%20 .gov. Box 1600, Rio Amendment%20_Bvan Grande, PR derbiltii.pdf. 00745. Vahl's boxwood................ Buxus vahlii.... E Puerto Rico..... Vahl's Boxwood https:// (Buxus vahlii) ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ \2\. draftRecovery%20P lan%20Amendment%2 0Buxus%20vahlii.p df. No common name................ Cordia bellonis. E Puerto Rico..... Recovery Plan https:// for Cordia ecos.fws.gov/docs/ bellonis \2\. recovery_plan/ draft_Recovery%20 Plan%20Amendment% 20Cordia%20Bellon is.pdf. Elfin tree fern............... Cyathea E Puerto Rico..... Ilex cookii and https:// dryopteroides. Cyathea ecos.fws.gov/docs/ dryopteroides recovery_plan/ Recovery Plan Final%20Draft_Ame \2\. ndment_Cyathea_Il ex%20cooki.pdf. Cook's holly.................. Ilex cookii..... E ................ ................ .................. No common name................ Eugenia E Puerto Rico..... Recovery Plan https:// woodburyana. for Mitracarpus ecos.fws.gov/docs/ maxwelliae, recovery_plan/ Mitracarpus Mitracarpus%20and polycladus, and %20Eugenia%20wood Eugenia buryana_Final%20d woodburyana \2\. raft%20Amendment. pdf. No common name................ Mitracarpus E maxwelliae. No common name................ Mitracarpus E polycladus. Beautiful goetzea............. Goetzea elegans. E Puerto Rico..... Beautiful https:// Goetzea ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ \2\. Beautiful%20goetz ea_FINAL%20draft% 20recovery%20plan %20amendment.pdf. [[Page 30763]] Higo chumbo................... Harrisia T Puerto Rico..... Recovery Plan https:// portoricensis. for Higo Chumbo ecos.fws.gov/docs/ (Harrisia recovery_plan/ portoricensis) Harrisia_final%20 \ 2\. Draft%20Amendment .pdf. No common name................ Leptocereus E Puerto Rico..... Leptocereus https:// grantianus. grantianus ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ \2\. Leptocereus%20Fin al%20draft%20Amen dment.pdf. Erubia........................ Solanum E Puerto Rico..... Solanum https:// drymophilum. drymophilum ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ \2\. Erubia_Final%20dr aft%20Recovery%20 Plan%20Amendment. pdf. Bariaco....................... Trichilia E Puerto Rico..... Bariaco https:// triacantha. (Trichilia ecos.fws.gov/docs/ triacantha) recovery_plan/ Recovery Plan Trichilia%20triac \2\. antha_Final%20Dra ft%20Amendment.pd f. St. Croix ground lizard....... Ameiva polops... E U.S. Virgin Recovery Plan https:// Islands. for the St. ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Croix Ground recovery_plan/ Lizard, Ameiva St%20Croix%20grou polops \2\. nd%20lizard_final %20Draft%20Amendm ent.pdf. Thomas' lidflower............. Calyptranthes E U.S. Virgin Recovery Plan https:// thomasiana. Islands. for the ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Calyptranthes recovery_plan/ thomasiana \2\. draft%20Recovery% 20Plan%20Amendmen t%20C_thomasiana. pdf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Southwest Region (California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin area of Oregon) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Mateo thornmint........... Acanthomintha E CA.............. Recovery Plan https:// Josh Hull, 916- Sacramento Fish obovata ssp. for Serpentine ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 414-6600 and Wildlife duttonii. Soil Species of recovery_plan/ fw8sfwocomments Office, 2800 the San dAPG%20amendment% @fws.gov. Cottage Way, Francisco Bay 20Seven%20Bay%20A Sacramento, CA Area \2\. rea%20Serpentine% 95825. 20Soil%20Plant%20 Species.pdf. Tiburon mariposa lily......... Calochortus T CA.............. tiburonensis. Fountain thistle.............. Cirsium E CA.............. fontinale var. fontinale. Presidio clarkia.............. Clarkia E CA.............. franciscana. Pennell's bird's-beak......... Cordylanthus E CA.............. tenuis ssp. capillaris. San Mateo woolly sunflower.... Eriophyllum E CA.............. latilobum. Tiburon jewelflower........... Streptanthus E CA.............. niger. Large-flowered fiddleneck..... Amsinckia E CA.............. Large-Flowered https:// grandiflora. Fiddleneck ecos.fws.gov/docs/ (Amsinckia recovery_plan/ grandiflora) dAPG%20amendment% Recovery Plan 20Large- \2\. flowered%20fiddle neck.pdf. Presidio manzanita............ Arctostaphylos E CA.............. Recovery Plan https:// hookeri var. for Coastal ecos.fws.gov/docs/ ravenii. Plants of the recovery_plan/ Northern San dAPG%20amendment% Francisco 20Ravens%20Manzan Peninsula \2\. ita.pdf. San Bruno elfin butterfly..... Callophrys E CA.............. Recovery Plan https:// mossii bayensis. for the San ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Bruno Elfin and recovery_plan/ Mission Blue dAPG%20amendment% Butterflies \2\. 20Mission%20blue% 20and%20San%20Bru no%20elfin%20butt erflies.pdf. Mission blue butterfly........ Icaricia E CA.............. icarioides missionensis. Sonoma spineflower............ Chorizanthe E CA.............. Recovery Plan https:// valida. for Seven ecos.fws.gov/docs/ Coastal Plants recovery_plan/ and the DAPG%20Amendment% Myrtle's 20Sonoma%20spinef Silverspot lower.pdf. Butterfly \2\. Valley elderberry longhorn Desmocerus T CA.............. Draft Revised https:// beetle. californicus Recovery Plan ecos.fws.gov/docs/ dimorphus. for Valley recovery_plan/ Elderberry Draft%20Revised%2 Longhorn Beetle 0RP%20for%20Valle \3\. y%20Elderberry%20 Longhorn%20Beetle .pdf. Pine Hill flannelbush......... Fremontodendron E CA.............. Recovery Plan https:// californicum for Gabbro Soil ecos.fws.gov/docs/ ssp. decumbens. Plants of the recovery_plan/ Central Sierra Draft%20APG%20ame Nevada ndment%20El%20Dor Foothills\2\. ado%20bedstraw%20 and%20Pine%20Hill %20flannelbush.pd f. El Dorado bedstraw............ Galium E CA.............. californicum ssp. sierrae. Light-footed clapper rail..... Rallus E CA.............. Light-footed https:// Bradd Bridges, Carlsbad Fish longirostris Clapper Rail ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 760-461-9440, and Wildlife levipes. Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ fw8cfwocomments Office, 2177 \2\. dAPG%20Amendment% @fws.gov. Salk Avenue, 20for%20LFRR.pdf. Suite 250, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Delhi sands flower-loving fly. Rhaphiomidas E CA.............. Recovery Plan https:// terminatus for the Delhi ecos.fws.gov/docs/ abdominalis. Sands Flower- recovery_plan/ Loving Fly \2\. dAPG%20Amendment% 20for%20DSFF.pdf. [[Page 30764]] Steamboat buckwheat........... Eriogonum E NV.............. Steamboat https:// Carolyn Swed, Reno Fish and ovalifolium Buckwheat ecos.fws.gov/docs/ 775-861-6300, Wildlife var. Recovery Plan recovery_plan/ fw8renofwo@fws. Office, 1340 williamsiae. \2\. dAPG%20Amendment% gov. Financial 20for%20EROVW.pdf. Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ E = endangered; T = threatened. \2\ Denotes a recovery plan amendment in the ``Recovery Plan Name'' column. \3\ Denotes a full recovery plan revision in the ``Recovery Plan Name'' column. 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: May 20, 2019. Margaret E. Everson, Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising the Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2019-13708 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P