[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52567-52568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14689]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Recovery Plan for the Endangered 
Spring Creek Bladderpod (Lesquerella perforata)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the final recovery plan for the endangered Spring Creek 
bladderpod (Lesquerella perforata). This species is an annual plant 
endemic to the Central Basin in Tennessee. It is currently known from 
only three watersheds (Spring Creek, Bartons Creek, and Cedar Creek) in 
Wilson County, Tennessee. The recovery plan includes specific recovery 
objectives and criteria to downlist this species to threatened status 
and delist it under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act).

ADDRESSES: Printed copies of this recovery plan are available by 
request from the Tennessee Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501 (telephone 931/
528-6481). An electronic copy of the recovery plan is available on the 
World Wide Web at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Merritt, Recovery Coordinator, 
at the above address and telephone number.

[[Page 52568]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals or plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of the Act and our endangered species 
program. The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Recovery plans help guide the recovery effort by 
describing actions considered necessary for the conservation of the 
species, establishing criteria for downlisting or delisting listed 
species, and estimating time and cost for implementing the necessary 
recovery measures.
    Section 4(f) of the Act requires that public notice, and an 
opportunity for public review and comment, be provided during recovery 
plan development. The technical agency draft recovery plan for the 
Spring Creek bladderpod was available for public comment from September 
12, 2005, through November 14, 2005 (70 FR 53808). We received no 
comments from interested parties. We received comments from the three 
Spring Creek bladderpod experts who served as official peer reviewers 
of the recovery plan. The comments and information submitted by peer 
reviewers were considered in the preparation of this final plan and, 
where appropriate, were incorporated into the plan.
    The Spring Creek bladderpod was listed as endangered on January 22, 
1997 (61 FR 67493). This annual plant, endemic to the Central Basin in 
Tennessee, is restricted to the floodplains of three creeks (Bartons, 
Spring, and Cedar) in Wilson County, Tennessee. It can be found in 
agricultural fields, pastures, glades, and disturbed areas. The Spring 
Creek bladderpod requires some degree of disturbance, such as scouring 
from natural flooding or plowing of the soil, to complete its life 
cycle.
    Factors contributing to its endangered status are an extremely 
limited range and loss of habitat. The main threat is the loss of 
habitat by conversion of land to uses other than cultivation of annual 
crops, primarily rapid commercial, residential, and industrial 
development occurring throughout Wilson County. Encroachment of more 
competitive herbaceous and woody plants also presents a threat.
    The objective of this recovery plan is to provide a framework for 
the recovery of this species so that protection under the Act is no 
longer necessary. The recovery plan includes specific recovery 
objectives and downlisting and delisting criteria. As recovery criteria 
are met, the status of the species will be reviewed and it will be 
considered for removal from the Federal List of Endangered and 
Threatened Plants (50 CFR 17.12). Actions needed to recover the Spring 
Creek bladderpod include: (1) Protect and manage existing occurrences 
and habitats; (2) develop and implement management strategies for the 
species; (3) develop communication with local officials to coordinate 
county planning; (4) utilize existing environmental laws to protect the 
plant and its floodplain habitat; (5) conduct monitoring at all sites; 
(6) conduct seed ecology studies; (7) search for new populations; (8) 
establish new occurrences within the historic range; (9) maintain seed 
source ex situ; (10) develop and implement public education plans; (11) 
annually assess the success of recovery efforts for the species.
    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: July 12, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
 Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6-14689 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P