[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6697-6698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2921]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2009-N273; 20124-1113-0000-C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Yuma Clapper 
Rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis) Recovery Plan, First Revision

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for public review: draft 
revised recovery plan.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the Draft Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris 
yumanensis) Recovery Plan, First Revision under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The species currently inhabits the 
mainstem Colorado River in Arizona, California, and Nevada; the Virgin 
River in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah; the Gila River in Arizona; and the 
Salton Sea in California. The Service solicits review and comment from 
the public on this draft revised recovery plan. The Service will also 
accept any new information on the status of the Yuma clapper rail 
throughout its range to assist in finalizing the revised recovery plan.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive any comments no later 
than April 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft revised recovery plan 
can obtain a paper or electronic copy from the Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 W. Royal 
Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; by phone at (602) 242-
0210 extension 236; by e-mail at [email protected]; or on our Web 
site at www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/. Written comments and 
materials on the draft revised recovery plan may be mailed to ``Field 
Supervisor'' at the address above or e-mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lesley Fitzpatrick (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), 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

[[Page 6698]]

species, and estimating time and costs for implementing the measures 
needed for recovery. A recovery plan was originally completed for Yuma 
clapper rail in 1983, but the recommendations contained in that plan 
are outdated given the species' current status.
    Section 4(f) of the Act requires that we provide public notice and 
an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan 
development. The Service will consider all information presented during 
a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised 
recovery plan. The Service and other Federal agencies will also take 
these comments into account in the course of implementing recovery 
actions. In fulfillment of this requirement, we are making this draft 
first revision of the recovery plan for Yuma clapper rail available for 
a 60-day public comment period.
    The document submitted for review is the first revision of the 
recovery plan for the Yuma clapper rail. It was listed as an endangered 
species in the United States on March 11, 1967 (32 FR 4001). It was not 
included on the list of foreign species established under the 
Endangered Species Conservation Act, so is not listed throughout its 
historical range in Mexico. Critical habitat has not been designated. 
The primary threats to the Yuma clapper rail are habitat loss and 
degradation due to changes in historical hydrographs, channelization, 
and diversion of river flows for agricultural and municipal purposes.
    The draft revised recovery plan includes scientific information 
about the species and provides criteria and actions needed to downlist 
or delist the species. Downlisting of the species may be considered 
when annual surveys document a stable or increasing population trend 
over five consecutive years, habitat management plans are in place for 
all important Federal and state-owned habitat areas, and long-term 
contracts for water supplies at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife 
Refuge and Imperial State Wildlife Area in California are in place. 
Delisting of the species may be considered when annual surveys document 
an additional five consecutive years of a stable or increasing 
population trend; the amount of habitat needed to support the desired 
minimum population size in the United States is established and 
protected, and management plans are in place for that habitat; an 
assessment of the risks of selenium to the species is completed and 
protective measures implemented if needed; and a secure water supply 
for the Cienega de Santa Clara in Mexico is established. Recovery 
actions designed to achieve these criteria are included in the draft 
revised recovery plan and include population and habitat monitoring and 
evaluation, directed research on habitat and threats, efforts to obtain 
secure water supplies for important habitats, and cooperation between 
interested parties in the United States and Mexico.
    The draft Yuma Clapper Rail Recovery Plan, First Revision, is being 
submitted for review to all interested parties. After consideration of 
comments received during the public comment period, the revised 
recovery plan will be submitted for final approval.

Request for Public Comments

    We are accepting written comments and information during this 
comment period on the revised draft recovery plan. All comments 
received by the date specified above will be considered prior to 
approval of the final recovery plan. Comments and materials we receive 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the Arizona Ecological Services Field Office in 
Phoenix (see ADDRESSES).
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 publically 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: November 20, 2009.
Brian Millsap,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2010-2921 Filed 2-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P