[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76065-76066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31011]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2012-N257; 60120-1113-0000; C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Revised 
Recovery Plan for Kendall Warm Springs Dace

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of a draft revised recovery plan for the Kendall Warm 
Springs dace (Rhinichthys osculus thermalis). This species is federally 
listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA). The Service solicits review and comment from the public 
on this draft revised plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be received on 
or before February 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available by 
request from the Wyoming Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
5353 Yellowstone Road, Suite 308A, Cheyenne, WY 82009; telephone 307-
772-2374. Submit comments on the draft recovery plan to the Field 
Supervisor at this same address. An electronic copy of the draft 
recovery plan is available at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, at the above 
address, or telephone 307-772-2374.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares recovery plans for the 
federally listed species native to the United States where a plan will 
promote the conservation of the species. Recovery plans describe site-
specific actions necessary for the conservation of the species; 
establish objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result 
in a determination that the species no longer needs the protection of 
the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and provide estimates of the time and 
cost for implementing the needed recovery measures.

[[Page 76066]]

    The ESA requires recovery plans for listed species unless such a 
plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. 
Section 4(f) of the ESA, as amended in 1988, requires that public 
notice and opportunity for public review and comment be provided during 
recovery plan development. The Service will consider all information 
received during a public comment period when preparing each new or 
revised recovery plan for approval. The Service and other Federal 
agencies also will take these comments into consideration in the course 
of implementing approved recovery plans. It is our policy to request 
peer review of recovery plans. We will summarize and respond to the 
issues raised by the public and peer reviewers in an appendix to the 
approved recovery plan.
    The Kendall Warm Springs dace (Rhinichthys osculus thermalis), 
found only in one location in western Wyoming, was first listed as 
endangered in 1970 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 
1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 U.S.C. 668aa(c)). It was later grandfathered 
into the ESA of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). At the time 
of listing, the species was threatened by habitat destruction and 
modification, overexploitation, and limited distribution. Since the 
time of its listing, many recovery actions have been implemented, 
including taxonomic research, protection of habitat, cessation of the 
species' use as baitfish, and prohibitions against certain forms of 
mineral development. However, Kendall Warm Springs dace population 
estimates appear to be trending downward over the last decade. In 
addition, this fish remains vulnerable to some high-level threats. 
These include vulnerability to habitat changes from oil and gas 
development and potential competition and/or disease from the 
introduction of exotic species.
    The recovery of the Kendall Warm Springs dace will depend on 
effective conservation responses to the varied and complex issues 
facing the species. These issues include limited distribution, exotic 
species, grazing, hydrologic changes, invasive plants, pollution, and 
energy resource exploration and development. Strategically, these 
issues can be reduced to two overriding concerns: potentially 
devastating effects from natural resource extraction and exotic species 
introductions. The recovery strategy for the Kendall Warm Springs dace 
focuses on the need to address vulnerability due to limited 
distribution; refugia populations; regulatory mechanisms; protecting 
habitat quality through a program that encompasses threats abatement; 
and population management, research, and monitoring. We emphasize the 
(1) incorporation of protective measures into land use plans; (2) 
protection of the spring's recharge zone; (3) establishment of two 
captive refugia populations; and (4) monitoring and managing population 
levels, genetics, and habitat conditions.

Request for Public Comments

    The Service solicits public comments on the draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified in DATES will be considered 
prior to approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding 
the plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES 
section). Comments and materials received will be available, by 
appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at the 
above address.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: December 4, 2012.
Noreen E. Walsh,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2012-31011 Filed 12-21-12; 4:15 pm]
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