[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7693-7694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02779]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2013-N137; FXES11130600000-145-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Revised 
Recovery Plan for Wyoming Toad

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 Wyoming toad 
(Bufo hemiophrys baxteri now known as Anaxyrus baxteri). This species 
is federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act). 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 April 11, 2014.

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 Project 
Leader 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: Project Leader, at the above address, 
or telephone 307-772-2374 x231.

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 Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and provide estimates of the time and 
cost for implementing the needed recovery measures.
    The Act requires recovery plans for listed species unless such a 
plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. The 
original plan for the species was approved in 1993. Section 4(f) of the 
Act, 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 Wyoming toad (Bufo hemiophrys baxteri now known as Anaxyrus 
baxteri), a glacial relict species found only in Albany County, 
Wyoming, was listed as an endangered species on January 17, 1984 (49 FR 
1992). The Wyoming toad is considered one of the four most endangered 
amphibian species in North America and is classified as ``extinct in 
the wild'' (IUCN 2013). Approximately 500 individuals are in captivity.
    Recovery of this species will require both sustained, long-term 
conservation actions and repeated experimentation to determine the 
optimal means to reestablish wild populations. The known historic 
distribution of the Wyoming toad was restricted to approximately 5,000 
hectares (50 sq. km) of habitat, consisting of flood plains, ponds, and 
small seepage lakes in the short-grass communities of the Laramie Basin 
in Albany County, Wyoming. Limiting factors include: (1) Land-use 
alterations that affect connectivity and the natural form, function, 
and hydrologic processes of the Laramie River; (2) limited 
distribution; (3) habitat manipulation; (4) disease; and (5) small 
population size. The recovery strategy for the Wyoming toad focuses on 
acquisition of suitable habitat within or nearby the toad's historic 
range to allow reintroduction into appropriate habitats. Recovery 
actions are designed to protect the species' habitat and increase the 
knowledge of the species' genetics, life history, and population 
dynamics; the relationship of the Wyoming toad to its environment; and 
its responses to identified threats.

[[Page 7694]]

Request for Public Comments

    The Service solicits public comments on the draft revised 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. All public comment information 
provided voluntarily by mail or by phone becomes part of the official 
public record. If requested under the Freedom of Information Act by a 
private citizen or organization, the Service may provide copies of such 
information.

Authority

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

    Dated: January 16, 2014.
Matt Hogan,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2014-02779 Filed 2-7-14; 8:45 am]
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