[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 172 (Friday, September 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53019-53020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21154]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC598


Endangered and Threatened Species; Draft Recovery Plan for 
Staghorn and Elkhorn Corals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
availability for public review of the draft Recovery Plan (Plan) for 
elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral (Acropora 
cervicornis). The Plan is available on the NMFS Web site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm and the Southeast Regional 
Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/coral/elkhorn_coral/document/Key_Docs/DraftAcroporaRecoveryPlan.pdf. NMFS is soliciting 
review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the 
draft Plan, and NMFS will consider all relevant, substantive comments 
received during the review period before finalizing the Plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft Plan must be received by close of business 
on October 20, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2014-0110, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2014-0110 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and 
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
     Mail: Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701. Attn: Draft Acropora Recovery Plan.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the 
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alison Moulding (727-824-5312), email 
[email protected] or Therese Conant (301-427-8456), email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Recovery plans describe actions beneficial for the conservation and 
recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(ESA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA 
requires that recovery plans incorporate, to the maximum extent 
practicable: (1) Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would 
result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or 
endangered; (2) site-specific management actions necessary to achieve 
the Plan's goals; and (3) estimates of the time required and costs to 
implement recovery actions. The ESA requires the development of 
recovery plans for each listed species unless such a plan would not 
promote its conservation.
    The purpose of this draft Plan is to rebuild and assure the long-
term viability of elkhorn and staghorn coral populations in the wild, 
allowing ultimately for the species' removal from the federal list of 
endangered and threatened species. The goal of this Plan is to increase 
the abundance and to protect the genetic diversity of elkhorn and 
staghorn coral populations throughout their geographical ranges while 
sufficiently abating threats to warrant delisting of both species. 
Elkhorn and staghorn coral populations should be large enough to 
include numerous groups of successfully reproducing individuals, 
including thickets, across the historical range of these species. These 
groups should be large enough to protect genetic diversity and maintain 
ecosystem function. The proposed recovery approach includes research 
and monitoring to identify, reduce, or eliminate threats so the 
recovery objectives outlined in this Plan have the greatest likelihood 
of being achieved. Because some threats to elkhorn and staghorn corals 
cannot be directly managed (e.g., disease), the Plan pursues concurrent 
actions to address both global and local threats. Population 
enhancement is also an integral part of elkhorn and staghorn recovery 
through restoration, restocking, and active management. Ecosystem-level 
actions are identified to improve habitat quality and restore community 
structure and ecological functions, such as herbivory, to sustain adult 
colonies and enable successful recruitment in the wild over the long 
term. The goal, objectives, and criteria of the Plan represent NMFS' 
expectation of conditions to recover elkhorn and staghorn corals so 
they no longer need the protective measures provided by the ESA; 
conservation of elkhorn and staghorn species is described in the Plan 
regardless of their listing as an endangered or threatened species.
    The recovery criteria in the draft Plan are based on the current 
literature and expert consensus. In some cases, the current best 
available information is so limited that it is not practicable to 
identify recovery criteria. Instead, interim criteria are identified to 
gather and obtain the information necessary to establish final recovery 
criteria. Recovery criteria can be viewed as targets, or values, by 
which progress toward achievement of recovery objectives can be 
measured. In the Plan we frame recovery criteria both in terms of 
population parameters (Population-based Recovery Criteria) and the five

[[Page 53020]]

ESA listing factors (Threat-based Recovery Criteria). The draft 
recovery plan also includes the projected timeframe to recover the 
elkhorn and staghorn corals and the cost of implementing actions.
    We believe the draft Plan meets the requirements of the ESA. We 
solicit written comments on the proposed Recovery Plan and will 
consider all relevant, substantive comments and information presented 
during the public comment period in the course of finalizing this Plan. 
We specifically request any comments or information regarding: (1) The 
recovery criterion and actions addressing the threats of ocean warming 
and acidification associated with global climate change resulting from 
atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations; and (2) the identification 
and development of interim criteria.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: August 29, 2014.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21154 Filed 9-4-14; 8:45 am]
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