[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27166-27167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10517]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2016-N005; 60120-1113-0000-C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for Winkler Cactus and San Rafael Cactus

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft recovery plan for Winkler cactus (Pediocactus 
winkleri) and San Rafael cactus (Pediocactus despainii). Winkler cactus 
is federally listed as threatened, and San Rafael cactus is federally 
listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA). We are soliciting review and comment from the public on 
this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before July 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available by request 
from the Utah Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 2369 West Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 84119; 
telephone 801-975-3330. Submit comments on the draft recovery plan to 
the Field Supervisor at this same address. Comments may also be 
submitted at: [email protected].
    An electronic copy of the draft recovery plan is available at: 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Crist, Field Supervisor, Utah 
Ecological Services Field Office, at the above address, or telephone 
801-975-3330.

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 recovery efforts, we prepare recovery plans to promote the 
conservation of the species. Recovery plans describe site-specific 
actions necessary for the conservation of the species; establish 
objective, measurable criteria that, 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.
    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. On September 27, 1995, we published a 
document in the Federal Register (60 FR 49855) that made available a 
draft recovery plan for Winkler cactus and San Rafael cactus. That 
recovery plan was never finalized and is now out of date. At this time, 
we are making available a more comprehensive draft recovery plan for 
public review and comment. We will consider all information we receive 
during a public comment period when preparing the recovery plan for 
approval. The Service and other Federal agencies also will take these 
comments into consideration in the course of implementing an approved 
recovery plan.
    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.

Species Information

Winkler Cactus

    Winkler cactus is a small, peach- to pink-flowered cactus that 
often retracts entirely into the ground during the winter and dry 
seasons. It is endemic to Wayne County and southeast Sevier County of 
south-central Utah and is generally found at elevations of 1,500-2,130 
meters (m) (4,900-7,000 feet (ft)).
    Winkler cactus was listed as a threatened species under the ESA, 
effective September 21, 1998 (63 FR 44587; August 20, 1998). Factors of 
concern affecting the species include illegal collection, habitat 
disturbances (mining, recreation, off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, 
livestock grazing, road and utility corridor development, general 
construction, and livestock grazing), invasive plant species, small 
mammal and insect predation, native ungulate disturbance, inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms, and climate change.

San Rafael Cactus

    San Rafael cactus is a small, yellow- to peach-flowered cactus that 
often retracts entirely into the ground during the winter and dry 
seasons. It is endemic to Emery County of central Utah and most 
commonly occurs on sites with a south exposure at elevations of 1,450-
2,080 m (4,760-6,820 ft).
    San Rafael cactus was listed as an endangered species under the 
ESA, effective October 16, 1987 (52 FR 34914; September 16, 1987). 
Factors of concern affecting the species include illegal collection, 
habitat disturbances (mining, recreation, off-highway vehicle (OHV) 
use, livestock grazing, road and utility corridor development, general 
construction, and livestock grazing), invasive plant species, small 
mammal and insect predation, native ungulate disturbance, inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms, wild horse disturbance, paleontological 
exploration, and climate change.

Recovery Strategies

    Our recovery strategies for Winkler cactus and San Rafael cactus 
are based on the assumption that if specific criteria are met for the 
existing populations, the species can be recovered. Broadly, these 
criteria require that the population trends for both species be stable 
or improving over the long term, the available habitat base for each 
population be adequate for long-term health and sustainability, the 
populations and habitats are secure from decline, and long-term 
management plans for the populations and their habitats are in place 
that address those threats.

Request for Public Comments

    The Service solicits public comments on the draft recovery plan. 
All comments we receive 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). Comments may also be submitted at: 
[email protected]. Comments and materials received will be 
available,

[[Page 27167]]

by appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at 
the Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

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

    Dated: February 29, 2016.
Matt Hogan,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2016-10517 Filed 5-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P