[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38291-38294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16750]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-ES-2019-N048; FXES11130100000C4-190-FF02ENEH00]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 21 Draft Recovery 
Plan Revisions for 43 Southeastern Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; opening of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability for public review and comment of 21 draft recovery plan 
revisions, which update recovery criteria for 43 endangered or 
threatened species located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, 
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and 
Tennessee, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British 
Virgin Islands. We are updating recovery criteria to better assist in 
determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that 
it may be reclassified as threatened, or that the protections afforded 
by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are no longer necessary and the 
species may be removed from the ESA's protections. We request review of 
these draft recovery plan revisions and invite comments from local, 
State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and 
the public.

DATES: We must receive comments on the draft recovery plan revisions on 
or before September 5, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Reviewing documents: If you wish to review the draft 
recovery plan revisions, you may obtain copies from the website 
addresses in the table in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. You may also 
request copies of the draft recovery plan revisions by contacting the 
individuals listed in the table.
    Submitting comments: If you wish to comment, see the table in 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION and submit your comments by one of the 
following methods:
    1. U.S. Mail or hand-delivery: You may submit written comments and 
materials to the appropriate field office mailing address for the 
species in which you are interested;
    2. Email: You may send comments by email to the identified contact 
person's email address in the table, for each species. Please include 
``Draft Recovery Plan Revision Comments'' in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on a particular 
species, contact the appropriate person listed in the table for that 
species in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Individuals who are hearing 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In this notice, we announce for public review and comment the 
availability of 21 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery 
criteria for 43 endangered or threatened species located in Alabama, 
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. This group of 21 draft 
recovery plan revisions is part of a larger effort underway to revise 
up to 182 recovery plans covering up to 305 species in order to achieve 
the following Department of the Interior Agency Priority Performance 
Goal outlined in the Department's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-
2022: ``By September 30, 2019, 100 percent of all Fish and Wildlife 
Service recovery plans will have quantitative criteria for what 
constitutes a recovered species.''
    The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a feasible and 
effective roadmap for a species' recovery, with the goal of improving 
its status and managing its threats to the point at which protections 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) are no 
longer needed. Recovery plans must be designed so that all stakeholders 
and the public understand the rationale behind the recovery program, 
whether they were involved in writing the plan or not, and recognize 
their role in its implementation. We are requesting submission of any 
information that enhances the necessary understanding of the (1) 
species' biology and threats and (2) recovery needs and related 
implementation issues or concerns, to ensure that we have assembled, 
considered, and incorporated the best available scientific and 
commercial information into the draft recovery plan revisions for these 
43 species.

[[Page 38292]]

    Recovery plans provide important guidance to the Service, States, 
other partners, and the general public on methods of minimizing threats 
to listed species and objectives against which to measure the progress 
towards recovery; they are guidance and not regulatory documents. A 
recovery plan identifies, organizes, and prioritizes recovery actions 
and is an important guide that ensures sound scientific decision-making 
throughout the recovery process, which can take decades. Keeping 
recovery plans current ensures that threatened species and endangered 
species benefit through timely partner-coordinated implementation, 
based on the best available information.
    A review of a recovery plan and its implementation may show that 
the plan is out of date or its usefulness is limited and that the plan 
warrants modification. The need for, and extent of, recovery plan 
modifications will vary considerably among recovery plans, depending on 
the scope and complexity of the initial plan, the structure of the 
document, and the involvement of stakeholders. Recovery plan 
modifications can range from relatively minor updates to a substantial 
rewrite that revises the existing plan in part (i.e., an amendment to 
one of the sections that modifies the existing plan), or in full (i.e., 
a full revision that completely replaces the existing plan). The need 
for a recovery plan revision may be triggered when, among other 
possibilities, (1) new information has been identified, such as 
population-level threats to the species or previously unknown life-
history traits, which necessitates new or revised recovery strategy, 
actions, or criteria, or revision of all three in order to maintain the 
adequacy of the plan; and (2) the current plan is not achieving its 
objectives. Revisions benefit endangered and threatened species, our 
partners, and the public by incorporating the best available 
information on what is needed for species' recovery.
    Revision of recovery plans requires public notice and comment under 
section 4(f)(4) of the ESA, including (1) a Federal Register notice of 
availability to give opportunity for public review and comment, (2) 
consideration of all information presented during the public comment 
period, and (3) approval by the Regional Director. When finalized, 
these recovery plan revisions will be made publicly available on the 
internet through our Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS, 
https://ecos.fws.gov).

What plans are being made available for public review and comment?

    This notice announces our draft recovery plan revisions for the 
species listed in the table below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Internet
                                                    Listing                       Recovery plan     availability of    Contact person,  Contact person's
          Common name            Scientific name  status \1\    Current range         name         proposed recovery    phone, email        U.S. mail
                                                                                                     plan revision                           address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morefield's leather flower....  Clematis                  E   AL, TN..........  Morefield's       https://            Stephen Ricks,    Mississippi
                                 morefieldii.                                    Leather Flower    ecos.fws.gov/docs/  601-321-1122,     Ecological
                                                                                 Clematis          recovery_plan/      stephen_ricks@f   Services Field
                                                                                 morefieldii       Morefields%20Leat   ws.gov.           Office, 6578
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     her%20Flower%20Re                     Dogwood View
                                                                                 \2\.              covery%20Plan%20A                     Pkwy, Suite A,
                                                                                                   mendment.pdf.                         Jackson, MS
                                                                                                                                         39213.
Southern combshell............  Epioblasma                E   AL, MS..........  Five Tombigbee    https://
                                 penita.                                         River Mussels     ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     recovery_plan/
                                                                                 \2\.              Southern%20Combsh
                                                                                                   ell%20and%20Black
                                                                                                   %20Clubshell%20Re
                                                                                                   covery%20Plan%20A
                                                                                                   mendment.pdf.
Black clubshell...............  Pleurobema                E   AL, MS..........
                                 curtum.
Fat pocketbook................  Potamilus capax.          E   AR, IL, IN, KY,   A Recovery Plan   https://
                                                               LA, MO, MS, TN.   for the Fat       ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Pocketbook        recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Pearly Mussel     Fat%20Pocketbook%
                                                                                 Potamilus capax   20Mussel%20Recove
                                                                                 \2\.              ry%20Plan%20Amend
                                                                                                   ment.pdf.
Alabama redbellied turtle.....  Pseudemys                 E   AL, MS..........  Draft Revised     https://
                                 alabamensis.                                    Recovery Plan     ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 for the Alabama   recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Red-Bellied       Alabama%20Red%20B
                                                                                 Turtle            ellied%20Turtle%2
                                                                                 (Pseudemys        0Draft%20Revised%
                                                                                 alabamensis)      20Recovery%20Plan
                                                                                 \3\.              .pdf.
Dusky gopher frog.............  Rana sevosa.....          E   AL, MS..........  Dusky Gopher      https://
                                                                                 Frog (Rana        ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 sevosa)           recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     Dusky%20Gopher%20
                                                                                 \2\.              Frog%20Recovery%2
                                                                                                   0Plan%20Amendment
                                                                                                   .pdf.
Alabama canebrake pitcher-      Sarracenia rubra          E   AL..............  Alabama           https://
 plant.                          ssp.                                            Canebrake         ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                 alabamensis.                                    Pitcher Plant     recovery_plan/
                                                                                 (Sarracenia       Alabama%20Canebra
                                                                                 rubra ssp.        ke%20Pitcher%20Pl
                                                                                 alabamensis)      ant%20Recovery%20
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     Plan%20Amendment_
                                                                                 \2\.              1.pdf.
Alabama cavefish..............  Speoplatyrhinus           E   AL..............  Alabama Cavefish  https://
                                 poulsoni.                                       Speoplatyrhinus   ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 poulsoni          recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     Alabama%20Cavefis
                                                                                 (Second           h%20Recovery%20Pl
                                                                                 Revision) \2\.    an%20Amendment.pd
                                                                                                   f.
Alabama beach mouse...........  Peromyscus                E   AL..............  Recovery Plan     https://            William J.        Alabama
                                 polionotus                                      for the Alabama   ecos.fws.gov/docs/  Pearson, 251-     Ecological
                                 ammobates.                                      Beach Mouse       recovery_plan/      441-5870,         Services Field
                                                                                 (Peromyscus       Alabama%20Beach%2   bill_pearson@fw   Office, U.S.
                                                                                 polionotus        0Mouse%20Recovery   s.gov.            Fish and
                                                                                 ammobates),       %20Plan%20Amendme                     Wildlife
                                                                                 Perdido Key       nt.pdf.                               Service, 1208-B
                                                                                 Beach Mouse (P.                                         Main Street,
                                                                                 p.                                                      Daphne, AL
                                                                                 trissyllepsis),                                         36526.
                                                                                 and
                                                                                 Choctawhatchee
                                                                                 Beach Mouse (P.
                                                                                 p. allophrys)
                                                                                 \2\.
Choctawhatchee beach mouse....  Peromyscus                E   FL..............  ................  https://            Catherine T.      Panama City
                                 polionotus                                                        ecos.fws.gov/docs/  Phillips,         Field Office,
                                 allophrys.                                                        recovery_plan/      Ph.D., 850-769-   1601 Balboa
                                                                                                   Choctawhatchee%20   0552,             Avenue, Panama
                                                                                                   Beach%20Mouse%20%   catherine_phill   City, FL 32405.
                                                                                                   20Recovery%20Plan   [email protected].
                                                                                                   %20Amendment.pdf.
Perdido Key beach mouse.......  Peromyscus                E   AL, FL..........  ................  https://
                                 polionotus                                                        ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                 trissyllepsis.                                                    recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Perdido%20Key%20B
                                                                                                   each%20Mouse%20Re
                                                                                                   covery%20Plan%20A
                                                                                                   mendment.pdf.

[[Page 38293]]

 
Apalachicola rosemary.........  Conradina glabra          E   FL..............  Recovery Plan     https://
                                                                                 for               ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Apalachicola      recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Rosemary          Apalachicola%20Ro
                                                                                 (Conradina        semary%20Recovery
                                                                                 glabra) \2\.      %20Plan%20Amendme
                                                                                                   nt.pdf.
Ochlockonee moccasinshell.....  Medionidus                E   FL, GA..........  Recovery Plan     https://
                                 simpsonianus.                                   for Endangered    ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Fat Threeridge,   recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Shinyrayed        Ochlockonee%20Moc
                                                                                 Pocketbook,       casinshell%20Reco
                                                                                 Gulf              very%20Plan%20Ame
                                                                                 Moccasinshell,    ndment.pdf.
                                                                                 Ochlockonee
                                                                                 moccasinshell,
                                                                                 Oval Pigtoe and
                                                                                 Threatened
                                                                                 Chipola
                                                                                 Slabshell, and
                                                                                 Purple
                                                                                 bankclimber \2\.
Chapman rhododendron..........  Rhododendron              E   FL..............  Recovery Plan     https://
                                 chapmanii.                                      for Chapman's     ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Rhododendron,     recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Rododendron       Chapmans%20Rhodod
                                                                                 chapmanii \2\.    endron%20Recovery
                                                                                                   %20Plan%20Amendme
                                                                                                   nt.pdf.
Gentian pinkroot..............  Spigelia                  E   AL, FL..........  Recovery Plan     https://
                                 gentianoides.                                   for Spigelia      ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 gentianoides      recovery_plan/
                                                                                 (Gentian          Gentian%20Pinkroo
                                                                                 pinkroot) \2\.    t%20Recovery%20Pl
                                                                                                   an%20Amendment.pd
                                                                                                   f.
Florida scrub-jay.............  Aphelocoma                T   FL..............  Draft Revised     https://            Jay B.            Northeast
                                 coerulescens.                                   Recovery Plan     ecos.fws.gov/docs/  Herrington, 904-  Florida
                                                                                 for the Florida   recovery_plan/      731-3191,         Ecological
                                                                                 Scrub-Jay         Florida%20Scrub-    jay_herrington@   Services Field
                                                                                 (Aphelocoma       Jay%20Draft%20Rev   fws.gov.          Office, 7915
                                                                                 coerulescens)     ised%20Recovery%2                     Baymeadows Way,
                                                                                 \3\.              0Plan.pdf.                            Suite 200,
                                                                                                                                         Jacksonville,
                                                                                                                                         FL 32256.
Four-petal pawpaw.............  Asimina                   E   FL..............  South Florida     https://            Roxanna Hinzman,  South Florida
                                 tetramera.                                      Multi-Species     ecos.fws.gov/docs/  772-469-4309,     Ecological
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     recovery_plan/      SouthFL_recover   Services Field
                                                                                 \2\.              Four%20Petal%20Pa   yplancomments@f   Office, 1339
                                                                                                   wPaw%20Recovery%2   ws.gov.           20th Street,
                                                                                                   0Plan%20Amendment                     Vero Beach, FL
                                                                                                   .pdf.                                 32960.
Fragrant prickly-apple........  Cereus                    E   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 eriophorus var.                                                   ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                 fragrans.                                                         recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Fragrant%20Prickl
                                                                                                   y%20Apple%20Recov
                                                                                                   ery%20Plan%20Amen
                                                                                                   dment.pdf.
Florida perforate cladonia....  Cladonia                  E   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 perforata.                                                        ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                                   recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Florida%20Perfora
                                                                                                   te%20Cladonia%20R
                                                                                                   ecovery%20Plan%20
                                                                                                   Amendment.pdf.
Short-leaved rosemary.........  Conradina                 E   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 brevifolia.                                                       ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                                   recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Lake%20Wales%20Ri
                                                                                                   dge%20Plants%20Re
                                                                                                   covery%20Plan%20A
                                                                                                   mendment.pdf.
Avon Park harebells...........  Crotalaria                E   FL..............
                                 avonensis.
Garrett's mint................  Dicerandra                E   FL..............
                                 christmanii.
Scrub mint....................  Dicerandra                E   FL..............
                                 frutescens.
Snakeroot.....................  Eryngium                  E   FL..............
                                 cuneifolium.
Highlands scrub hypericum.....  Hypericum                 E   FL..............
                                 cumulicola.
Scrub blazingstar.............  Liatris                   E   FL..............
                                 ohlingerae.
Lewton's polygala.............  Polygala                  E   FL..............
                                 lewtonii.
Wireweed......................  Polygonella               E   FL..............
                                 basiramia.
Sandlace......................  Polygonella               E   FL..............
                                 myriophylla.
Carter's mustard..............  Warea carteri...          E   FL..............
Florida ziziphus..............  Ziziphus celata.          E   FL..............
American crocodile [FL DPS]...  Crocodylus                T   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 acutus.                                                           ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                                   recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   American%20Crocod
                                                                                                   ile%20Recovery%20
                                                                                                   Plan%20Amendment.
                                                                                                   pdf.
Okeechobee gourd..............  Cucurbita                 E   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 okeechobeensis                                                    ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                 ssp.                                                              recovery_plan/
                                 okeechobeensis.                                                   Okeechobee%20Gour
                                                                                                   d%20Recovery%20Pl
                                                                                                   an%20Amendment.pd
                                                                                                   f.
Snail kite....................  Rostrhamus                E   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 sociabilis                                                        ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                 plumbeus.                                                         recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Everglade%20Snail
                                                                                                   %20Kite%20Recover
                                                                                                   y%20Plan%20Amendm
                                                                                                   ent.pdf.
Key tree-cactus...............  Pilosocereus              E   FL..............  ................  https://
                                 robinii.                                                          ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                                   recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Key%20Tree%20Cact
                                                                                                   us%20Recovery%20P
                                                                                                   lan%20Amendment.p
                                                                                                   df.
Eastern indigo snake..........  Drymarchon                T   AL, FL, GA......  Draft Revised     https://            Donald W. Imm,    Georgia
                                 corais couperi.                                 Recovery Plan     ecos.fws.gov/docs/  Ph.D., cell:      Ecological
                                                                                 for the Eastern   recovery_plan/      850-532-2046,     Services Field
                                                                                 Indigo Snake      Eastern%20Indigo%   office: 706-208-  Office, 355
                                                                                 \3\.              20Snake%20Draft%2   7501, fax: 706-   East Hancock
                                                                                                   0Revised%20Recove   613-6059,         Avenue, Room
                                                                                                   ry%20Plan.pdf.      donald_imm@fws.   320 Box 7,
                                                                                                                       gov.              Athens, GA
                                                                                                                                         30601.
Amber darter..................  Percina                   E   GA, TN..........  Draft Revised     ..................  https://
                                 antesella.                                      Recovery Plan                         ecos.fws.gov/
                                                                                 for the Amber                         docs/
                                                                                 Darter (Percina                       recovery_plan/
                                                                                 antesella) \3\.                       Amber%20Darter%
                                                                                                                       20Draft%20Revis
                                                                                                                       ed%20Recovery%2
                                                                                                                       0Plan.pdf.

[[Page 38294]]

 
Conasauga logperch............  Percina jenkinsi          E   GA, TN..........  Draft Revised     ..................  https://
                                                                                 Recovery Plan                         ecos.fws.gov/
                                                                                 for the                               docs/
                                                                                 Conasauga                             recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Logperch                              Conasauga%20Log
                                                                                 (Percina                              perch%20Draft%2
                                                                                 jenkinsi) \3\.                        0Revised%20Reco
                                                                                                                       very%20Plan.pdf.
Louisiana pearlshell..........  Margaritifera             T   AR, LA..........  Draft Revised     https://            Joseph Ranson,    Louisiana
                                 hembeli.                                        Recovery Plan     ecos.fws.gov/docs/  337-291-3113,     Ecological
                                                                                 for the           recovery_plan/      joseph_ranson@f   Services Field
                                                                                 Louisiana         Louisiana%20Pearl   ws.gov.           Office, 200
                                                                                 Pearlshell        shell%20Draft%20R                     Dulles Drive,
                                                                                 (Margaritifera    evised%20Recovery                     Lafayette, LA
                                                                                 hembeli) \3\.     %20Plan.pdf.                          70506.
Puerto Rican sharp-shinned      Accipiter                 E   Puerto Rico.....  Puerto Rican      https://            Edwin E.          Caribbean
 hawk.                           striatus                                        Broad-Winged      ecos.fws.gov/docs/  Mu[ntilde]iz,     Ecological
                                 venator.                                        Hawk and Puerto   recovery_plan/      787-851-7297,     Services Field
                                                                                 Rican Sharp-      Puerto%20Rican%20   edwin_muniz@fws   Office, P.O.
                                                                                 Shinned Hawk      Broad-              .gov.             Box 1600, Rio
                                                                                 Recovery Plan     Winged%20Hawk%20a                     Grande, PR
                                                                                 \2\.              nd%20Puerto%20Ric                     00745.
                                                                                                   an%20Sharp-
                                                                                                   Shinned%20Hawk%20
                                                                                                   Recovery%20Plan%2
                                                                                                   0Amendment.pdf.
Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk  Buteo                     E   Puerto Rico.....
                                 platypterus
                                 brunnescens.
Puerto Rican boa..............  Epicrates                 E   Puerto Rico.....  Recovery Plan     https://
                                 inornatus.                                      for the Puerto    ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Rican Boa \2\.    recovery_plan/
                                                                                                   Puerto%20Rican%20
                                                                                                   Boa%20Recovery%20
                                                                                                   Plan%20Amendment.
                                                                                                   pdf.
Virgin Islands tree boa.......  Epicrates                 E   Puerto Rico,      Recovery Plan     https://
                                 monensis granti.              Virgin Islands.   for the Virgin    ecos.fws.gov/docs/
                                                                                 Islands Tree      recovery_plan/
                                                                                 Boa (Epicrates    Virgin%20Island%2
                                                                                 monensis          0Tree%20Boa%20Rec
                                                                                 granti) \2\.      overy%20Plan%20Am
                                                                                                   endment.pdf.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ E = endangered; T = threatened.
\2\ Denotes a partial revision (i.e., amendment) to the recovery plan.
\3\ Denotes a full revision of the recovery plan.

How do I ask questions or provide information?

    For any species listed above, please submit your questions, 
comments, and materials to the appropriate contact in the table above. 
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

Request for Public Comments

    We request written comments on the draft recovery plan 
modifications. We will consider all comments we receive by the date 
specified in DATES prior to final approval of the plans.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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 publicly 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: July 19, 2019.
Margaret E. Everson,
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising 
the Authority of the Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-16750 Filed 8-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P