[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49045-49046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18806]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2021-N013; FXES11130100000-212-FF01E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for Umtanum Desert Buckwheat

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for review and public comment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Umtanum Desert buckwheat 
(Eriogonum codium), listed as threatened under the Endangered Species 
Act, and endemic to Benton County, Washington. We request review and 
comment on this draft recovery plan from Federal, State, and local 
agencies; Native American Tribes; and the public.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments on the draft recovery plan 
must be received on or before November 1, 2021. However, we will accept 
information about any species at any time.

ADDRESSES: 
    Document availability: Obtain the recovery plan on the internet at 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html or http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/plans.html.
    Comment submission: You may submit written comments and materials 
by one of the following methods:
     U.S. Mail: Jeff Krupka, Central Washington Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 215 Melody Lane, Suite 103, Wenatchee, WA 98801-8122.
     Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Thompson, State Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 
Desmond Drive SE, Suite 101, Lacey, WA 98502; telephone 360-753-9440. 
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, call the Federal 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announce the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for 
Umtanum Desert Buckwheat (Eriogonum codium). The species, listed as 
threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), is a plant endemic to Umtanum Ridge of Benton 
County, Washington. The draft recovery plan includes specific

[[Page 49046]]

goals, objectives, and criteria that should be met prior to our 
consideration of removing the species from the Federal List of 
Endangered and Threatened Plants. We request review and comment on this 
draft recovery plan from Federal, State, and local agencies; Native 
American Tribes; and the public.

Background

    The Umtanum desert buckwheat is a long-lived perennial that occurs 
in a narrow, discontinuous band on Umtanum Ridge at least 1.6 
kilometers (1 mile) long. This plant is closely associated with Lolo 
Flow lithosol soils in the Lower Columbia River Basin in the State of 
Washington. In April 2013 and as reaffirmed in December 2013, the 
Umtanum desert buckwheat found along sparsely vegetated, north-facing 
basalt cliff of Umtanum Ridge in central Washington State, was listed 
as a threatened species pursuant to the Act (78 FR 23983; April 23, 
2013; 78 FR 76995; December 20, 2013).

Recovery Planning Process

    Recovery of endangered and threatened animals and plants is a 
primary goal of our endangered species program. To help guide the 
recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most listed species. 
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation 
of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or delisting, and 
estimate time and cost for implementing recovery measures.

Recovery Planning and Implementation

    The Service has recently revised its approach to recovery planning 
and is now using a new process termed recovery planning and 
implementation (RPI) (see https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/RPI.pdf). The RPI approach is intended to reduce the time needed to 
develop and implement recovery plans, increase recovery plan relevancy 
over a longer timeframe, and add flexibility to recovery plans so they 
can be adjusted to address new information or circumstances. Under RPI, 
a recovery plan includes the statutorily required elements under 
section 4(f) of the Act (i.e., objective and measurable recovery 
criteria, site-specific management actions, and estimates of time and 
costs), along with a concise introduction and our strategy for how we 
plan to achieve species recovery. The RPI recovery plan is supported by 
two supplementary documents: A species status assessment or biological 
species report, which describes the best available scientific 
information related to the biological needs of the species and 
assessment of threats; and the recovery implementation strategy, which 
details the particular near-term activities needed to implement the 
recovery actions identified in the recovery plan. Under this approach, 
we can incorporate new information on species biology or details of 
recovery implementation by updating these supplementary documents 
without concurrent revision of the entire recovery plan, unless changes 
to statutorily required elements are necessary.

Recovery Plan Components

    The primary recovery strategy for the Umtanum desert buckwheat is 
to increase the capability of the single population to withstand 
stochastic events, establish new populations to provide a safety margin 
against catastrophic events, and to increase the ecological and/or 
genetic diversity of the species. Recovery will hinge on establishing 
self-sustaining populations, improving habitat, reducing threats, and 
preserving or enhancing the ability of individuals to survive and 
reproduce in the range of conditions they are likely to experience.
    We may initiate an assessment of whether recovery has been achieved 
and delisting is warranted when the recovery criteria have been met, 
including once a sixth population has been discovered or established on 
conserved lands and is managed in a way that is compatible with Umtanum 
desert buckwheat conservation.

Request for Public Comments

    Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an 
opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan 
development. It is also our policy to request peer review of recovery 
plans (59 FR 34270; July 1, 1994). In an appendix to the approved final 
recovery plan, we will summarize and respond to the substantive 
comments raised during public comment and peer review. Substantive 
comments may or may not result in changes to the recovery plan. 
Comments regarding recovery plan implementation will be forwarded as 
appropriate to Federal or other entities so that they can be taken into 
account during the course of implementing recovery actions.
    We will consider all comments we receive by the date specified in 
DATES prior to final approval of the plan.

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 of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18806 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
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