Approved Recovery Plan for the Hungerford's Crawling Water Beetle, 57003-57004 [E6-15795]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 188 / Thursday, September 28, 2006 / Notices ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary is announcing a public meeting of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Committee. DATES: October 18, 2006, at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council Office, 441 West 5th Avenue, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Mutter, Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, 1689 C Street, Suite 119, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, (907) 271–5011. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Public Advisory Committee was created by Paragraph V.A.4 of the Memorandum of Agreement and Consent Decree entered into by the United States of America and the State of Alaska on August 27, 1991, and approved by the United States District Court for the District of Alaska in settlement of United States of America v. State of Alaska, Civil Action No. A91–081 CV. The meeting agenda will include review and recommendations on the draft fiscal year 2007 work plan, an update on the injured resources and services list, an update on the herring restoration effort, and an orientation for new Public Advisory Committee members. Willie R. Taylor, Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance. [FR Doc. E6–15920 Filed 9–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–RG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Approved Recovery Plan for the Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce availability of the approved recovery plan for the Hungerford’s crawling water beetle (Brychius hungerfordi), a species that is federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by any of the following means: 1. World Wide Web: https:// midwest.fws.gov/endangered; or 2. U.S. mail or in-person pickup: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:16 Sep 27, 2006 Jkt 208001 Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 48823–6316. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carrie Tansy, by U.S. mail (see ADDRESSES), or by telephone at (517) 351–2555, extension 289. TTY users may contact Ms. Tansy through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Recovery of endangered or threatened animals or plants is a primary goal of our endangered species program. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establish criteria for delisting species, and provide estimates of the time and cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery. The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires the development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, requires that we provide public notice and opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan development. We announced availability of our draft recovery plan in the Federal Register on August 6, 2004 (69 FR 47950) and requested public comments. The comment period closed on September 7, 2004. In our preparation of the approved recovery plan, we considered information provided to us during the comment period, and we have summarized this information in an appendix to the recovery plan. A new population of the species was discovered since the publication of our draft plan in 2004. However, the information about this new population has resulted in only a slight shift in our recovery strategy for the species. Hungerford’s crawling water beetle was listed as endangered on March 7, 1994 (59 FR 10580). At the time of listing, this species was known to occur in only three streams—two in Michigan and one in Ontario, Canada. Since then, the species has been discovered in three additional streams in northern Michigan. The distribution of this species prior to its discovery in 1952 is not known. Currently, only one stream is known to support a large population of the species. Hungerford’s crawling water beetle is an aquatic species that is found in areas of streams with good aeration, moderate to fast flow, inorganic substrate, and alkaline water conditions, often downstream from culverts, beaver and natural debris PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 57003 dams, and human-made impoundments. Very little information is available on the life history and habitat requirements of this species. Threats appear to be related to habitat alteration and degradation of water quality, and may include habitat modification, certain fish management activities, and human disturbance. Factors limiting the species’ distribution are not known. The small populations and limited distribution of Hungerford’s crawling water beetle make it vulnerable to chance demographic and environmental events. The recovery plan recommends research to examine important components of the species’ biology and ecology that will contribute to the recovery program. The objective of the recovery plan is to provide a framework for the recovery of Hungerford’s crawling water beetle so that protection by the Act is no longer necessary. We may consider Hungerford’s crawling water beetle for reclassification from Endangered to Threatened status when the likelihood of the species becoming extinct in the foreseeable future has been eliminated by achievement of the following interim criteria: (1) Life history, ecology, population biology, and habitat requirements are understood well enough to fully evaluate threats; and (2) a minimum of five U.S. populations, in at least three different watersheds, have had stable or increasing populations for at least 10 years, and at least one population is considered viable. We will consider Hungerford’s crawling water beetle for delisting when the likelihood of the species becoming threatened in the foreseeable future has been eliminated by the achievement of the following interim criteria: (1) Habitat necessary for long-term survival and recovery has been identified and conserved; and (2) a minimum of five U.S. populations, in at least three different watersheds, are sufficiently secure and adequately managed to assure long-term viability. The recovery criteria are interim because further research is needed to make them fully measurable. As new information about the species becomes available, and if new populations of the species are discovered, the recovery criteria will be revised. Additional details on downlisting and delisting criteria are available in the recovery plan. We will meet these criteria through the following actions: (1) Conserve known sites; (2) conduct scientific research to facilitate recovery; (3) conduct additional surveys and monitor existing sites; (4) develop and implement public education and outreach; (5) revise recovery criteria and E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 57004 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 188 / Thursday, September 28, 2006 / Notices recovery tasks, as appropriate, based on research and new information; and (6) develop a plan to monitor B. hungerfordi after it is delisted. Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: September 15, 2006. Wendi Weber, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, Minnesota. [FR Doc. E6–15795 Filed 9–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Forest Birds Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (‘‘we’’) announces the availability of the Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Forest Birds. There are 21 bird taxa included in this revised recovery plan; 19 are listed as endangered, 1 is a candidate species for Federal listing, and 1 is a species of concern. These taxa represent four bird families, with the majority being Hawaiian Honeycreepers (subfamily Drepanidinae, family Fringillidae). This is a new recovery plan for two of the listed birds, the O1ahu 1elepaio (Chasiempsis sandwichensis ibidis) and ¯ O‘ahu 1alauahio (Paroreomyza maculata). Printed copies of this revised recovery plan will be available in 4 to 6 weeks by request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3–122, Box 50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 (telephone: 808–792–9400; fax: 808– 792–9580); and the Hawaii State Library, 478 S. King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. An electronic copy of the revised recovery plan is now available online at: https://endangered.fws.gov/ recovery/#plans. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilet A. Zablan, Endangered Species Recovery Program Leader, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, at 808– 792–9400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: Background Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point where they are again secure, self-sustaining VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:06 Sep 27, 2006 Jkt 208001 members of their ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. The Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) requires the development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Recovery plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing criteria for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimating time and cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery. Section 4(f) of the ESA requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery plan development. In fulfillment of this requirement, the Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Forest Birds was available for public comment from October 16 through December 15, 2003 (68 FR 59635). Information presented during the public comment period has been considered in the preparation of this revised recovery plan, and is summarized in the appendix to the plan. We will forward substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation to appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into account during the course of implementing recovery actions. Of the 21 birds addressed by this revised recovery plan, the 19 federally listed as endangered are: O1ahu 1elepaio, ´ ¯ kama1o or large Kaua1i thrush (Myadestes myadestinus), oloma1o or Moloka1i thrush (Myadestes lanaiensis rutha), puaiohi or small Kaua1i thrush ¯ ¯ (Myadestes palmeri), Kaua1i 1o1o (Moho ¯ ¯ braccatus), 1o1u (Psittirostra psittacea), palila (Loxioides bailleui), Maui parrotbill (Pseudonestor xanthophrys), Kaua1i 1akialoa (Hemignathus procerus), Kaua1i nukupu1u (Hemignathus lucidus hanapepe), Maui nukupu1u (Hemignathus lucidus affinis), ¯ ¯ 1akiapola1au (Hemignathus munroi), Hawai1i creeper (Oreomystis mana), ¯ ¯ ¯ O1ahu 1alauahio or O1ahu creeper, 1o1o ¯¯ ¯ ¯ 1a1a or kakawahie or Moloka1i creeper ¯ (Paroreomyza flammea), Hawai1i 1akepa (Loxops coccineus coccineus), Maui ¯ 1akepa (Loxops coccineus ochraceus), ¯ 1akohekohe or crested honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei), and po 1ouli (Melamprosops phaeosoma). The candidate species is the 1akikiki or Kaua1i creeper (Oreomystis bairdi), and the species of concern is the Bishop’s ¯ ¯ 1o1o (Moho bishopi). These taxa and their habitats have been variously affected or are currently threatened by one or more of the following: habitat degradation by wild, feral, or domestic animals (pigs, goats, PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and deer); predation by introduced animals (rats, cats, and mongoose); avian disease (malaria and avian pox); habitat loss due to agriculture, ranching, forest cutting, and urbanization; and habitat modification due to the invasion of nonnative plants. In addition, due to the small number of existing individuals and their very narrow distribution, these taxa are subject to an increased likelihood of extinction from random, naturally-occurring events such as hurricanes. The objective of this revised recovery plan is to ensure the long-term conservation and recovery of these 21 taxa of Hawaiian forest birds, and to enable the eventual delisting of the 19 listed as endangered. This recovery will be accomplished through a variety of recovery actions including: measures to protect habitat where the taxa occur, restoration of degraded habitat, removal of feral ungulates from habitat areas, control of introduced rodents and feral cats that feed on forest birds, control of invasive plant species, reduction in numbers of mosquito breeding sites, captive propagation and translocation, and the development of means to address threats of avian disease. Management emphasis may differ among species, as taxa are affected differently and to varying degrees by different limiting factors. Habitat management and restoration will encourage the expansion of current populations into unoccupied habitat. However, the establishment of new populations using various translocation and/or captive propagation techniques will be needed in some cases to accelerate population expansion and to establish new populations in suitable habitat. Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: August 15, 2006. Carolyn A. Bohan, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. E6–15956 Filed 9–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control Alternatives Workgroup Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a meeting of E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57003-57004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15795]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Approved Recovery Plan for the Hungerford's Crawling Water Beetle

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 
availability of the approved recovery plan for the Hungerford's 
crawling water beetle (Brychius hungerfordi), a species that is 
federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act).

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by any of the 
following means:
    1. World Wide Web: https://midwest.fws.gov/endangered; or
    2. U.S. mail or in-person pickup: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, 
Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 48823-6316.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carrie Tansy, by U.S. mail (see 
ADDRESSES), or by telephone at (517) 351-2555, extension 289. TTY users 
may contact Ms. Tansy through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals or plants is a primary 
goal of our endangered species program. Recovery plans describe actions 
considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establish 
criteria for delisting species, and provide estimates of the time and 
cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery.
    The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires the development of 
recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote 
the conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as 
amended in 1988, requires that we provide public notice and opportunity 
for public review and comment during recovery plan development. We 
announced availability of our draft recovery plan in the Federal 
Register on August 6, 2004 (69 FR 47950) and requested public comments. 
The comment period closed on September 7, 2004. In our preparation of 
the approved recovery plan, we considered information provided to us 
during the comment period, and we have summarized this information in 
an appendix to the recovery plan. A new population of the species was 
discovered since the publication of our draft plan in 2004. However, 
the information about this new population has resulted in only a slight 
shift in our recovery strategy for the species.
    Hungerford's crawling water beetle was listed as endangered on 
March 7, 1994 (59 FR 10580). At the time of listing, this species was 
known to occur in only three streams--two in Michigan and one in 
Ontario, Canada. Since then, the species has been discovered in three 
additional streams in northern Michigan. The distribution of this 
species prior to its discovery in 1952 is not known. Currently, only 
one stream is known to support a large population of the species. 
Hungerford's crawling water beetle is an aquatic species that is found 
in areas of streams with good aeration, moderate to fast flow, 
inorganic substrate, and alkaline water conditions, often downstream 
from culverts, beaver and natural debris dams, and human-made 
impoundments. Very little information is available on the life history 
and habitat requirements of this species. Threats appear to be related 
to habitat alteration and degradation of water quality, and may include 
habitat modification, certain fish management activities, and human 
disturbance. Factors limiting the species' distribution are not known. 
The small populations and limited distribution of Hungerford's crawling 
water beetle make it vulnerable to chance demographic and environmental 
events. The recovery plan recommends research to examine important 
components of the species' biology and ecology that will contribute to 
the recovery program.
    The objective of the recovery plan is to provide a framework for 
the recovery of Hungerford's crawling water beetle so that protection 
by the Act is no longer necessary. We may consider Hungerford's 
crawling water beetle for reclassification from Endangered to 
Threatened status when the likelihood of the species becoming extinct 
in the foreseeable future has been eliminated by achievement of the 
following interim criteria: (1) Life history, ecology, population 
biology, and habitat requirements are understood well enough to fully 
evaluate threats; and (2) a minimum of five U.S. populations, in at 
least three different watersheds, have had stable or increasing 
populations for at least 10 years, and at least one population is 
considered viable.
    We will consider Hungerford's crawling water beetle for delisting 
when the likelihood of the species becoming threatened in the 
foreseeable future has been eliminated by the achievement of the 
following interim criteria: (1) Habitat necessary for long-term 
survival and recovery has been identified and conserved; and (2) a 
minimum of five U.S. populations, in at least three different 
watersheds, are sufficiently secure and adequately managed to assure 
long-term viability. The recovery criteria are interim because further 
research is needed to make them fully measurable. As new information 
about the species becomes available, and if new populations of the 
species are discovered, the recovery criteria will be revised. 
Additional details on downlisting and delisting criteria are available 
in the recovery plan.
    We will meet these criteria through the following actions: (1) 
Conserve known sites; (2) conduct scientific research to facilitate 
recovery; (3) conduct additional surveys and monitor existing sites; 
(4) develop and implement public education and outreach; (5) revise 
recovery criteria and

[[Page 57004]]

recovery tasks, as appropriate, based on research and new information; 
and (6) develop a plan to monitor B. hungerfordi after it is delisted.

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

    Dated: September 15, 2006.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E6-15795 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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