Recovery Plan for the Endangered Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian Pinkroot), 17498-17499 [2012-7180]
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tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
17498
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2012 / Notices
for recommending which new studies or
methods/metrics developers should use
is not identified in the Guidelines. The
Service will consider the best way to
incorporate new science as it becomes
available.
Comment: The Guidelines should
adopt a risk-based approach to study
duration as opposed to requiring a
minimum of 3 years of preconstruction
studies.
Response: The Service received many
differing opinions on the appropriate
duration of preconstruction studies in
Tier 3. While some felt that a minimum
of 3 years is prohibitive, others felt that
it was not long enough. The final
Guidelines remove the default of 3 years
of preconstruction monitoring and
instead recommend that studies be of
sufficient duration and intensity to
ensure that adequate data are collected
to characterize wildlife use of the
proposed project area as determined in
communication with the Service. This
approach allows for data collection
commensurate with the level of risk, as
opposed to an across-the-board standard
that does not take into consideration the
circumstances at individual sites.
Comment: The scope of the
Guidelines should be ‘‘species of
concern’’ as originally used by the
Committee in their recommendations, as
opposed to ‘‘fish, wildlife and their
habitats.’’
Response: After reviewing the
definition of ‘‘species of concern,’’ the
Service agrees that this term is most
appropriate as it narrows the focus of
developer’s studies to species that may
potentially be significantly impacted by
a wind energy project. The final
Guidelines use the term ‘‘species of
concern’’ for scope of species covered.
Comment: The Guidelines should not
apply to distributed and communityscale wind energy projects. The costs
associated with adhering to the
Guidelines are prohibitive for smaller
scale projects and will stall or prevent
the development of small-scale wind
energy.
Response: The Service recognizes that
studies have not shown small-scale
wind energy projects to have significant
adverse impacts to wildlife. However,
the Service also recognizes that a poorly
sited project, no matter the size, has the
potential to cause significant impacts.
For this reason, distributed and
community-scale projects are not
‘‘exempted’’ from the Guidelines. The
Guidelines are voluntary. No wind
energy developer is bound to follow
them. The final Guidelines clarify that,
in most cases, small-scale wind energy
projects will not have significant
adverse impacts, but developers should
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19:32 Mar 23, 2012
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still do a Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 analysis
using publicly available information
(e.g., internet searches) to ensure that
the risk for potential impacts is low.
The final Guidelines preserve many
elements from the previous drafts
including descriptions of the
information needed to identify, assess,
mitigate, and monitor the potential
adverse effects of wind energy projects
on wildlife and their habitats; and
flexibility to accommodate the unique
circumstances of each project. The
framework helps developers understand
how to avoid or minimize effects to
certain species, which is important for
compliance with a number of laws,
including MBTA, BGEPA, and ESA.
The levels of surveying, monitoring,
assessing, and collecting other
information will vary among different
wind-energy projects due to the diverse
geographic, climatological, and
ecological features of potential wind
development sites. Founded upon a
‘‘tiered approach’’ for assessing
potential effects to species of concern
and their habitats, the guidelines are
intended to promote: Compliance with
relevant laws and statutes; the use of
scientifically rigorous survey,
monitoring, assessment, and research
designs proportionate to the potential
risk to affected species; the
accumulation of comparable data across
the landscape; the identification of
trends and patterns of effects; and,
ultimately, the improved ability to
predict and resolve effects locally,
regionally, and nationally.
Authority: The authorities for this action
are the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 as
amended (16 U.S.C. 703–711); and the Bald
and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 668–668d).
Dated: March 20, 2012.
Daniel M. Ashe,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–7011 Filed 3–23–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R4–ES–2012–N032;
FXES11130400000C2]
Recovery Plan for the Endangered
Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian
Pinkroot)
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00097
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service, announce the availability of the
final recovery plan for Spigelia
gentianoides (Gentian pinkroot), a
threatened species restricted to six
locations within three counties in the
Florida Panhandle and two counties in
Alabama. The recovery plan includes
specific recovery objectives and criteria
to be met in order to reclassify this
species from endangered to threatened
status under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of
the recovery plan by contacting the
Panama City Field Office (PCFO), by
U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1601 Balboa Ave, Panama City,
FL 32405, or by telephone at (850) 769–
0552. Alternatively, you may visit the
Fish and Wildlife Service’s recovery
plan Web site at https://www.fws.gov/
endangered/species/recovery-plans.html
or the PCFO Web site at https://
www.fws.gov/panamacity/
listedplants.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
´
Vivian Negron-Ortiz, at the above
address, or by telephone at (850) 769–
0552, ext. 231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
We listed Spigelia gentianoides
(Gentian pinkroot) as an endangered
species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) on November 26, 1990 (55 FR
49046). Spigelia gentianoides is a small
herbaceous plant and has two varieties:
Var. gentianoides is restricted to five
locations within three counties in the
Florida Panhandle and southern
Alabama, and var. alabamensis is
limited to Bibb County, Alabama. The
loss or alteration of habitat is thought to
be the primary reason for the species’
decline. The extant plants of var.
gentianoides are located in firedependent longleaf pine-wiregrass and
pine-oak-hickory ecosystems. Much of
this habitat has been reduced in its
range, converted to pine plantation, and
managed without fire. Variety
alabamensis is a narrow endemic,
restricted to the Bibb County Glades
(open, almost treeless areas within
woodlands). Some of the glades are
owned and protected by The Nature
Conservancy. However, this variety is
threatened by potential development of
privately owned glades.
Restoring an endangered or
threatened animal or plant to the point
where it is again a secure, selfsustaining member of its ecosystem is a
primary goal of the endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery
effort, we are preparing recovery plans
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 58 / Monday, March 26, 2012 / Notices
D At least one population is reestablished within the historic range.
Æ Var. alabamensis:
D Fifty percent of the Bibb County
glades known to support the variety on
private land are protected through
conservation agreements, easements, or
land acquisition.
As reclassification criteria are met the
status of the species will be reviewed,
and the species will be considered for
reclassification to threatened status.
Defining delisting criteria is not
possible at this time, given the current
low numbers of populations and
individuals, lack of information about
the species’ biology, and the magnitude
of current threats from development.
Reclassification criteria will be
reevaluated and delisting criteria will be
created as new scientific data and
information become available and
recovery actions are implemented.
Recovery Plan Criteria
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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.
The Act 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 requires us to
provide a public notice and an
opportunity for public review and
comment during recovery plan
development. We made the draft of this
recovery plan available for public
comment from March 23 through May
23, 2011 (76 FR 16439). We considered
information we received during this
public comment period and information
from peer reviewers in our preparation
of this final recovery plan. Some
sections of the recovery plan were
edited based on peer reviewer and
public comments. However, no
substantial changes were made to the
final plan.
Dated: January 24, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
The goal of this plan is to provide a
framework to conserve and recover S.
gentianoides so it may be reclassified to
threatened status. Spigelia gentianoides
will be considered for reclassification to
threatened status when:
• Extant populations and newly
discovered sites are identified and
mapped;
• Inventories have been conducted
across the species’ historic sites and/or
on new locations;
• Monitoring programs and
management protocols on selected
populations are established for 15 years
to track threats to the species and its
habitat;
• Extant populations located on
public land are stable;
• The minimum viable population
(MVP) size has been determined for
each variety;
• Research on key aspects related to
demography, reproductive biology, and
seed ecology is accomplished; and
• Collect viable seeds from at least 50
percent of the populations for each
variety and store them ex situ (off site—
that is, in designated seed storage
facilities).
In addition, the following specific
actions must be completed for each
variety:
Æ Var. gentianoides:
D Sizes of populations # 1 to # 4 (out
of 5) are increased via prescribed burns
until plant numbers are stabilized;
D At least one new population is
found; and
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21:07 Mar 23, 2012
Jkt 226001
Authority
The authority for this action is section
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16
U.S.C. 1533(f).
[FR Doc. 2012–7180 Filed 3–23–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCO956000.L14200000 BJ0000]
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of filing of plats;
Colorado.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Colorado State
Office is publishing this notice to
inform the public of the intent to file the
land survey plats listed below, and to
afford all affected parties a proper
period of time to protest this action,
prior to the plat filing.
DATES: Unless there are protests of this
action, the filing of the plats described
in this notice will happen on April 25,
2012.
ADDRESSES: BLM Colorado State Office,
Cadastral Survey, 2850 Youngfield
Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215–
7093.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor
for Colorado, (303) 239–3856.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The plat
and field notes of the dependent
PO 00000
Frm 00098
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
resurvey in Township 10 South, Range
70 West, Sixth Principal Meridian,
Colorado, were accepted on January 13,
2012.
The plat and field notes of the
dependent resurvey and survey in
Township 9 South, Range 71 West,
Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado,
were accepted on January 13, 2012.
The plat and field notes of the
dependent resurvey and survey in
Township 10 South, Range 71 West,
Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado,
were accepted on January 13, 2012.
The supplemental plat, in 4 sheets, of
Section 8, in Township 1 North, Range
71 West, Sixth Principal Meridian,
Colorado, was accepted on January 20,
2012.
The supplemental plat of Section 13,
in Township 1 North, Range 72 West,
Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was
accepted on January 27, 2012.
The plat incorporating the field notes,
in 2 sheets, of the dependent resurvey
in Township 51 North, Range 5 East,
New Mexico Principal Meridian,
Colorado, was accepted on February 3,
2012.
The plat and field notes of the section
subdivision and survey in Township 7
South, Range 95 West, Sixth Principal
Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on
February 8, 2012.
The plat and field notes of the
corrective dependent resurvey in
Township 36 North, Range 11 West,
New Mexico Principal Meridian,
Colorado, were accepted on February
21, 2012.
Randy Bloom,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado.
Notice of Filing of Plats
SUMMARY:
17499
[FR Doc. 2012–7163 Filed 3–23–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCO956000.L14200000 BJ0000]
Notice of Filing of Plats
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Filing of Plats;
Colorado.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Colorado State
Office is publishing this notice to
inform the public of the filing of the
land survey plats listed below.
DATES: The plats described in this notice
were filed on March 12, 2012.
ADDRESSES: BLM Colorado State Office,
Cadastral Survey, 2850 Youngfield
Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215–
7093.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17498-17499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7180]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2012-N032; FXES11130400000C2]
Recovery Plan for the Endangered Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian
Pinkroot)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability
of the final recovery plan for Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian
pinkroot), a threatened species restricted to six locations within
three counties in the Florida Panhandle and two counties in Alabama.
The recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to
be met in order to reclassify this species from endangered to
threatened status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(Act).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan by contacting the
Panama City Field Office (PCFO), by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1601 Balboa Ave, Panama City, FL 32405, or by telephone at
(850) 769-0552. Alternatively, you may visit the Fish and Wildlife
Service's recovery plan Web site at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html or the PCFO Web site at https://www.fws.gov/panamacity/listedplants.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Vivian Negr[oacute]n-Ortiz, at the
above address, or by telephone at (850) 769-0552, ext. 231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
We listed Spigelia gentianoides (Gentian pinkroot) as an endangered
species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on November 26, 1990 (55
FR 49046). Spigelia gentianoides is a small herbaceous plant and has
two varieties: Var. gentianoides is restricted to five locations within
three counties in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama, and var.
alabamensis is limited to Bibb County, Alabama. The loss or alteration
of habitat is thought to be the primary reason for the species'
decline. The extant plants of var. gentianoides are located in fire-
dependent longleaf pine-wiregrass and pine-oak-hickory ecosystems. Much
of this habitat has been reduced in its range, converted to pine
plantation, and managed without fire. Variety alabamensis is a narrow
endemic, restricted to the Bibb County Glades (open, almost treeless
areas within woodlands). Some of the glades are owned and protected by
The Nature Conservancy. However, this variety is threatened by
potential development of privately owned glades.
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 endangered species program. To help guide the
recovery effort, we are preparing recovery plans
[[Page 17499]]
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.
The Act 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 requires us to provide a
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during
recovery plan development. We made the draft of this recovery plan
available for public comment from March 23 through May 23, 2011 (76 FR
16439). We considered information we received during this public
comment period and information from peer reviewers in our preparation
of this final recovery plan. Some sections of the recovery plan were
edited based on peer reviewer and public comments. However, no
substantial changes were made to the final plan.
Recovery Plan Criteria
The goal of this plan is to provide a framework to conserve and
recover S. gentianoides so it may be reclassified to threatened status.
Spigelia gentianoides will be considered for reclassification to
threatened status when:
Extant populations and newly discovered sites are
identified and mapped;
Inventories have been conducted across the species'
historic sites and/or on new locations;
Monitoring programs and management protocols on selected
populations are established for 15 years to track threats to the
species and its habitat;
Extant populations located on public land are stable;
The minimum viable population (MVP) size has been
determined for each variety;
Research on key aspects related to demography,
reproductive biology, and seed ecology is accomplished; and
Collect viable seeds from at least 50 percent of the
populations for each variety and store them ex situ (off site--that is,
in designated seed storage facilities).
In addition, the following specific actions must be completed for
each variety:
[cir] Var. gentianoides:
[ssquf] Sizes of populations 1 to 4 (out of 5)
are increased via prescribed burns until plant numbers are stabilized;
[ssquf] At least one new population is found; and
[ssquf] At least one population is re-established within the
historic range.
[cir] Var. alabamensis:
[ssquf] Fifty percent of the Bibb County glades known to support
the variety on private land are protected through conservation
agreements, easements, or land acquisition.
As reclassification criteria are met the status of the species will
be reviewed, and the species will be considered for reclassification to
threatened status.
Defining delisting criteria is not possible at this time, given the
current low numbers of populations and individuals, lack of information
about the species' biology, and the magnitude of current threats from
development. Reclassification criteria will be reevaluated and
delisting criteria will be created as new scientific data and
information become available and recovery actions are implemented.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: January 24, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-7180 Filed 3-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
