Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for White Fringeless Orchid, 31726-31728 [2021-12455]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 31726 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices Date: July 8–9, 2021. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Jonathan K. Ivins, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 2190, MSC 7850, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 594– 1245, ivinsj@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Population Sciences and Epidemiology Integrated Review Group; Infectious Diseases, Reproductive Health, Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions Study Section. Date: July 8–9, 2021. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Mohammed F.A. Elfaramawi, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1007F, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 402–6746, elfaramawimf@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; Fellowships: Risks, Prevention and Health Behavior. Date: July 8–9, 2021. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Martha M. Faraday, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3110, MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435– 3575, faradaym@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; Small Business: Neuro/Psychopathology, Lifespan Development, and STEM Education. Date: July 8–9, 2021. Time: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Janetta Lun, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institute of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1007E, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435–5877, janetta.lun@nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; Cancer Therapeutics and Drug Development. Date: July 8–9, 2021. Time: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Jun 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 Contact Person: Lambratu Rahman Sesay, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6214, MSC 7804, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–905– 8294, rahman-sesay@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; PAR19–093: Leveraging Health Information Technology (Health IT) to Address Minority Health and Health Disparities. Date: July 8, 2021. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Paul Hewett-Marx, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, (240) 672–8946, hewettmarxpn@ csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; PAR19–093: Leveraging Health Information Technology (Health IT) to Address Minority Health and Health Disparities. Date: July 8, 2021. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Chittari V. Shivakumar, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, National Institutes of Health, Center for Scientific Review, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–408–9098, chittari.shivakumar@ nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; RFA DK– 20–022 and –023: HIV Reservoirs and Pathogenesis in NIDDK-Relevant Tissues. Date: July 8, 2021. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Shiv A. Prasad, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5220, MSC 7852, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–443– 5779, prasads@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; RFA–RM– 20–018 Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa—Open Data Science Platform and Coordinating Center. Date: July 8, 2021. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: James J. Li, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5148, MSC 7849, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–806– 8065, lijames@csr.nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; Fellowships: Oncology. Date: July 8–9, 2021. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Reigh-Yi Lin, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Rm. 4152, MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 827– 6009, lin.reigh-yi@nih.gov. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel; Member Conflict: Genes, Genomes and Genetics. Date: July 8, 2021. Time: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, Rockledge II, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Emily Foley, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20747, 301–435–0627, emily.foley@nih.gov. (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine; 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, 93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844, 93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National Institutes of Health, HHS) Dated: June 10, 2021. Miguelina Perez, Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy. [FR Doc. 2021–12572 Filed 6–14–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2020–N041; FXES11130400000C2–201–FF04E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for White Fringeless Orchid Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability for public review and comment of the draft recovery plan for the Platanthera integrilabia (white fringeless orchid), a plant listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We request review and comment on the draft recovery plan SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15JNN1.SGM 15JNN1 31727 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices from local, State, and Federal agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. DATES: We must receive comments by August 16, 2021. ADDRESSES: Obtaining documents: You may obtain or request a copy by any of the following methods: • Internet: https://www.fws.gov/ cookeville/; • Telephone: Geoff Call, 931–525– 4983; or Submitting comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by the following method: • Email: geoff_call@fws.gov. Please include ‘‘White Fringeless Orchid Draft Recovery Plan Comments’’ in the subject line. For additional information about submitting comments, see Public Comments below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoff Call, geoff_call@fws.gov, 931–525– 4983. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability for public review and comment of the draft recovery plan for the Platanthera integrilabia (white fringeless orchid), a plant listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria we have identified to better assist us in determining when the protections of the ESA are no longer necessary. We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. Background White fringeless orchid is a perennial herb of the Orchidaceae family (orchid family). The species is restricted to 48 populations in 6 southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. White fringeless orchid habitat has historically been described as partially shaded areas with sandy and acidic soils in wet areas like seeps, bogs, or swamps; however, the species also occurs in areas that differ in light and moisture availability. The ESA states that a species may be listed as endangered or threatened based on one or more of the five factors outlined in section 4(a)(1). The white fringeless orchid is threatened primarily by destruction and modification of habitat (Listing Factor A) resulting in excessive shading, soil disturbance, altered hydrology, and proliferation of invasive plant species; collecting for recreational or commercial purposes (Listing Factor B); herbivory (Listing Factor C); and small population sizes and dependence on specific pollinators and fungi to complete its life cycle (Listing Factor E). Existing regulatory mechanisms have not reduced or removed the threats posed to the species from these factors (Listing Factor D). As a result of these threats, white fringeless orchid was listed as threatened under the ESA on September 13, 2016 (81 FR 62826). Recovery Plan Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires the development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide an effective and feasible roadmap for a species’ recovery, with the goal of improving its status and managing its threats to the point where the protections of the ESA are no longer needed. The ESA requires that, to the maximum extent practicable, recovery plans incorporate the following: • Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or endangered; • Site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the plan’s goal for conservation and survival of the species; and • Estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery plans. Recovery plans provide important guidance to the Service, States, other partners, and the general public on methods for minimizing threats to listed species and objectives against which to measure the progress towards recovery. A recovery plan identifies, organizes, and prioritizes recovery actions and is an important guide that ensures sound scientific decision-making throughout the recovery plan, which can take decades. Section 4(f)(4) of the ESA requires us to provide public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan development. We will consider all information presented during a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. We and other Federal agencies will take these comments into consideration in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. The draft recovery plan for the white fringeless orchid describes actions necessary for the recovery of the species, establishes criteria for its delisting, and estimates the time and cost for implementing specific measures needed to recover the species. The ultimate goal of this draft recovery plan is to ensure the long-term viability of the white fringeless orchid in the wild to the point that it can be removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR 17.12). Recovery Criteria The draft recovery plan proposes that the white fringeless orchid will be considered for delisting when: 1. Monitoring over a 10-year period demonstrates stable or increasing population growth rates for at least 26 protected populations with resilience levels of moderate to very high (as described in the Species Status Assessment). To ensure adequate representation and redundancy, these populations must be distributed among Environmental Protection Agency Level III Ecoregions as shown in the following table (addresses Factors A and E): Resilience level Level III ecoregion khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Moderate Blue Ridge ................................................................................................................................... Piedmont ...................................................................................................................................... Ridge and Valley ......................................................................................................................... Southeastern Plains ..................................................................................................................... Southwestern Appalachians * ...................................................................................................... 2 2 ........................ 1 10 Total High or very high 1 2 1 1 6 3 4 1 2 16 * At least two of the resilient populations in the Southwestern Appalachians should be located in Georgia or Alabama to ensure representation in the southern portion of the ecoregion. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Jun 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15JNN1.SGM 15JNN1 31728 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 15, 2021 / Notices 2. Written management agreements have been reached with partners/ landowners that allow for sustained monitoring and management of white fringeless orchid populations that demonstrate moderate to very high resilience (addresses Factor A). 3. The species could be considered for delisting if 40 populations with resilience levels of moderate to very high (as described in the SSA), protected or unprotected, are distributed among the EPA Level III Ecoregions where the species occurs. At least half of these populations must have resilience levels of high or very high (addresses Factor A and E). Request for Public Comments We request written comments on the draft recovery plan. We will consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES prior to final approval of the plan. 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). Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, Regional Director. [FR Doc. 2021–12455 Filed 6–14–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [2121A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control Number 1076–0122] Agency Information Collection Activities; Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-Funded Schools Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) are proposing to renew an information collection. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Jun 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 16, 2021. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request (ICR) by mail to: Cole G. Bowers, NASIS Specialist, Chief Academic Office, Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, MIB–3609, Washington, DC 20240, cole.bowers@bie.edu. Please reference OMB Control Number 1076–0122 in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Mr. Cole Bowers at phone: (202) 208–2977 or cole.bowers@ bie.edu. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the BIA; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the BIA enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the BIA minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. 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. Abstract: The BIE is requesting renewal of OMB approval for the admission forms for the Student Enrollment Application in BureauDATES: PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 funded Schools. School registrars collect information on this form to determine the student’s eligibility for enrollment in a Bureau-funded school, and if eligible, is shared with appropriate school officials to identify the student’s base and supplemental educational and/or residential program needs. The BIE compiles the information into a national database to facilitate budget requests and the allocation of congressionally appropriated funds. Title of Collection: Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-funded Schools. OMB Control Number: 1076–0122. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Contract and Grant schools, and Bureaufunded schools. Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 48,000 per year, on average. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 48,000 per year, on average. Estimated Completion Time per Response: 15 minutes. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 12,000 hours. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to Obtain a Benefit. Frequency of Collection: Once per year. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $0. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq). Elizabeth K. Appel, Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2021–12467 Filed 6–14–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLHQ430000.212L1109AF.L12200000. PM0000; OMB Control No. 1004–0165] Agency Information Collection Activities; Cave Management: Cave Nominations and Requests for Confidential Information Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\15JNN1.SGM 15JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31726-31728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12455]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2020-N041; FXES11130400000C2-201-FF04E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for White Fringeless Orchid

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability for public review and comment of the draft recovery plan 
for the Platanthera integrilabia (white fringeless orchid), a plant 
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We request 
review and comment on the draft recovery plan

[[Page 31727]]

from local, State, and Federal agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental 
organizations, and the public.

DATES: We must receive comments by August 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining documents: You may obtain or request a copy by any 
of the following methods:
     Internet: https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/;
     Telephone: Geoff Call, 931-525-4983; or
    Submitting comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit your 
comments by the following method:
     Email: [email protected]. Please include ``White 
Fringeless Orchid Draft Recovery Plan Comments'' in the subject line.
    For additional information about submitting comments, see Public 
Comments below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoff Call, [email protected], 931-
525-4983. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announce the availability for public review and comment of 
the draft recovery plan for the Platanthera integrilabia (white 
fringeless orchid), a plant listed as threatened under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The draft recovery plan 
includes specific recovery objectives and criteria we have identified 
to better assist us in determining when the protections of the ESA are 
no longer necessary. We request review and comment on this draft 
recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental 
organizations, and the public.

Background

    White fringeless orchid is a perennial herb of the Orchidaceae 
family (orchid family). The species is restricted to 48 populations in 
6 southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South 
Carolina, and Tennessee. White fringeless orchid habitat has 
historically been described as partially shaded areas with sandy and 
acidic soils in wet areas like seeps, bogs, or swamps; however, the 
species also occurs in areas that differ in light and moisture 
availability.
    The ESA states that a species may be listed as endangered or 
threatened based on one or more of the five factors outlined in section 
4(a)(1). The white fringeless orchid is threatened primarily by 
destruction and modification of habitat (Listing Factor A) resulting in 
excessive shading, soil disturbance, altered hydrology, and 
proliferation of invasive plant species; collecting for recreational or 
commercial purposes (Listing Factor B); herbivory (Listing Factor C); 
and small population sizes and dependence on specific pollinators and 
fungi to complete its life cycle (Listing Factor E). Existing 
regulatory mechanisms have not reduced or removed the threats posed to 
the species from these factors (Listing Factor D). As a result of these 
threats, white fringeless orchid was listed as threatened under the ESA 
on September 13, 2016 (81 FR 62826).

Recovery Plan

    Section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires the development of recovery 
plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote the 
conservation of a particular species. The purpose of a recovery plan is 
to provide an effective and feasible roadmap for a species' recovery, 
with the goal of improving its status and managing its threats to the 
point where the protections of the ESA are no longer needed. The ESA 
requires that, to the maximum extent practicable, recovery plans 
incorporate the following:
     Objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would 
result in a determination that the species is no longer threatened or 
endangered;
     Site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the 
plan's goal for conservation and survival of the species; and
     Estimates of the time required and costs to implement 
recovery plans.
    Recovery plans provide important guidance to the Service, States, 
other partners, and the general public on methods for minimizing 
threats to listed species and objectives against which to measure the 
progress towards recovery. A recovery plan identifies, organizes, and 
prioritizes recovery actions and is an important guide that ensures 
sound scientific decision-making throughout the recovery plan, which 
can take decades.
    Section 4(f)(4) of the ESA requires us to provide public notice and 
an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan 
development. We will consider all information presented during a public 
comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. 
We and other Federal agencies will take these comments into 
consideration in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The draft recovery plan for the white fringeless orchid describes 
actions necessary for the recovery of the species, establishes criteria 
for its delisting, and estimates the time and cost for implementing 
specific measures needed to recover the species. The ultimate goal of 
this draft recovery plan is to ensure the long-term viability of the 
white fringeless orchid in the wild to the point that it can be removed 
from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants in title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR 17.12).

Recovery Criteria

    The draft recovery plan proposes that the white fringeless orchid 
will be considered for delisting when:
    1. Monitoring over a 10-year period demonstrates stable or 
increasing population growth rates for at least 26 protected 
populations with resilience levels of moderate to very high (as 
described in the Species Status Assessment). To ensure adequate 
representation and redundancy, these populations must be distributed 
among Environmental Protection Agency Level III Ecoregions as shown in 
the following table (addresses Factors A and E):

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Resilience level
                                                                 --------------------------------
                       Level III ecoregion                                         High or  very       Total
                                                                     Moderate          high
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Ridge......................................................               2               1               3
Piedmont........................................................               2               2               4
Ridge and Valley................................................  ..............               1               1
Southeastern Plains.............................................               1               1               2
Southwestern Appalachians *.....................................              10               6              16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* At least two of the resilient populations in the Southwestern Appalachians should be located in Georgia or
  Alabama to ensure representation in the southern portion of the ecoregion.


[[Page 31728]]

    2. Written management agreements have been reached with partners/
landowners that allow for sustained monitoring and management of white 
fringeless orchid populations that demonstrate moderate to very high 
resilience (addresses Factor A).
    3. The species could be considered for delisting if 40 populations 
with resilience levels of moderate to very high (as described in the 
SSA), protected or unprotected, are distributed among the EPA Level III 
Ecoregions where the species occurs. At least half of these populations 
must have resilience levels of high or very high (addresses Factor A 
and E).

Request for Public Comments

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

Leopoldo Miranda-Castro,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2021-12455 Filed 6-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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