80 FR 54308 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Recovery Plan for Dusky Gopher Frog

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 174 (September 9, 2015)

Page Range		54308-54309
FR Document		2015-22733

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the final recovery plan for the endangered dusky gopher frog. The recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria that must be met in order for us to downlist the frog to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54308-54309]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22733]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2015-N148; FXES1130400000C2-156-FF04E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Recovery 
Plan for Dusky Gopher Frog

AGENCY:  Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY:  We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the final recovery plan for the endangered dusky gopher 
frog. The recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and 
criteria that must be met in order for us to downlist the frog to 
threatened status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

ADDRESSES:  You may obtain a copy of the recovery plan from our Web 
site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. You 
may also request a copy of the recovery plan by contacting Linda 
LaClaire at the Mississippi Field Office, by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Mississippi Field Office, 6578 Dogwood View Pkwy, 
Jackson, MS 39213 (telephone 601-321-1126).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Linda LaClaire (see ADDRESSES, 
above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the 
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). Recovery means

[[Page 54309]]

improvement of the status of listed species to the point at which 
listing is no longer needed under any criteria specified in section 
4(a)(1) of the Act. 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. The Act requires the development of 
recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote 
the conservation of a particular species.
    The Service listed the Mississippi gopher frog (Rana capito sevosa) 
under the Act, as an endangered distinct vertebrate population segment 
(DPS) of the gopher frog (Rana capito) on December 4, 2001 (66 FR 
62993). On June 12, 2012, we published a final rule (77 FR 35118) 
designating critical habitat for this listed entity, changing its 
status to ``species,'' and changing its name to dusky gopher frog (Rana 
sevosa) based on taxonomic changes and the acceptance of these changes 
by the herpetological scientific community. The frog's current 
distribution is restricted to the State of Mississippi. At the time of 
listing, only one population of the species was known. Subsequently, 
two other naturally occurring populations were discovered. One 
additional dusky gopher frog population has been established in 
Mississippi as a result of translocation experiments. Presently, we 
estimate that a minimum of 135 individual adult frogs survive in the 
wild, the vast majority of which occur in the original population known 
at the time of listing.
    Principal threats to the dusky gopher frog include degradation and 
destruction of breeding and nonbreeding habitat, habitat fragmentation, 
and alteration of hydrological patterns due to urbanization and climate 
change. Additional threats include the restricted range of the dusky 
gopher frog, its small number of populations, and disease. All these 
factors act to increase the vulnerability of the species to a single 
catastrophic event and to the deleterious effects of genetic 
inbreeding.

Recovery Plan

    Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an 
opportunity for public review and comment prior to final approval of 
recovery plans. We and other Federal agencies will take these comments 
into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Dusky Gopher Frog 
was developed by the Dusky Gopher Frog Recovery Team and our 
Mississippi Field Office. This draft plan was published on September 
10, 2014, and made available for public comment through November 10, 
2014 (79 FR 53728).
    We received public comments on our draft recovery plan and 
incorporated them into the final plan, as appropriate. We also 
considered the information we received from peer reviewers in our 
preparation and approval of this final recovery plan.

Recovery Plan Components

    The Service's recovery objectives are to work to reduce threats so 
that the dusky gopher frog may be downlisted to threatened status. 
Defining reasonable delisting criteria is not possible at this time, 
given the current low number of populations and individuals, lack of 
information about the species' biology, and magnitude of threats. 
Therefore, this recovery plan only establishes downlisting criteria for 
the dusky gopher frog.
    Downlisting of the dusky gopher frog will be considered when:
    1. Six viable metapopulations* are documented within blocks of 
recovery focus areas (described in Section II of the recovery plan) and 
are widely distributed across the range of the species. The six 
metapopulations would include a minimum of 12 breeding ponds and would 
be distributed as follows:
    a. One metapopulation in Block #1 (Louisiana: Portions of St. 
Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes, west to the Tangipahoa 
River);
    b. Two metapopulations each in Block #2 (South-Central Mississippi: 
North of State Hwy. 26, between the Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers; 
Forrest County and portions of Lamar, Pearl River, Perry, and Stone 
Counties) and Block #3 (South Mississippi: South of Hwy. 26, between 
the Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers; Hancock and Harrison Counties, and 
portions of Jackson, George, Pearl River, and Stone Counties); and
    c. One metapopulation in either Block #4 (Eastern Mississippi: East 
of Pascagoula/Leaf Rivers; portions of George, Greene, Jackson, and 
Wayne Counties) or Block #5 (Alabama: West of the Mobile River Delta; 
Mobile and Washington Counties, small portion of Choctaw County).
    2. Long-term monitoring (at least 10 years) of each metapopulation 
is able to document population viability (viability standard to be 
defined through a recovery task). The 10-year timeframe will allow 
monitoring of recruitment events and other population attributes in a 
species that has been characterized by highly variable reproductive and 
survival rates. In each of at least two annual breeding events within a 
3-year period, a total of 30 egg masses per metapopulation must be 
documented and recruitment must be verified.
    3. Breeding and adjacent upland habitats within the six 
metapopulations are protected long term through management agreements, 
public ownership, or other means, in sufficient quantity and quality 
(to be determined by recovery task) to support growing populations.
    4. Studies of the dusky gopher frog's biological and ecological 
requirements are completed, and any required recovery measures 
discovered during these studies are developed and implemented.
    * Information defining what constitutes a viable metapopulation can 
be found in the Service's final recovery plan.

Authority

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

    Dated: July 24, 2015.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-22733 Filed 9-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

54308 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Notices

• More real time accurate require the submission of electronic Paperwork Reduction Act
transportation data, such as date and export manifest data before the cargo is As noted above, CBP will be accepting
port of export, when linked to the AES loaded onto the train for all no more than nine participants in the
EEI filing, thereby potentially reducing international shipments destined from ACE Export Manifest for Rail Cargo
the likelihood of penalties (issued to the United States. The results of the test Test. This means that fewer than ten
exporters and/or carriers) pursuant to 15 will help determine the relevant data persons will be subject to any
CFR part 30 for incorrect information; elements, the time frame within which information collections under this test.
• Increases in security by leveraging data should be submitted to permit CBP Accordingly, collections of information
CBP threat model and other data to to effectively target, identify, and within this notice are exempted from
employ a risk-based approach to mitigate any risk with the least impact the requirements of the Paperwork
improve rail cargo security and to practicable on trade operations, and any Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3502
ensure compliance with U.S. export other related procedures and policies. and 3507).
laws, rules and regulations through
targeted screening; Confidentiality Dated: September 3, 2015.
• The ability to provide input into Todd C. Owen,
CBP efforts to establish, test, and refine All data submitted and entered into
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field
the interface between government and ACE is subject to the Trade Secrets Act Operations.
industry communication systems for the (18 U.S.C. 1905) and is considered
[FR Doc. 2015–22671 Filed 9–8–15; 8:45 am]
implementation of the electronic export confidential, except to the extent as
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
manifest system; otherwise provided by law. However,
• Facilitation of corporate participation in this or any ACE test is
preparedness for future mandatory not confidential and upon a written
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
implementation of electronic export
manifest submission requirements; and request, the name(s) of an approved
Fish and Wildlife Service
• Facilitation of the movement of participant(s) will be disclosed by CBP
legitimate cargo being transported by in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552. [FWS–R4–ES–2015–N148;
rail across U.S. borders with Canada and FXES1130400000C2–156–FF04E00000]
Misconduct Under the Test
Mexico.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Regulatory and Statutory Requirements If a test participant fails to abide by and Plants; Final Recovery Plan for
the rules, procedures, or terms and Dusky Gopher Frog
Participation in the ACE Export conditions of this and all other
Manifest for Rail Cargo Test does not applicable Federal Register Notices, AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
alter the participant’s obligations to fails to exercise reasonable care in the Interior.
comply with any other applicable
execution of participant obligations, or ACTION: Notice of availability.
statutory and regulatory requirements
otherwise fails to comply with all
and participants will still be subject to SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife
applicable laws and regulations, then
applicable penalties for non- Service (Service), announce the
the participant may be suspended from
compliance. In addition, submission of availability of the final recovery plan for
participation in this test and/or
data under the test does not exempt the the endangered dusky gopher frog. The
subjected to penalties, liquidated
participant from any CBP or other U.S. recovery plan includes specific recovery
damages, and/or other administrative or
Government agency program objectives and criteria that must be met
judicial sanction. Additionally, CBP has
requirements or any statutory sanctions in order for us to downlist the frog to
the right to suspend a test participant
in the event that a violation of U.S. threatened status under the Endangered
based on a determination that an
export laws or prohibited articles are Species Act of 1973, as amended.
unacceptable compliance risk exists.
discovered within a shipment/container
If CBP determines that a suspension is ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of
presented for export destined from the
warranted, CBP will notify the the recovery plan from our Web site at
United States on a train owned and/or
participant of this decision, the facts or http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
operated by the participant.
conduct warranting suspension, and the species/recovery-plans.html. You may
Duration and Evaluation of the ACE date when the suspension will be also request a copy of the recovery plan
Export Manifest for Rail Cargo Test effective. In the case of willful by contacting Linda LaClaire at the
The test will be activated on a case- misconduct, or where public health Mississippi Field Office, by U.S. mail at
by-case basis with each participant and interests or safety are concerned, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
may be limited to a single or small suspension may be effective Mississippi Field Office, 6578 Dogwood
number of ports until any operational, immediately. This decision may be View Pkwy, Jackson, MS 39213
training, or technical issues on either appealed in writing to the Assistant (telephone 601–321–1126).
the trade or government side are Commissioner, Office of Field FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
established and/or resolved. The test Operations, within 15 days of Linda LaClaire (see ADDRESSES, above).
will run for approximately two years notification. The appeal should address SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
from October 9, 2015. While the test is the facts or conduct charges contained
ongoing, CBP will evaluate the results in the notice and state how the Background
and determine whether the test will be participant has or will achieve Recovery of endangered or threatened
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extended, expanded to include compliance. CBP will notify the animals and plants to the point where
additional participants, or otherwise participant within 30 days of receipt of they are again secure, self-sustaining
modified. CBP will announce any such an appeal whether the appeal is granted. members of their ecosystems is a
modifications by notice in the Federal If the participant has already been primary goal of our endangered species
Register. When sufficient test analysis suspended, CBP will notify the program and the Endangered Species
and evaluation has been conducted, participant when their participation in Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C.
CBP intends to begin rulemaking to the test will be reinstated. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Notices 54309

improvement of the status of listed The Technical/Agency Draft Recovery will allow monitoring of recruitment
species to the point at which listing is Plan for the Dusky Gopher Frog was events and other population attributes
no longer needed under any criteria developed by the Dusky Gopher Frog in a species that has been characterized
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. Recovery Team and our Mississippi by highly variable reproductive and
To help guide the recovery effort, we Field Office. This draft plan was survival rates. In each of at least two
prepare recovery plans for most listed published on September 10, 2014, and annual breeding events within a 3-year
species. Recovery plans describe actions made available for public comment period, a total of 30 egg masses per
considered necessary for conservation of through November 10, 2014 (79 FR metapopulation must be documented
the species, establish criteria for 53728). and recruitment must be verified.
downlisting or delisting, and estimate We received public comments on our 3. Breeding and adjacent upland
time and cost for implementing recovery draft recovery plan and incorporated habitats within the six metapopulations
measures. The Act requires the them into the final plan, as appropriate. are protected long term through
development of recovery plans for listed We also considered the information we management agreements, public
species, unless such a plan would not received from peer reviewers in our ownership, or other means, in sufficient
promote the conservation of a particular preparation and approval of this final quantity and quality (to be determined
species. recovery plan. by recovery task) to support growing
The Service listed the Mississippi Recovery Plan Components populations.
gopher frog (Rana capito sevosa) under 4. Studies of the dusky gopher frog’s
the Act, as an endangered distinct The Service’s recovery objectives are biological and ecological requirements
vertebrate population segment (DPS) of to work to reduce threats so that the are completed, and any required
the gopher frog (Rana capito) on dusky gopher frog may be downlisted to recovery measures discovered during
December 4, 2001 (66 FR 62993). On threatened status. Defining reasonable these studies are developed and
June 12, 2012, we published a final rule delisting criteria is not possible at this implemented.
(77 FR 35118) designating critical time, given the current low number of * Information defining what
habitat for this listed entity, changing its populations and individuals, lack of constitutes a viable metapopulation can
status to ‘‘species,’’ and changing its information about the species’ biology, be found in the Service’s final recovery
name to dusky gopher frog (Rana and magnitude of threats. Therefore, plan.
sevosa) based on taxonomic changes this recovery plan only establishes
downlisting criteria for the dusky Authority
and the acceptance of these changes by
the herpetological scientific community. gopher frog. The authority for this action is section
Downlisting of the dusky gopher frog 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16
The frog’s current distribution is
will be considered when: U.S.C. 1533 (f).
restricted to the State of Mississippi. At 1. Six viable metapopulations* are
the time of listing, only one population documented within blocks of recovery Dated: July 24, 2015.
of the species was known. focus areas (described in Section II of Cynthia K. Dohner,
Subsequently, two other naturally the recovery plan) and are widely Regional Director, Southeast Region.
occurring populations were discovered. distributed across the range of the [FR Doc. 2015–22733 Filed 9–8–15; 8:45 am]
One additional dusky gopher frog species. The six metapopulations would BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
population has been established in include a minimum of 12 breeding
Mississippi as a result of translocation ponds and would be distributed as
experiments. Presently, we estimate that follows: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
a minimum of 135 individual adult a. One metapopulation in Block #1
frogs survive in the wild, the vast (Louisiana: Portions of St. Tammany, U.S. Geological Survey
majority of which occur in the original Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes, [GX155EE000101000]
population known at the time of listing. west to the Tangipahoa River);
Principal threats to the dusky gopher b. Two metapopulations each in Block Agency Information Collection
frog include degradation and #2 (South-Central Mississippi: North of Activities: Request for Comments
destruction of breeding and State Hwy. 26, between the Pearl and
nonbreeding habitat, habitat Pascagoula Rivers; Forrest County and AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
fragmentation, and alteration of portions of Lamar, Pearl River, Perry, Interior.
hydrological patterns due to and Stone Counties) and Block #3 ACTION: Notice of a new information
urbanization and climate change. (South Mississippi: South of Hwy. 26, collection, Doug D. Nebert NSDI
Additional threats include the restricted between the Pearl and Pascagoula Champion of the Year Award.
range of the dusky gopher frog, its small Rivers; Hancock and Harrison Counties,
number of populations, and disease. All and portions of Jackson, George, Pearl SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological
these factors act to increase the River, and Stone Counties); and Survey) will ask the Office of
vulnerability of the species to a single c. One metapopulation in either Block Management and Budget (OMB) to
catastrophic event and to the deleterious #4 (Eastern Mississippi: East of approve the information collection (IC)
effects of genetic inbreeding. Pascagoula/Leaf Rivers; portions of described below. As required by the
George, Greene, Jackson, and Wayne Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
Recovery Plan 1995, and as part of our continuing
Counties) or Block #5 (Alabama: West of
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to the Mobile River Delta; Mobile and efforts to reduce paperwork and
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

provide public notice and an Washington Counties, small portion of respondent burden, we invite the
opportunity for public review and Choctaw County). general public and other Federal
comment prior to final approval of 2. Long-term monitoring (at least 10 agencies to take this opportunity to
recovery plans. We and other Federal years) of each metapopulation is able to comment on this IC.
agencies will take these comments into document population viability (viability DATES: To ensure that your comments
account in the course of implementing standard to be defined through a are considered, we must receive them
approved recovery plans. recovery task). The 10-year timeframe on or before November 9, 2015.

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:53:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:53:42

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
FR Citation		80 FR 54308

80 FR 54308 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Recovery Plan for Dusky Gopher Frog

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 174 (September 9, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service