81 FR 12930 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Central California Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 48 (March 11, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 48 (March 11, 2016)
| Page Range | 12930-12931 | |
| FR Document | 2016-05492 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 12930-12931] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-05492] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R8-ES-2015-N229; FXES11130000-156-FF08E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Central California Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Central California Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) (Central California tiger salamander) for public review and comment. This draft recovery plan includes delisting objectives and criteria, and specific actions necessary to remove the species from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. DATES: We must receive any comments on this revised draft recovery plan on or before May 10, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of this draft recovery plan from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. Alternatively, you may contact the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825 (telephone 916-414-6700). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Norris, Field Supervisor, at the above street address or telephone number (see ADDRESSES). 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 improvement of the status of listed species to the point at which listing is no longer appropriate under the criteria specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. 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 Central California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) was federally listed as a threatened species on August 4, 2004 (69 FR 47212). Central California tiger salamanders are endemic to the San Joaquin-Sacramento River valleys, bordering foothills, and coastal valleys of Central California and inhabit primarily annual grasslands and open woodlands. California tiger salamanders spend the majority of their lives underground in small mammal burrows, although ponds play an equally important role because they are required for breeding. Breeding sites are typically fish-free ephemeral ponds that fill during winter and dry by summer. Historically, California tiger salamanders utilized vernal pools as breeding sites, but the species now also commonly breeds in livestock ponds. The loss and subsequent fragmentation of habitat is the primary threat to the Central California tiger salamander. Habitat loss has primarily occurred from urban expansion and agricultural conversion. Habitat fragmentation restricts dispersal and isolates populations of the Central California tiger salamander, thereby increasing the likelihood of inbreeding, decreasing fitness, and reducing genetic diversity. In addition to habitat loss, Central California tiger salamanders are subject to the cumulative effects of a number of other existing and potential threats, including: Hybridization with non- native barred tiger salamanders, road mortality, climate change, contaminants, disease, and predation by non-native species. Recovery Plan Goals The purpose of a recovery plan is to provide a framework for the recovery of species so that protection under the Act is no longer necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the species and provides criteria that enable us to gauge whether downlisting or delisting the species is warranted. Furthermore, recovery plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we consider necessary for each species' conservation and by estimating time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures. The goal of this draft recovery plan is to improve the status of Central California tiger salamander so that it can be delisted. To meet the recovery goal of delisting, the following objectives have been identified: 1. Secure self-sustaining populations of Central California tiger salamander throughout their full range, ensuring conservation of genetic variability and diverse habitat types (e.g., variation in elevation and precipitation). 2. Ameliorate or eliminate the threats that caused the species to be listed, and any future threats. 3. Restore and conserve a healthy ecosystem supportive of Central California tiger salamander populations. The strategy to recover the Central California tiger salamander focuses on alleviating the threat of habitat loss and fragmentation in order to increase population resiliency (ensure a large enough population to withstand stochastic events) and redundancy (a sufficient number of populations to ensure the species can withstand catastrophic events). Recovery of this species can be achieved by addressing the conservation of remaining aquatic and upland habitat that provides essential connectivity, reduces fragmentation, and sufficiently buffers [[Page 12931]] against encroaching development and intensive agricultural land uses. Appropriate management of these areas will also reduce mortality by addressing non-habitat related threats, including those from non-native and hybrid tiger salamanders, other non-native species, contaminants, disease, and road mortality. Research and monitoring should be undertaken to determine the extent of known threats, identify new threats, and reduce them to the extent possible. As the Central California tiger salamander meets delisting criteria, we will review its status and consider it for removal from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Public Comments Solicited We invite written comments on the draft recovery plan. All comments received by the date specified in DATES will be considered in development of a final recovery plan for the Central California tiger salamander. You may submit written comments and information by mail or in person to the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES). Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority We developed this draft recovery plan under the authority of section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Alexandra Pitts, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2016-05492 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![12930 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices
(1) Whether the proposed collection tiger salamander (Ambystoma The loss and subsequent
of information is necessary for the californiense) (Central California tiger fragmentation of habitat is the primary
proper performance of the functions of salamander) for public review and threat to the Central California tiger
the agency, including whether the comment. This draft recovery plan salamander. Habitat loss has primarily
information will have practical utility; includes delisting objectives and occurred from urban expansion and
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s criteria, and specific actions necessary agricultural conversion. Habitat
estimate of the burden of the proposed to remove the species from the Federal fragmentation restricts dispersal and
collection of information; Lists of Endangered and Threatened isolates populations of the Central
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, Wildlife and Plants. California tiger salamander, thereby
utility, and clarity of the information to DATES: We must receive any comments
increasing the likelihood of inbreeding,
be collected; and on this revised draft recovery plan on or decreasing fitness, and reducing genetic
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of before May 10, 2016. diversity. In addition to habitat loss,
the collection of information on those Central California tiger salamanders are
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of subject to the cumulative effects of a
who are to respond, including through
the use of appropriate automated this draft recovery plan from our Web number of other existing and potential
collection techniques or other forms of site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ threats, including: Hybridization with
information technology, e.g., permitting species/recovery-plans.html. non-native barred tiger salamanders,
electronic submission of responses. Alternatively, you may contact the road mortality, climate change,
HUD encourages not only program Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, contaminants, disease, and predation by
participants but interested persons to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 non-native species.
submit comments regarding the Cottage Way, Suite W–2605,
Sacramento, CA 95825 (telephone 916– Recovery Plan Goals
information collection requirements in
this proposal. Comments must be 414–6700). The purpose of a recovery plan is to
received by May 10, 2016 to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: provide a framework for the recovery of
www.regulations.gov as provided under Jennifer Norris, Field Supervisor, at the species so that protection under the Act
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. above street address or telephone is no longer necessary. A recovery plan
Comments must refer to the proposal by number (see ADDRESSES). includes scientific information about
name and docket number (FR–5173–N– the species and provides criteria that
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
02). enable us to gauge whether downlisting
Following consideration of public Background or delisting the species is warranted.
comments submitted in response to this Furthermore, recovery plans help guide
Recovery of endangered or threatened
notice, HUD will submit for further our recovery efforts by describing
animals and plants to the point where
public comment, for a period of 30 days, actions we consider necessary for each
they are again secure, self-sustaining
a version of the Assessment Tool that species’ conservation and by estimating
members of their ecosystems is a
reflects consideration of the public time and costs for implementing needed
primary goal of our endangered species
comments received in response to this recovery measures.
program and the Endangered Species The goal of this draft recovery plan is
notice. Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. to improve the status of Central
Dated: March 7, 2016. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means California tiger salamander so that it can
George D. Williams, improvement of the status of listed be delisted. To meet the recovery goal
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, species to the point at which listing is of delisting, the following objectives
Legislative Initiatives and Outreach. no longer appropriate under the criteria have been identified:
[FR Doc. 2016–05521 Filed 3–10–16; 8:45 am]
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. 1. Secure self-sustaining populations
The Act requires the development of of Central California tiger salamander
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
recovery plans for listed species, unless throughout their full range, ensuring
such a plan would not promote the conservation of genetic variability and
conservation of a particular species. diverse habitat types (e.g., variation in
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The Central California tiger elevation and precipitation).
Fish and Wildlife Service salamander (Ambystoma californiense) 2. Ameliorate or eliminate the threats
was federally listed as a threatened that caused the species to be listed, and
[FWS–R8–ES–2015–N229; FXES11130000– species on August 4, 2004 (69 FR any future threats.
156–FF08E00000] 47212). Central California tiger 3. Restore and conserve a healthy
salamanders are endemic to the San ecosystem supportive of Central
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Joaquin-Sacramento River valleys, California tiger salamander populations.
and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the
bordering foothills, and coastal valleys The strategy to recover the Central
Central California Distinct Population
of Central California and inhabit California tiger salamander focuses on
Segment of the California Tiger
primarily annual grasslands and open alleviating the threat of habitat loss and
Salamander (Ambystoma
woodlands. California tiger salamanders fragmentation in order to increase
californiense)
spend the majority of their lives population resiliency (ensure a large
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, underground in small mammal burrows, enough population to withstand
Interior. although ponds play an equally stochastic events) and redundancy (a
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice of document important role because they are required sufficient number of populations to
availability. for breeding. Breeding sites are typically ensure the species can withstand
fish-free ephemeral ponds that fill catastrophic events). Recovery of this
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and during winter and dry by summer. species can be achieved by addressing
Wildlife Service, announce the Historically, California tiger the conservation of remaining aquatic
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan salamanders utilized vernal pools as and upland habitat that provides
for the Central California Distinct breeding sites, but the species now also essential connectivity, reduces
Population Segment of the California commonly breeds in livestock ponds. fragmentation, and sufficiently buffers
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices 12931
against encroaching development and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR USGS using Earth Explorer (EE)
intensive agricultural land uses. application. This information is used to
Appropriate management of these areas U.S. Geological Survey help address reports to Congress, OMB
will also reduce mortality by addressing [GX16ED00CPN00] and DOI management with planning
non-habitat related threats, including public uses of Landsat and other remote
those from non-native and hybrid tiger Agency Information Collection sensing data. The most common uses of
salamanders, other non-native species, Activities: Request for Comments on these data are used to justify the
contaminants, disease, and road the Earth Explorer User Registration maintenance and the free distribution of
mortality. Research and monitoring Service the USGS land remote sensing data. EE
should be undertaken to determine the also stores information about users that
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), download source code products, Global
extent of known threats, identify new Interior.
threats, and reduce them to the extent Visualization Viewer (GloVis) for
ACTION: Notice of a new information example. The information collected in
possible. As the Central California tiger collection, Earth Explorer User the database includes the names,
salamander meets delisting criteria, we Registration Service. affiliations, addresses, email address
will review its status and consider it for and telephone numbers of individuals.
removal from the Federal Lists of SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological
The information is gathered to facilitate
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Survey) are notifying the public that we
the reporting of demographic data for
and Plants. have submitted to the Office of
use of the EE Application. Demographic
Management and Budget (OMB) the
Public Comments Solicited data is also used to make decisions on
information collection request (ICR)
future functional requirements within
described below. To comply with the
We invite written comments on the the system.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) Earth Explorer is a Web application
draft recovery plan. All comments
and as part of our continuing efforts to that enables users to find, preview, and
received by the date specified in DATES
reduce paperwork and respondent download or order digital data
will be considered in development of a burden, we invite the general public and
final recovery plan for the Central published by the U.S. Geological
other Federal agencies to take this Survey. There are more than 300 USGS
California tiger salamander. You may opportunity to comment on this ICR.
submit written comments and Datasets available from the site. To
DATES: To ensure that your comments download or order products from EE,
information by mail or in person to the on this ICR are considered, we must
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office users must register with the EE system.
receive them on or before April 11, The information is stored on an
(see ADDRESSES). 2016. internal encrypted database. The data is
Public Availability of Comments ADDRESSES: Please submit written provided by the customer and utilized
comments on this information to notify the customer of data ready for
Before including your address, phone collection directly to the Office of download. If downloads are
number, email address, or other Management and Budget (OMB), Office unsuccessful, the customer is contacted
personal identifying information in your of Information and Regulatory Affairs, to provide updated information. In
comment, you should be aware that Attention: Desk Officer for the addition, EE requires certain fields to be
your entire comment—including your Department of the Interior, via email: completed such as name, address, city
personal identifying information—may (OIRA_SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov); or and zip code before an account can be
be made publicly available at any time. by fax (202) 395–5806; and identify your established and an order can be
While you can ask us in your comment submission with ‘OMB Control Number submitted.
to withhold your personal identifying 1028–NEW Earth Explorer User EE does not derive new data and does
information from public review, we Registration Service’. Please also not create new data through aggregation.
cannot guarantee that we will be able to forward a copy of your comments and Personal information is not used as
do so. suggestions on this information search criteria. Access to the
collection to the Information Collection information uses the least privileged
Authority Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological access methodology. Authorized
Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS individuals with specifically granted
We developed this draft recovery plan access to the Privacy Act data can
under the authority of section 4(f) of the 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703)
648–7195 (fax); or gs-info_collections@ retrieve only by account number or
Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this order number Personal data is encrypted
usgs.gov (email). Please reference ‘OMB
notice under section 4(f) of the while stored in the Database.
Information Collection 1028–NEW:
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
Earth Explorer User Registration II. Data
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Service’ in all correspondence.
OMB Control Number: 1028–NEW.
Alexandra Pitts, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Title: Earth Explorer User Registration
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Ryan Longhenry, Earth Resources Service.
Region. Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Type of Request: Approval of new
[FR Doc. 2016–05492 Filed 3–10–16; 8:45 am] U.S. Geological Survey, 47914 252nd information collection.
St., Sioux Falls, SD 57198 (mail); 605– Respondent Obligation: Required to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
594–6179 (phone); or rlonghenry@ obtain or retain a benefit.
usgs.gov (email). Frequency of Collection: The
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: information is collected at the time of
registration and is only updated by the
I. Abstract individual. Updates to the information
The USGS proposes to collect general are accomplished by the individual
demographic information about public when they feel the need to update.
users that download products from the Occasions’ that user might want to
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Document Created: 2016-03-11 01:51:48
Document Modified: 2016-03-11 01:51:48
| 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 document availability. | |
| Dates | We must receive any comments on this revised draft recovery plan on or before May 10, 2016. | |
| Contact | Jennifer Norris, Field Supervisor, at | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 12930 |
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