81 FR 75837 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Chucky Madtom
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 211 (November 1, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 211 (November 1, 2016)
| Page Range | 75837-75838 | |
| FR Document | 2016-26330 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 75837-75838] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-26330] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R4-ES-2016-N152]; [FXES11130400000C2-167-FF04E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Chucky Madtom AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for the endangered chucky madtom, a fish. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria that must be met in order for us to reclassify this species to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public. DATES: In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before January 3, 2017. ADDRESSES: Reviewing documents: If you wish to review this technical/ agency draft recovery plan, you may obtain a copy by contacting Mary E. Jennings, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, TN 38501; tel. 931-528-6481; or by visiting the Service's Tennessee Field Office Web site at http://www.fws.gov/cookeville. Submitting comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by one of the following methods: 1. You may submit written comments and materials to us, at the above address. 2. You may hand-deliver written comments to our Tennessee Field Office, at the above address, or fax them to 931-528-7075. 3. You may send comments by email to [email protected]. Please include ``Chucky Madtom Draft Recovery Plan Comments'' on the subject line. For additional information about submitting comments, see the ``Request for Public Comments'' section below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary E. Jennings (see ADDRESSES). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background We listed the chucky madtom (Noturus crypticus; a small fish) as endangered under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on August 9, 2011 (76 FR 48722). The chucky madtom grows to 2.9 inches (7.4 centimeters) total length and is endemic to the upper Tennessee River system in Tennessee. This fish is historically known from two creek systems, but only currently persists in Little Chucky Creek where only 14 individuals have ever been collected. All 14 have been collected at this site since 1991; however, none have been captured since 2004. Chucky madtoms are currently known from a single tributary to the Nolichucky River in stream sections 5 to 7 meters (16 to 23 feet) wide in riffle and swim through streams lined by water willow (Justicia americana) beds with slow-to-moderate current over pea-sized gravel, cobble, or slab-rock substrates. In addition to habitat degradation, threats to the species include extreme curtailment of habitat and range, small population size and low numbers, inability to offset mortality with natural reproduction and recruitment, and their resulting vulnerability to natural or human induced catastrophic events (e.g., droughts, pollution spills, etc.). Surviving populations are threatened by water quality and habitat deterioration. Another potential threat is introduced crayfishes (Orconectes sp.), which are thought to compete with chucky madtoms for access to the little habitat that is available in Little Chucky Creek. Approximately 20 river miles (32 river kilometers) of stream channels in Little Chucky Creek, Greene County, Tennessee, have been designated as critical habitat for the chucky madtom (77 FR 63604). This fish has a recovery priority number of 5 which indicates the species faces a high degree of threat, but has a low recovery potential. 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 our endangered species program. 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 [[Page 75838]] 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 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 account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. Recovery Plan Components The recovery objectives are to work to reduce threats in order to downlist the chucky madtom to threatened status. Defining reasonable delisting criteria is not possible at this time given the current low number of individuals, extreme curtailment of the species' range, extensive modification and fragment of habitat with the species' historical range, lack of information about the species' biology, and magnitude of other existing threats. Therefore, this recovery plan establishes only downlisting criteria for this catfish. Criteria will be reevaluated as new information becomes available. Downlisting of chucky madtom will be considered when: 1. Suitable instream and riparian habitat, flows, and water quality for chucky madtom as defined by the best available science (to be refined by recovery actions), exist in occupied streams (addresses Factor A). 2. Population studies show that a viable chucky madtom population in Little Chucky Creek and at least 1 other stream (Dunn Creek, Jackson Branch; e.g., the only known stream representing the historical range of the species) are naturally recruiting (consisting of two year classes in the fall months) and sustainable over a period of 20-30 years (10 generations) (addresses Factors A, C, 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. 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 The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: September 6, 2016. Mike Oetker, Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2016-26330 Filed 10-31-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices 75837
paying an annual premium may be a Dated: October 24, 2016. For additional information about
hardship for some potential borrowers, Lourdes Castro Ramirez, submitting comments, see the ‘‘Request
HUD believes it will have a limited Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for for Public Comments’’ section below.
impact on the demand for the program, Public and Indian Housing. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
and the new annual premium will allow [FR Doc. 2016–26331 Filed 10–31–16; 8:45 am] Mary E. Jennings (see ADDRESSES).
HUD to continue to meet the demand BILLING CODE 4210–67–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
for mortgage lending transactions in
fiscal year 2017 so that more Indian and Background
Alaska Native families have the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR We listed the chucky madtom
opportunity to become homeowners. (Noturus crypticus; a small fish) as
Fish and Wildlife Service endangered under the Act (16 U.S.C.
To reduce some of the impact
[FWS–R4–ES–2016–N152]; 1531 et seq.) on August 9, 2011 (76 FR
accompanying the annual premium, the
[FXES11130400000C2–167–FF04E00000] 48722). The chucky madtom grows to
payment of the annual premium can be
2.9 inches (7.4 centimeters) total length
made through monthly payments, to and is endemic to the upper Tennessee
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
spread out the cost for borrowers, or and Plants; Technical/Agency Draft River system in Tennessee. This fish is
annual and lump sum payments, to Recovery Plan for the Chucky Madtom historically known from two creek
keep a borrower’s monthly payment systems, but only currently persists in
lower. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Little Chucky Creek where only 14
This notice increases the Section 184 Interior. individuals have ever been collected.
program annual premium to 0.25 ACTION: Notice of availability and All 14 have been collected at this site
percent of the remaining loan balance request for public comment. since 1991; however, none have been
for all new case numbers assigned on or captured since 2004.
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Chucky madtoms are currently known
after December 1, 2016 until the unpaid Service (Service), announce the
principal balance, excluding the upfront from a single tributary to the
availability of the technical/agency draft Nolichucky River in stream sections 5 to
loan guarantee fee, reaches 78 percent of recovery plan for the endangered
the lower of the initial sales price or 7 meters (16 to 23 feet) wide in riffle
chucky madtom, a fish. The draft and swim through streams lined by
appraised value based on the initial recovery plan includes specific recovery
amortization schedule. water willow (Justicia americana) beds
objectives and criteria that must be met with slow-to-moderate current over pea-
This notice does not supersede HUD’s in order for us to reclassify this species sized gravel, cobble, or slab-rock
guidance on the cancellation of the to threatened status under the substrates. In addition to habitat
annual premium when the loan reaches Endangered Species Act of 1973, as degradation, threats to the species
the 78 percent loan-to-value ratio that amended (Act). We request review and include extreme curtailment of habitat
was provided in the October 7, 2014 comment on this draft recovery plan and range, small population size and
Notice (79 FR 60492). from local, State, and Federal agencies, low numbers, inability to offset
and the public. mortality with natural reproduction and
IV. Tribal Consultation DATES: In order to be considered, recruitment, and their resulting
comments on the draft recovery plan vulnerability to natural or human
HUD’s policy is to consult with
must be received on or before January 3, induced catastrophic events (e.g.,
Indian tribes early in the process on
2017. droughts, pollution spills, etc.).
matters that have tribal implications.
ADDRESSES: Reviewing documents: If Surviving populations are threatened by
Accordingly, on June 26, 2016, HUD
sent letters to all tribal leaders you wish to review this technical/ water quality and habitat deterioration.
agency draft recovery plan, you may Another potential threat is introduced
participating in the Section 184
obtain a copy by contacting Mary E. crayfishes (Orconectes sp.), which are
program, informing them of the nature
Jennings, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish thought to compete with chucky
of the forthcoming notice and soliciting and Wildlife Service, Tennessee madtoms for access to the little habitat
comments. A summary of comments Ecological Services Field Office, 446 that is available in Little Chucky Creek.
received and responses can be found on Neal Street, Cookeville, TN 38501; tel. Approximately 20 river miles (32
HUD’s Web site at: http:// 931–528–6481; or by visiting the river kilometers) of stream channels in
portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/ Service’s Tennessee Field Office Web Little Chucky Creek, Greene County,
program_offices/public_indian_ site at http://www.fws.gov/cookeville. Tennessee, have been designated as
housing/ih/homeownership/184. Submitting comments: If you wish to critical habitat for the chucky madtom
V. Environmental Impact comment, you may submit your (77 FR 63604). This fish has a recovery
comments by one of the following priority number of 5 which indicates the
This notice involves the methods: species faces a high degree of threat, but
establishment of a rate or cost 1. You may submit written comments has a low recovery potential.
determination that does not constitute a and materials to us, at the above Restoring an endangered or
development decision affecting the address. threatened animal or plant to the point
2. You may hand-deliver written where it is again a secure, self-
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
physical condition of specific project
areas or building sites. Accordingly, comments to our Tennessee Field sustaining member of its ecosystem is a
under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6), this notice is Office, at the above address, or fax them primary goal of our endangered species
categorically excluded from to 931–528–7075. program. To help guide the recovery
environmental review under the 3. You may send comments by email effort, we prepare recovery plans for
to mary_e_jennings@fws.gov. Please most listed species. Recovery plans
National Environmental Policy Act of
include ‘‘Chucky Madtom Draft describe actions considered necessary
1969 (U.S.C. 4321).
Recovery Plan Comments’’ on the for conservation of the species, establish
subject line. criteria for downlisting or delisting, and
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![75838 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices
estimate time and cost for implementing personal identifying information—may We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
recovery measures. be made publicly available at any time. Service (‘‘the Service’’), hereby
The Act requires the development of While you can ask us in your comment announce that information related to
recovery plans for listed species, unless to withhold your personal identifying records for the import and export of all
such a plan would not promote the information from public review, we wildlife specimens to and from the
conservation of a particular species. cannot guarantee that we will be able to United States may be disclosed under
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to do so. FOIA (43 CFR 2.27(b)).
provide public notice and an Submitters of this type of information
opportunity for public review and Authority can contact the Service to review
comment during recovery plan The authority for this action is section records subject to possible release. If
development. We will consider all 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 you are a submitter of this information,
information presented during a public U.S.C. 1533(f). the Service will presume that you do
comment period prior to approval of Dated: September 6, 2016. not object to the disclosure of your
each new or revised recovery plan. We information if a response to this notice
Mike Oetker,
and other Federal agencies will take is not received by the date specified
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region. above in DATES.
these comments into account in the
[FR Doc. 2016–26330 Filed 10–31–16; 8:45 am]
course of implementing approved I. Background
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
recovery plans.
The Department is soliciting views
Recovery Plan Components from submitters with respect to whether
The recovery objectives are to work to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR certain records constitute ‘‘trade secrets
reduce threats in order to downlist the and commercial or financial information
Fish and Wildlife Service obtained from a person [that are]
chucky madtom to threatened status.
Defining reasonable delisting criteria is [FWS–HQ–LE–2016–N156; FF09L00200–FX–
privileged or confidential’’ information
not possible at this time given the LE18110900000] under the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4). The
current low number of individuals, records at issue concern information in
extreme curtailment of the species’ Freedom of Information Act; Notice of the Service’s Law Enforcement
range, extensive modification and Lawsuit Management Information System
fragment of habitat with the species’ (LEMIS) relating to the import and
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, export of all wildlife specimens to and
historical range, lack of information
Interior. from the United States:
about the species’ biology, and
magnitude of other existing threats. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. a. For the years 2002 through 2010,
Therefore, this recovery plan establishes 2013, and 2014;
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife b. of any taxonomic class, whether
only downlisting criteria for this catfish.
Service seeks information about live, dead, parts, or products; and
Criteria will be reevaluated as new
potential objections to the public release c. with the following variables to be
information becomes available.
of possibly confidential information included in the records: Control
Downlisting of chucky madtom will be
regarding import and export activities Number, Species Code, Class, Genus,
considered when:
1. Suitable instream and riparian tracked via the Service’s Law Species, Subspecies, Generic Name,
habitat, flows, and water quality for Enforcement Management Information Specific Name, Wildlife Description,
chucky madtom as defined by the best System. We issue this notice and solicit Quantity, Unit, Value, Country of
available science (to be refined by this information in response to a lawsuit Origin, Country Import/Export, Purpose,
recovery actions), exist in occupied under the Freedom of Information Act. Source, Act, Disposition Code,
streams (addresses Factor A). DATES: You must submit comments on Disposition Date, Shipment Date,
2. Population studies show that a or before November 22, 2016. Import/Export, Port Code, U.S.
viable chucky madtom population in ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Importer/Exporter, and Foreign
Little Chucky Creek and at least 1 other by one of the following methods: Importer/Exporter.
stream (Dunn Creek, Jackson Branch; • Email: lawenforcement@fws.gov. This notice relates to FOIA requests
e.g., the only known stream representing • Fax: (703) 358–2271. by Humane Society International (HSI)
the historical range of the species) are • U.S. mail or hand-delivery: U.S. of June 2, 2014; August 21, 2014; June
naturally recruiting (consisting of two Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law 3, 2015; and November 3, 2015. In
year classes in the fall months) and Enforcement (FOIA), 5275 Leesburg response to these FOIA requests, the
sustainable over a period of 20–30 years Pike (MS: OLE), Falls Church, VA Service withheld the ‘‘Declared Value of
(10 generations) (addresses Factors A, C, 22041. Wildlife’’ and ‘‘Foreign Importer/
and E). Exporter’’ columns in their entirety
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: under FOIA Exemption 4. The Service
Request for Public Comments Michael Jenkins, Management Analyst withheld additional information under
We request written comments on the Specialist, USFWS, Office of Law Exemptions 6 and 7(C). The Service’s
draft recovery plan. We will consider all Enforcement, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls response to these FOIA requests is now
comments we receive by the date Church, VA 22041; telephone (703) the subject of a lawsuit, Humane Society
358–1949. Int’l v. U.S. FWS, No. 16–720 (D.D.C.,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
specified in DATES prior to final
approval of the plan. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This filed Apr. 18, 2016). A copy of HSI’s
notice is issued under part 2 of title 43 three FOIA requests, as well as the
Public Availability of Comments of the Code of Federal Regulations complaint filed in the United States
Before including your address, phone (CFR), which sets forth regulations for District Court for the District of
number, email address, or other administration of the Freedom of Columbia, has been posted on: https://
personal identifying information in your Information Act (FOIA) by the U.S. www.fws.gov/le/
comment, you should be aware that Department of the Interior (‘‘the businesses.html#FOIAMatters. Upon
your entire comment—including your Department’’). request, the Service will provide
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Document Created: 2016-11-01 02:35:30
Document Modified: 2016-11-01 02:35:30
| 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 and request for public comment. | |
| Dates | In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before January 3, 2017. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 75837 |
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