38164 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2018 / Notices 

to comment on this application. Before 

issuing the requested permit, we will 

take into consideration any information 

that we receive during the public 

comment period. 

DATES: We must receive your written 

comments on or before September 4, 

2018. 

ADDRESSES: Document availability and 

comment submission: Submit requests 

for a copy of the application and related 

documents and submit any comments 

by one of the following methods. All 

requests and comments should specify 

the applicant name and application 

number (i.e., Greg Fitzpatrick, TE– 

08913A–2): 

• Email: permitsR1ES@fws.gov. 

• U.S. Mail: Marilet Zablan, Program 

Manager, Restoration and Endangered 

Species Classification, Ecological 

Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Pacific Regional Office, 911 NE 11th 

Avenue, Portland, OR 97232–4181. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Colleen Henson, Recovery Permit 

Coordinator, Ecological Services, (503) 

231–6131 (phone); permitsR1ES@

fws.gov (email). 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, invite 

the public to comment on an 

application for a permit under section 

10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species 

Act, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 

et seq.). The requested permit would 

allow the applicant to conduct activities 

intended to promote recovery of species 

that are listed as endangered or 

threatened under the ESA. 

Background 

With some exceptions, the ESA 

prohibits activities that constitute take 

of listed species unless a Federal permit 

is issued that allows such activity. The 

ESA’s definition of ‘‘take’’ includes such 

activities as pursuing, harassing, 

trapping, capturing, or collecting in 

addition to hunting, shooting, harming, 

wounding, or killing. 

A recovery permit issued by us under 

section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 

authorizes the permittee to conduct 

activities with endangered or threatened 

species for scientific purposes that 

promote recovery or for enhancement of 

propagation or survival of the species. 

These activities often include such 

prohibited actions as capture and 

collection. Our regulations 

implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for 

these permits are found in the Code of 

Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.22 for 

endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 

17.32 for threatened wildlife species, 50 

CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species, 

and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant 

species. 

Permit Application Available for 

Review and Comment 

Proposed activities in the following 

permit request are for the recovery and 

enhancement of propagation or survival 

of the species in the wild. The ESA 

requires that we invite public comment 

before issuing this permit. Accordingly, 

we invite local, State, Tribal, and 

Federal agencies and the public to 

submit written data, views, or 

arguments with respect to this 

application. The comments and 

recommendations that will be most 

useful and likely to influence agency 

decisions are those supported by 

quantitative information or studies. 

Application No. Applicant, city, state Species Location Take activity Permit 

action 

TE–08913A–2 ............ Greg Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick 

Ecological Consulting, Corvallis, OR.

Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia 

icarioides fenderi).

OR Capture, handle, identify, mark, 

temporarily hold and 

translocate, and release.

Renew. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Written comments we receive become 

part of the administrative record 

associated with this action. 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 request in your comment 

that we withhold your personal 

identifying information from public 

review, we cannot guarantee that we 

will be able to do so. All submissions 

from organizations or businesses, and 

from individuals identifying themselves 

as representatives or officials of 

organizations or businesses, will be 

made available for public disclosure in 

their entirety. 

Next Steps 

If we decide to issue a permit to the 

applicant listed in this notice, we will 

publish a notice in the Federal Register. 

Authority 

We publish this notice under section 

10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.). 

Rachel Merkel, 

Acting Deputy Assistant Regional Director— 

Ecological Services, Pacific Region. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16625 Filed 8–2–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R2–ES–2018–N071; 

FXES11130200000–189–FF02ENEH00] 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 

and Plants; Draft Revised Recovery 

Plan for Texas Snowbells 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability; request 

for comment. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, announce the 

availability of our draft revised recovery 

plan for Texas snowbells, listed as 

endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act. Texas snowbells is a rare, 

endemic shrub of the Edwards Plateau, 

and is found in Real, Edwards, and Val 

Verde Counties, Texas. We provide this 

notice to seek comments from the public 

and Federal, Tribal, State, and local 

governments. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive written comments on or 

before October 2, 2018. However, we 

will accept information about any 

species at any time. 

ADDRESSES: Reviewing document: You 

may obtain a copy of the draft revised 

recovery plan by any one of the 

following methods: 

Internet: Download the file at http:// 

www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ 

AustinTexas/ESA_Species_news.html. 

U.S. mail: Send a request to U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological 

Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet 

Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; or 

Telephone: 512–490–0057. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2018 / Notices 38165 

Submitting comments: Submit your 

comments in writing by any one of the 

following methods: 

• U.S. mail: Project Leader, at the 

above Austin Ecological Services Field 

Office address; 

• Hand-delivery: Project Leader, at 

the above Austin Ecological Services 

Field Office address; 

• Fax: 512–490–0974; or 

• Email: chris_best@fws.gov. 

For additional information about 

submitting comments, see Request for 

Public Comments and Public 

Availability of Comments under 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, at 

the above address and phone number, or 

by email at adam_zerrenner@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 

announce the availability of our draft 

revised recovery plan for Texas 

snowbells (Styrax platanifolius ssp. 

texanus; formerly Styrax texanus), listed 

as endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 

16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Texas snowbells 

is a rare, endemic shrub of the Edwards 

Plateau, and is found in Real, Edwards, 

and Val Verde Counties, Texas. The 

draft revised recovery plan includes 

specific recovery objectives and criteria 

that, when achieved, will enable us to 

remove Texas snowbells from the list of 

endangered and threatened plants. We 

request review and comment on this 

plan from local, State, and Federal 

agencies; Tribes; and the public. We 

will also accept any new information on 

the status of Texas snowbells 

throughout its range to assist in 

finalizing the recovery plan. 

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 ESA. Recovery means 

improvement of the status of listed 

species to the point at which listing is 

no longer appropriate under the criteria 

set out in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA. 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 

Service approved a recovery plan for 

Texas snowbells in 1987; however, the 

original plan did not establish criteria 

for reclassifying Texas snowbells from 

an endangered to threatened status 

(downlisting) or for removal from the 

endangered species list (delisting) 

(Service 1987). Therefore, this plan will 

serve as a revision to the 1987 recovery 

plan for Texas snowbells. 

We utilized a streamlined approach to 

recovery planning and implementation 

by first conducting a species status 

assessment (SSA) of Texas snowbells 

(Service 2017), which is a 

comprehensive analysis of the taxon’s 

needs, current condition, threats, and 

future viability. The information in the 

SSA report provides the biological 

background, a threats assessment, and a 

basis for a strategy for recovery of Texas 

snowbells. We then used this 

information to prepare an abbreviated 

draft revised recovery plan for Texas 

snowbells that includes prioritized 

recovery actions, downlisting and 

delisting criteria, and the estimated time 

and cost to recovery. A separate 

recovery implementation strategy has 

also been prepared and includes the 

specific tasks necessary to implement 

recovery actions (Service 2018). 

Summary of Subspecies Information 

Texas snowbells is a rare, endemic 

shrub of the Edwards Plateau of Texas. 

We listed it as an endangered species, 

Styrax texanus, on October 12, 1984 (49 

FR 40036). We currently recognize this 

plant as S. platanifolius ssp. texanus, 

one of five closely related subspecies 

described in the most recent taxonomic 

treatment (Fritsch 1997). 

When listed as endangered, only 25 

individuals had been documented in 5 

locations. Since 1986, field surveyors 

have documented 400 mature and 452 

immature Texas snowbells plants in 22 

naturally occurring sites over a range of 

121 km (75 mi) east to west and 35 km 

(22 mi) north to south in Real, Edwards, 

and Val Verde Counties. The known 

populations occur along watercourses, 

on or near steep slopes, in exposed 

limestone and gravel of the upper 

reaches of the Nueces, West Nueces, and 

Devils River watersheds. We estimate 

that about 15,043 ha (37,172 ac) of 

potential habitat exists in these 

watersheds. 

Texas snowbells usually flowers in 

April and fertilization is believed to 

require out-crossing (transfer of pollen 

between individuals that are not too 

closely related). The subspecies’ 

pollinators include bumble bees 

(Bombus sp.), carpenter bees (Xylocopa 

sp.), and honey bees (Apis sp.). Texas 

snowbells seed production depends on 

the grouping of genetically diverse 

individuals within their pollinators’ 

forage ranges of 0.5 to 1.0 km (0.3 to 0.6 

mi). Almost all documented 

reproduction of Texas snowbells in the 

wild occurs where at least 56 mature 

individuals are distributed over a 

distance of 1.6 km (1.0 mi) or less. For 

this reason, small population sizes, the 

isolation of populations, and low levels 

of genetic diversity are significant 

factors affecting the viability of the 

subspecies, viability being defined as 

the likelihood of persistence over the 

long term. Other factors affecting the 

viability of Texas snowbells include 

severe browsing by native white-tailed 

deer (Cervus elaphus) and introduced 

ungulate species, severe floods, and 

endemism to a small geographic and 

habitat range. In addition to the above 

stressors, drought attributed to climate 

changes and pollinator deficiency are 

also projected to affect the future 

viability of Texas snowbells. A large 

portion of known individuals and 

populations occurs on privately owned 

lands where there is no protection 

under the ESA unless there is a Federal 

nexus. Activities impacting plants on 

private lands without Federal 

involvement are not regulated under the 

ESA. So, without a Federal nexus, 

conservation on private lands is entirely 

voluntary and thus more challenging. 

Texas snowbells is endemic to a small 

geographic area and has a low level of 

genetic diversity, and therefore has low 

representation (ability to adapt to 

environmental changes and to colonize 

new sites). Since there are few 

populations, redundancy (the number 

and geographic distribution of 

populations or sites necessary to endure 

catastrophic events) is also low. In 

addition, population resilience (ability 

to endure stochastic environmental 

variation) is low because all known 

populations are far below the estimated 

minimum viable population level. In 

synthesis, the current viability of Texas 

snowbells is low. For a detailed 

discussion of the subspecies’ natural 

history, current status, and future 

viability, please refer to the SSA report 

for Texas snowbells (Service 2017). 

Recovery Plan Goals 

The objective of a recovery plan is to 

provide a framework for the recovery of 

a species so that protection under the 

ESA is no longer necessary. A recovery 

plan includes scientific information 

about the species and provides criteria 

and actions necessary for us to be able 

to reclassify the species to threatened 

status or remove it from the lists of 

endangered and threatened wildlife and 

plants. Recovery plans help guide our 

recovery efforts by describing actions 

we consider necessary for the species’ 

conservation, and by estimating time 

and costs for implementing needed 

recovery measures. 

The original Texas snowbells recovery 

plan (Service 1987) did not establish 

delisting or downlisting criteria. The 


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38166 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2018 / Notices 

core conservation strategy of the revised 

plan is to increase recruitment and 

decrease mortality, thereby allowing 

populations of Texas snowbells to grow 

naturally. One recovery objective is to 

reduce the intensity of ungulate 

browsing throughout the subspecies’ 

range, allowing populations to become 

self-sustaining without human 

intervention. Another recovery objective 

is population augmentation and 

strategic placement of reintroduced 

populations to restore population 

connectivity, thereby enhancing gene 

flow and fertilization between 

genetically diverse individuals and 

populations. To date, cooperating 

landowners and volunteers have made 

significant progress toward 

accomplishing these objectives. 

The downlisting and delisting criteria 

provided in the revised recovery plan 

are based on the natural recruitment of 

new Texas snowbells individuals, their 

growth to maturity, and the increase of 

populations to a viable level that is 

sustained without human intervention. 

The time required to improve the 

viability of Texas snowbells is 

influenced largely by its life history. 

Request for Public Comments 

Section 4(f) of the ESA requires us to 

provide public notice and an 

opportunity for public review and 

comment during recovery plan 

development. It is also our policy to 

request peer review of recovery plans 

(July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). In an 

appendix to the approved recovery plan, 

we will summarize and respond to the 

issues raised by the public and peer 

reviewers. Substantive comments may 

or may not result in changes to the 

recovery plan; comments regarding 

recovery plan implementation will be 

forwarded as appropriate to Federal or 

other entities so that they can be taken 

into account during the course of 

implementing recovery actions. 

Responses to individual commenters 

will not be provided, but we will 

provide a summary of how we 

addressed substantive comments in an 

appendix to the approved recovery plan. 

We invite written comments on the 

draft recovery plan. In particular, we are 

interested in additional information 

regarding the current threats to the 

species, ongoing beneficial management 

efforts, and the costs associated with 

implementing the recommended 

recovery actions. 

Public Availability of Comments 

All comments received, including 

names and addresses, will become part 

of the administrative record and will be 

available to the public. Before including 

your address, phone number, electronic 

mail address, or other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—will 

be publicly available. If you submit a 

hardcopy comment that includes 

personal identifying information, you 

may request at the top of your document 

that we withhold this information from 

public review. However, we cannot 

guarantee that we will be able to do so. 

Comments and materials we receive will 

be available, by appointment, for public 

inspection during normal business 

hours at our office (see ADDRESSES). 

Authority 

We developed our draft recovery plan 

and publish this notice under the 

authority of section 4(f) of the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Dated: May 24, 2018. 

Amy L. Lueders, 

Regional Director, Southwest Region. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16655 Filed 8–2–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLIDB00100 L17110000.PH0000 

LXSS024D0000 45001222254] 

Notice of Public Meeting, Boise District 

Resource Advisory Council, Idaho 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act of 1976, the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) Boise District 

Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will 

meet as indicated below. 

DATES: The Boise District RAC will meet 

September 13, 2018. The meeting will 

begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. 

The public comment period will take 

place from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: The Boise District RAC will 

meet at the BLM Boise District Office, 

3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 

83705. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Williamson, BLM Boise 

District, Idaho, 3948 Development 

Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705, 208–384– 

3393, email mwilliamson@blm.gov. 

Persons who use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD) may contact 

Mr. Williamson by calling the Federal 

Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877–8339. 

The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 

days a week, to leave a message or 

question with Mr. Williamson. You will 

receive a reply during normal business 

hours. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15- 

member RAC advises the Secretary of 

the Interior, through the BLM, on a 

variety of planning and management 

issues associated with public land 

management in Idaho. During the 

September 13, 2018 meeting, the Boise 

District RAC will have a briefing on the 

Boise District’s wild horse program, TriState fuel breaks project, travel 

management planning, and other Field 

Office updates. Additional topics may 

be added and will be included in local 

media announcements. 

RAC meetings are open to the public. 

The public may present written 

comments to the Council at the address 

provided above. Each formal Council 

meeting will also have time allocated for 

hearing public comments. Depending on 

the number of persons wishing to 

comment and time available, the time 

for individual oral comments may be 

limited. 

Before including your address, phone 

number, email address, or other 

personal identifying information in your 

comments, please 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. Individuals who plan to attend 

and need special assistance, such as 

sign language interpretation, tour 

transportation or other reasonable 

accommodations, should contact the 

BLM as provided above. 

Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–2 

Lara Douglas, 

District Manager. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16589 Filed 8–2–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–AK–P 


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