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<br />0023G3 .
<br />43104 Federal Register
<br />
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<br />J Vol. 48. No. 184 J Wednesday. September 21, 1983 J Notices
<br />
<br />which, if applicable. elevates the sp~cies
<br />in priority for development of 8 recovery
<br />plan and is to be an additional element
<br />in delennining what actions are to be
<br />implemented for the recovery of a
<br />species. This fourth faclor gives priority -
<br />within each category in the preparation
<br />of recovery plans to those species that
<br />are, or may be. in conflict with
<br />construction or other development
<br />projects or other Canns of economic
<br />B.cHvity. Thu~. the species wm re\ain"i\s
<br />numerical rank and will acquire the
<br />letter designation of "e" indicating
<br />conflict. e.g.. priority 7 would become
<br />7C. The categories would be aS9igned as
<br />follows:
<br />
<br />TABLE 3,-ReCOVERY PRIORITY
<br />
<br />Degree 01 lI'Il'e.t Pri.
<br />"" """"'" Taxonornv on, ConnlC1
<br />pCllentlal
<br />H'SJh:
<br />".' .......... m.. Monotypic genus.. ...-. 1 IC, 1
<br />H.gh. ......._.R.. ,,-.. ............_...~._... 2 2C, 2,
<br />".' ......---- Sub5peQ9S.. ................ , 'c, "
<br />Low, .H.__. ..""_ genus....... 4 4C, 4,
<br />low. ..........-.-. Spocieo"""......-... , 5C. S,
<br />lo... ....-.--. SuDspecieI.....---........ 6 5C, ~
<br />M:lderal.
<br />HI~h........_....... Monoryp.c gDflUS.... .... 7 7C, 7,
<br />Hlgh.......___..... Specl8S....._...._... ..... 6 ec. .,
<br />H.gn.................. SiJOSpeQes........ . ... . oc. .,
<br />L~, .-.............. Mo"orypoc g.nus..... 10 .OC. '0,
<br />low.........._._... S~.......................... 11 11C. 11,
<br />L~ .............-... -... ......-.-..--.. 12 l.2C. 12,
<br />Lo....:
<br />HU:lh. .........-.... Mol"lOlyplc genus......... " 13C. ",
<br />Heln. ....-.-..-.. Spocieo " .................... 14 1-4C, 14,
<br />.."" .....-.......... Su"Dspeoe, ........--........ 16 15C. IS,
<br />L... ....-.-....... "on,,,_ gltl"lU3.. I. 'OC. 16,
<br />low.. " '_W._' -- ........... ........... 17 17C. 17,
<br />lo.......__._... 500_ ................... 18 IOC. ..
<br />--
<br />
<br />Explanation. The first step for the
<br />conservatiun of any species is to prevent
<br />its extinction. Thus the species with the
<br />highest degree of threat have the highesl
<br />priority for preparing and implementing
<br />recovery plans. A species can be put in
<br />either 8 high, moderate. or low category.
<br />which represents the degree of threat.
<br />The high category means extinction is
<br />almost certain in the immediate future
<br />becaose of a rapid population decline or
<br />habitat destruction. Moderate means the
<br />species will not face extinction if
<br />recovery is temporarily held off.
<br />although there is continual population
<br />decline or threat to its habitat. A species
<br />in the low category is rare. or is facing a
<br />population decline which may be a
<br />short~term. self.correcting fluctuation. or
<br />the impacts of threats of the species'
<br />habitat are not fully known.
<br />Within the above categories.
<br />resources should be used in the most
<br />cost.effective manner. Priority for
<br />preparing and implementing recovery
<br />plans would go to species with the
<br />greatest potential for success. Recovery
<br />potential is based on how well
<br />biological and ecological limiting factors
<br />and threats to the species' existence are
<br />
<br />understood, and how much management
<br />is needed.
<br />Priority w\H be given to those species
<br />and projects that offer the greatest
<br />potential for success. The recovery
<br />potential of a species will be determined
<br />by consideration of the following
<br />criteria:
<br />
<br />.....ghrecov.1')'
<br />potlnWlI
<br />
<br />low recovery
<br />potl~lI8.1
<br />
<br />SlOloglc,t.nd
<br />ecolog,c.1
<br />llmlllng r.ctors.
<br />Thrells 10
<br />'.K''''
<br />IlJstflnc.e
<br />
<br />Well understood... . PoorIyuncllrstoocl
<br />
<br />W8IlunderslOOd
<br />easotrll18Vlated.
<br />
<br />Poorly unOl~tood
<br />or pervaSIY..ncl
<br />dlttlcul\1O
<br />all8Yllte
<br />Inll"_
<br />man'lJeme"t
<br />.....lh uncerte..n
<br />probaJ;uh..,or
<br />success. or
<br />technIQUeS
<br />unknown or stln
<br />.Kpenmenta..
<br />
<br />Manageme"t
<br />needeO '
<br />
<br />ImenlNe
<br />mlIrwgemenl nol
<br />-...'"
<br />lectlluques _II
<br />doctJlIMI"tedWlttl
<br />highprob.bllrty
<br />olsucc..eu.
<br />
<br />'When poSSlbl. ancl DoOIogic,IIIy 'laSlbI.. cia... perhoentto
<br />!he r8CO'llry 01 . part,cUliIJ .....on *,U be .:rtrapolatO(! Irom
<br />known ecolQglcal ntqUU"lmeots Of manag.ment tecnn~
<br />lor clos.elr relateG tl.l:a.
<br />
<br />Taxa that are most genetically distinct
<br />should receive priority within any given
<br />category of degree of threat. Monotypic
<br />genera will be given priority over
<br />species. subspecies, or populations. This
<br />last criterion is in recognition that the
<br />loss of the most genetically distinct taxa
<br />is of greater significance than the loss of
<br />'Iess genetically distinct taxa. That is. for
<br />example. the loss of a full genus is of
<br />greater significance than the loss of a
<br />single species ar population of that
<br />species.
<br />The second requirement concerning
<br />recovery plans mandated by the 1982
<br />Amendments is that priority be given to
<br />those species "that are, or may be. in
<br />conflict with construction or other
<br />development projects or other forms of
<br />economic activity." This requirement
<br />will be satisfied by having any listed
<br />species or subspecies. lacking Q
<br />recovery plan, and identified as being,
<br />or having a recognizable potential for
<br />being. in conflict with a construction or
<br />development project, automatically
<br />qualify for the conflict column of the
<br />matrix. This species would then be
<br />considered high priority for having 8
<br />recovery plan developed.
<br />Conflict with construction or other
<br />development projects would be
<br />identified in large part by consultations
<br />conducted wilh Federal agencies under
<br />Section 7 of the Act. Any species
<br />identified through Section 1
<br />consultations as havIDg generated a
<br />negative biological opinion which
<br />concluded that a gh'en proposed project
<br />would violate Section 7[a)(2J of the
<br />Endangered Species Act or resulted in
<br />the recommendation of reasonable and
<br />
<br />prudent alternatives to avoid a negative
<br />biological opinion. would be assign.ed to
<br />the connict category and would be given
<br />priority over all other candidates for
<br />recovery plan preparation and
<br />implementation in the same numerical
<br />category not involving a conflict. The
<br />Service would also contact other
<br />Federal agencies for their identification
<br />of listed species that are, or may be, in
<br />conflict with construction or other
<br />development projects ot other fonns of
<br />economic activity. Any species
<br />identified hy this process would'be
<br />assigned to the conflict category and
<br />would also be given priority over other
<br />candidates for recovery plan
<br />preparation and implementation within
<br />the same numerical category (see Table
<br />3) not involving 8 conflict.
<br />A task priority \1-3) i. used in
<br />conjunction with species recovery
<br />numbers [1-18 or 1C-18C) in ranking
<br />Ihose tasks that need to be
<br />accomplished for the recovery of a
<br />species. This combination results in a
<br />two-tiered priority system (species
<br />recovery number-task priority number)
<br />which seNes to distribute the resources
<br />of the program equitably for ulllisted
<br />species. Recovery tasks will be 8!lsigned
<br />priorities based on the following:
<br />1. Priority 1. An action that must be
<br />taken to prevent extinction or to prevent
<br />the species from declining irreversibly.
<br />2. Priority 2. An action that must be
<br />taken to prevent a significant decline in
<br />species population/hahitat quality. or
<br />some other significant negative impact
<br />short of extinction.
<br />3. Priority 3. All other actions
<br />necessary to provide for full recovery of
<br />the species. [Recognizing that the
<br />ultimate success of the Program is
<br />species recovery, priority 3 action likely
<br />to lead to full recovery and delisting of a
<br />species in the foreseeable future will .
<br />tend to rank higher than other priority 3
<br />actions.) -.
<br />The highest priority activity (research
<br />proposal. permit proposal. etc.J Is a 1C-1
<br />priority (species recovery number Ie;
<br />task priority number 1).
<br />This is an action necessary to prevent
<br />extinctiQ11 for a rnonotypic genus. with a
<br />high recovery potential. under a high ~.
<br />degree of threat and in conflict with a . ~ :--
<br />construction or other development .
<br />project. If resources were channeled into
<br />activities based solely on the recovery
<br />priority of a species. these resources
<br />would be utilized primarily for species
<br />with 8 recovery priority of Ie to 6.
<br />However. when the species' priority Is
<br />viewed in conjunction with the task
<br />priority. we are able to identify the moat
<br />critical activities for all species. This '.
<br />system would insure that resources are
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