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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 25 Southwestern Species
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: April 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 77)]
[Notices]
[Page 20714-20716]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ap06-78]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of
25 Southwestern Species
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of review.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 5-
year review of 25 southwestern species under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (Act). The purpose of reviews conducted under this section of
the Act is to ensure that the classification of species as threatened
or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and
Plants is accurate. The 5-year review is an assessment of the best
scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review.
DATES: To allow adequate time to conduct this review, information
submitted for our consideration must be received on or before July 20,
2006. However, we will continue to accept new information about any
listed species at any time.
ADDRESSES: Information submitted on these species should be sent to the
Service at the following addresses. Information received in response to
this notice of review will be available for public inspection by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the same addresses.
Information regarding the golden-cheeked warbler, Houston toad,
Government Canyon Bat Cave spider, Robber Baron Cave meshweaver,
Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver, Madla's Cave meshweaver, Braken
Bat Cave meshweaver, Cokendolpher Cave harvestman, Helotes mold beetle,
ground beetle (Rhadine exilis), and ground beetle (Rhadine infernalis)
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office,
10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. The office phone
number is 512-490-0057.
Information regarding the Cochise pincushion cactus, Peebles Navajo
cactus, Siler pincushion cactus, jaguar, Apache trout, desert pupfish,
and Sonora tiger salamander should be sent to the Field Supervisor,
Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona
Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103,
Phoenix, AZ 85021. The office phone number is 602-242-0210.
Information regarding the slender rush-pea and black lace cactus
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service c/o TAMU-CC, Ecological Services, 6300 Ocean
Drive, Unit 5837, Corpus Christi, TX 78412. The office phone number is
361-994-9005.
Information regarding the Ozark big-eared bat and leopard darter
should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office,
222 S. Houston, Suite A, Tulsa, OK 74127. The office phone number is
918-581-7458.
[[Page 20715]]
Information regarding Pecos bluntnose shiner, Sacramento prickly
poppy, and Todsen's pennyroyal should be sent to the Field Supervisor,
Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico
Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM
87113. The office phone number is 505-346-2525.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species specific information,
contact the appropriate office named in ADDRESSES.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why is a 5-year review conducted?
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires
that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years.
We are then, under section 4(c)(2)(B) and the provisions of subsections
(a) and (b), to determine, on the basis of such a review, whether or
not any species should be removed (delisted) from the List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.12), or
reclassified from endangered to threatened (downlisted), or from
threatened to endangered (uplisted).
The 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and
commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we are
requesting submission of any new information (best scientific and
commercial data) on the following 25 species since their original
listings as either endangered (golden-cheeked warbler, Houston toad,
Government Canyon Bat Cave spider, Robber Baron Cave meshweaver,
Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver, Madla's Cave meshweaver, Braken
Bat Cave meshweaver, Cokendolpher Cave harvestman, Helotes mold beetle,
ground beetle (Rhadine exilis), ground beetle (Rhadine infernalis),
Peebles Navajo cactus, jaguar, desert pupfish, Sonora tiger salamander,
slender rush-pea, black lace cactus, Ozark big-eared bat, Sacramento
prickly poppy, Todsen's pennyroyal ) or threatened (Cochise pincushion
cactus, siler pincushion cactus, Apache trout, leopard darter, Pecos
bluntnose shiner). If the present classification of any of these
species is not consistent with the best scientific and commercial
information available, the Service will recommend whether or not a
change is warranted in the Federal classification of that species. Any
change in Federal classification would require a separate rule-making
process.
Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice
in the Federal Register announcing those species currently under active
review. This notice announces our active review of the 25 species
listed in Table 1.
What information is considered in the review?
A 5-year review considers all new information available at the time
of the review. These reviews will consider the best scientific and
commercial data that has become available since the current listing
determination or most recent status review of each species, such as:
A. Species biology, including but not limited to population trends,
distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
B. Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount,
distribution, and suitability;
C. Conservation measures that have been implemented to benefit the
species;
D. Threat status and trends (see five factors under heading ``How
do we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened?''); and
E. Other new information, data, or corrections, including but not
limited to taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of
erroneous information contained in the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife and Plants, and improved analytical methods.
How are these species currently listed?
The List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (List) is
found in 50 CFR 17.11 (wildlife) and 17.12 (plants). Amendments to the
List through final rules are published in the Federal Register. The
List is also available on our Internet site at http://www.fws.gov/
endangered/wildlife.html. 
In Table 1 below, we provide a summary
of the listing information for the species under active review.
Table 1.--Summary of the Listing Information
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Common name Scientific name Status Where listed Final listing rule
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Golden-cheeked warbler Dendroica E TX, Guatemala, 55 FR 53153, 53160.
chrysoparia. Honduras, Mexico,
Nicaragua
Houston toad..................... Bufo houstonensis.. E TX................. 35 FR 16047, 16048.
Government Canyon Bat Cave spider Neoleptoneta E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
microps
Robber Baron Cave meshweaver Cicurina baronia... E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
Government Canyon Bat Cave Cicurina vespera... E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
meshweaver.
Braken Bat Cave meshweaver Cicurina venii..... E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
Madla's Cave meshweaver Cicurina madla..... E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
Cokendolpher Cave harvestman Texella E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
cokendolpheri
Helotes mold beetle.............. Batrisodes venyivi. E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
ground beetle (Rhadine exilis) Rhadine exilis..... E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
ground beetle (Rhadine Rhadine infernalis. E TX................. 65 FR 81419, 81433.
infernalis)
Cochise pincushion cactus Coryphantha T AZ, Mexico-Sonora.. 51 FR 952, 956.
robbinsorum
Peebles Navajo cactus Pediocactus E AZ................. 44 FR 61922, 61924.
peeblesianus
peeblesianus
Siler pincushion cactus Pediocactus T AZ, UT............. 58 FR 68476, 68480.
(=Echinocactus,
=Utahia) sileri
jaguar........................... Panthera onca...... E AZ, NM, TX, Mexico, 62 FR 39147, 39157.
Central and South
America
Apache trout..................... Oncorhynchus apache T AZ................. 40 FR 29863, 29864.
desert pupfish................... Cyprinodon E AZ, CA, Mexico..... 51 FR 10842, 10851.
macularius
Sonora tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum E Arizona, Mexico.... 62 FR 665, 689.
stebbinsi
slender rush-pea................. Hoffmannseggia E TX................. 50 FR 45614, 45618.
tenella
[[Page 20716]]
black lace cactus................ Echinocereus E TX................. 44 FR 61918, 61920.
reichenbachii var.
albertii
Ozark big-eared bat.............. Corynorhinus E AR, MO, OK......... 44 FR 69206, 69208.
(=Plecotus)
townsendii ingens
leopard darter................... Percina pantherina. T AR, OK............. 43 FR 3711, 3716.
Pecos bluntnose shiner Notropis simus T NM................. 52 FR 5295, 5303.
pecosensis
Sacramento prickly poppy Argemone E NM................. 54 FR 35302, 35305.
pleiacantha ssp.
pinnatisecta
Todsen's pennyroyal Hedeoma todsenii... E NM................. 46 FR 5730, 5733.
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Definitions Related to This Notice
The following definitions are provided to assist those persons who
contemplate submitting information regarding the species being reviewed:
A. Species includes any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or
plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of
vertebrate, which interbreeds when mature.
B. Endangered means any species that is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
C. Threatened means any species that is likely to become an
endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.
How do we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened?
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act establishes that we determine whether a
species is endangered or threatened based on one or more of the five
following factors:
A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range;
B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes;
C. Disease or predation;
D. The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or
E. Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued
existence. Section 4(a)(1) of the Act requires that our determination
be made on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.
What could happen as a result of this review?
If we find that there is new information concerning any of the 25
species listed in Table 1 indicating a change in classification may be
warranted, we may propose a new rule that could do one of the
following: (a) Reclassify the species from endangered to threatened
(downlist); (b) reclassify the species from threatened to endangered
(uplist); or (c) remove the species from the List. If we determine that
a change in classification is not warranted, then these species will
remain on the List under their current status.
Public Solicitation of New Information
We request any new information concerning the status of the 25
species listed in Table 1. See ``What information is considered in the
review?'' heading for specific criteria. Information submitted should
be supported by documentation such as maps, bibliographic references,
methods used to gather and analyze the data, and/or copies of any
pertinent publications, reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources.
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of
respondents, available for public review. Individual respondents may
request that we withhold their home addresses from the supporting
record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There also
may be circumstances in which we may withhold from the supporting
record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to
withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at
the beginning of your comment. We will not consider anonymous comments,
however. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses,
and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or
officials of organizations or businesses, available for public
inspection in their entirety.
Authority
This document is published under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: March 15, 2006.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E6-5983 Filed 4-20-06; 8:45 am]
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