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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 19 Southeastern Species
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: July 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 42871-42872]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy06-93]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of
19 Southeastern Species
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces 5-year
reviews of the duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum), snail darter
(Percina tanasi), smoky madtom (Noturus baileyi), yellowfin madtom
(Noturus flavipinnus), Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata),
birdwing pearlymussel (Conradilla caelata), cracking pearlymussel
(Hemistena lata), dromedary pearlymussel (Dromus dromus), little wing
pearlymussel (Pegias fabula), fine-rayed pigtoe (Fusconaia cuneolus),
shiny pigtoe (Fusconaia cor), ring pink (Obovaria retusa), royal
marstonia (snail) (Pyrgulopsis ogmorhaphe), Braun's rockcress (Arabis
perstellata), golden sedge (Carex lutea), mountain golden heather
(Hudsonia montana), Canby's dropwort (Oxypolis canbyi), Ruth's golden
aster (Pityopsis ruthii), and American hart's-tongue fern (Asplenium
scolopendrium var. americanum) under section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (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 (50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12) is accurate. A
5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial
data available at the time of the review.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, information
submitted for our consideration must be received on or before September
26, 2006. However, we will continue to accept new information about any
listed species at any time.
ADDRESSES: Information submitted on the duskytail darter, snail darter,
smoky madtom, yellowfin madtom, birdwing pearlymussel, cracking
pearlymussel, dromedary pearlymussel, royal marstonia snail, and Ruth's
golden aster should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Cookeville Field
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville,
Tennessee 38501. Information submitted on the Carolina heelsplitter,
fine-rayed pigtoe, shiny pigtoe, mountain golden heather, and American
hart's-tongue fern should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Asheville
Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street,
Asheville, North Carolina 28801. Information submitted on Canby's
dropwort should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Charleston Field
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 176 Croghan Spur Road, Suite
200, Charleston, South Carolina 29407. Information submitted on the
little wing, ring pink, and Braun's rockcress should be sent to the
Field Supervisor, Frankfort Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 3761 Georgetown Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. Information
submitted on the golden sedge should be sent to the Field Supervisor,
Raleigh Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 551-F Pylon
Drive, P.O. Box 33726, Raleigh, North Carolina 27636-3726. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Merritt at the Cookeville,
Tennessee, address above for the duskytail darter, snail darter, smoky
madtom, and yellowfin madtom (telephone, 931/528-6481, ext. 211); Geoff
Call at the Cookeville, Tennessee, address above for the royal
marstonia snail and Ruth's golden aster (telephone 931/528-6481, ext.
213); Jim Widlak at the Cookeville, Tennessee, address above for the
birdwing pearlymussel, cracking pearlymussel, and dromedary
pearlymussel (telephone 931/528-6481, ext. 202); Bob Butler at the
above Asheville, North Carolina, address for the Carolina heelsplitter,
shiny pigtoe, and fine-rayed pigtoe (telephone, 828/258-3939, ext.
235), Carolyn Wells at the above Asheville, North Carolina, address for
the mountain golden heather (telephone 828/258-3939, ext. 231); Robert
Currie at the above Asheville, North Carolina, address for the American
hart's-tongue fern (telephone, 828/258-3939, ext. 224); Ed Eudaly at
the above Charleston, South Carolina, address for the Canby's dropwort
(telephone 843/727-4707, ext. 220); Mike Floyd at the above Frankfort,
Kentucky, address for the Braun's rockcress (telephone 502/695-0468,
ext. 226); Leroy Koch at the above Frankfort, Kentucky, address for the
little wing and ring pink (telephone 502/695-0468, ext. 222); and Dale
Suiter at the above Raleigh, North Carolina, address for the golden
sedge (telephone 910/695-3323, ext. 18).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533 et seq.), the
Service maintains a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and
plant species at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants)
(collectively referred to as the List). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act
requires that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every
5 years. Then, on the basis of such reviews, under section 4(c)(2)(B),
we determine whether or not any species should be removed from the List
(delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened or from
threatened to endangered. Delisting a species must be supported by the
best scientific and commercial data available and only considered if
such data substantiate that the species is neither endangered nor
threatened for one or more of the following reasons: (1) The species is
considered extinct; (2) the species is considered to be recovered; and/
or (3) the original data available when the species was listed, or the
interpretation of such data, were in error. Any change in Federal
classification would require a separate rulemaking process.
The 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 following
species that are currently federally listed as endangered: duskytail
darter, smoky madtom, Carolina heelsplitter, birdwing pearlymussel,
cracking pearlymussel, dromedary pearlymussel, little wing
pearlymussel, fine-rayed pigtoe, shiny pigtoe, ring pink, royal snail,
Braun's rockcress, golden sedge, Canby's dropwort, and Ruth's golden
aster. This notice also announces our active review of the following
species that are currently federally listed as threatened: snail
darter, yellowfin madtom, mountain golden heather, and American hart's-
tongue fern.
The List is found in 50 CFR 17.11 (wildlife) and 17.12 (plants) and
is also available on our internet site at http://endangered.fws.gov/
wildlife.html#Species 
. Amendments to the List through final
rules are published in the Federal Register.
What information is considered in the review?
A 5-year review will consider the best scientific and commercial
data that have 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;
[[Page 42872]]
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, and improved analytical methods.
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
following five 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 these 19
species indicating that 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)
delist the species. If we determine that a change in classification is
not warranted, then the species will remain on the List under its
current status.
Public Solicitation of New Information
We request any new information concerning the status of any of
these 19 species. 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, but you should be aware that the Service
may be required to disclose your name and address pursuant to the
Freedom of Information Act. 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: June 12, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6-12108 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]
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