[Federal Register: September 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 183)]
[Notices]
[Page 55212-55214]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se06-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of Curtis' Pearlymussel and Indiana Bat
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of review.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), announces a
5-year review of Curtis' pearlymussel (Epioblasma florentina curtisii)
and Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) under the Endangered Species Act, as
amended (Act). We request any new information on these species that may
have a bearing on their classification as endangered. Based on the
results of this review, we will make a finding on whether these species
are properly classified under the Act.
DATES: Information must be received no later than December 20, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit information to the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Ecological Services Field Supervisor at the following:
1. Curtis' pearlymussel: 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia,
Missouri 65203-0057, or e-mail to: fw3curtispearlymussel5year@fws.gov.
2. Indiana bat: 620 S. Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403-
2121, or e-mail to: fw3indianabat5year@fws.gov.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for electronic file formats and other
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Curtis' pearlymussel: Mr. Andy Roberts, Columbia Ecological
Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES); telephone (573) 234-2132,
extension 110; facsimile (573) 234-234-2181.
2. Indiana bat: Ms. Lori Pruitt, Bloomington Ecological Services
Field Office (see ADDRESSES); telephone (812) 334-4261, extension 211;
facsimile (812) 334-4273.
[[Page 55213]]
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call
the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce a 5-year review of Curtis'
pearlymussel and Indiana bat under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We request any new
information and appropriate data since their original listing or most
recent status review which documents the need to delist or reclassify
these species.
A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the
classification of a listed species is appropriate. It is based on the
best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the
review. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make a
finding of whether these species are properly classified under section
4(c)(2)(B) of the Act.
Under the Act, the Service maintains the list of endangered and
threatened wildlife and plant species (List) at 50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12.
Amendments to the List through final rules are published in the Federal
Register. The List of wildlife and plants is available on our Internet
site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife/html#species. Section
4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires that we conduct a review of listed
species at least once every 5 years. Section 4(c)(2)(B) requires that
we determine (1) Whether a species no longer meets the definition of
threatened or endangered and should be removed from the List
(delisted); (2) whether a species more properly meets the definition of
threatened and should be reclassified from endangered to threatened; or
(3) whether a species more properly meets the definition of endangered
and should be reclassified from threatened to endangered. Using the
best scientific and commercial data available, a species will be
considered for delisting if the 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 requires a separate
rulemaking process.
Definitions
The following definitions (according to the Act) are provided to
assist those persons who contemplate submitting new information
regarding the status of the species identified in the table below:
``Species'' includes any species or subspecies of fish or wildlife
or plant, and any distinct population segment of any species or
subspecies of a vertebrate, that is capable of interbreeding when
mature.
``Endangered species'' means any species that is in danger of
extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
``Threatened species'' means any species that is likely to become
an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.
The regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice
in the Federal Register announcing those species currently under active
review. This announces our active review of Curtis' pearlymussel and
Indiana bat.
Species Summary
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Common name Scientific name Status Listed entity When listed
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Curtis' pearlymussel........... Epioblasma Endangered...... U.S.A. (AR, MO)..... June 14, 1976,
florentina (41 FR 24062).
curtisii.
Indiana bat.................... Myotis sodalis... Endangered...... Eastern and Mar 11, 1967,
Midwestern U.S.A. (32 FR 4001).
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Public Solicitation of New Information
To ensure that the 5-year reviews are complete and based on the
best scientific and commercial data available, we are soliciting new
information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, tribes,
the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any
other interested parties concerning the status of Curtis' pearlymussel
and Indiana bat. A 5-year review considers the best scientific and
commercial data and all new information that has become available since
the listing determination or most recent status review. Categories of
requested information include (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 that benefit the species; (D) threat status and
trends; and (E) other new information, data, or corrections, including
but not limited to taxonomic or nomenclature changes, identification of
erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical
methods.
Electronic Access and Filing
You must submit electronic information (see ADDRESSES) in MS Word,
Rich Text format, or Plain Text format, and include ``Curtis'
Pearlymussel 5-Year Review Comments'' or ``Indiana Bat 5-Year Review
Comments'' in the title line.
Information submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ecological Services Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES) must be received
within sufficient time to allow adequate time to conduct these 5-year
reviews (see DATES). If you do not respond to this request for
information but subsequently possess information on the status of these
species, we will accept new information regarding any federally listed
species at any time.
Our practice is to make information, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular
business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a respondent's
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or
address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of
the information that you are submitting. We will not, however, consider
information submitted anonymously. To the extent consistent with
applicable law, 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. Information received in
response to this notice will be available for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours (see ADDRESSES).
Authority: This document is published under the authority of the
Endangered
[[Page 55214]]
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: September 7, 2006.
Lynn Lewis,
Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3.
[FR Doc. 06-7883 Filed 9-20-06; 8:45 am]
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