[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 192 (Thursday, October 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56787-56788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19603]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of Two Plant Species and Two Wildlife Species in the
Midwest Region
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of review; request for information.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), initiate 5-
year reviews of Houghton goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii), dwarf lake
iris (Iris lacustris), scaleshell mussel (Leptodea leptodon), and
Niangua darter (Etheostoma nianguae) under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (Act). We request any new information on these
species that may have a bearing on their classification as endangered
or threatened. Based on the results of these reviews, we will make a
finding on whether these species are properly classified under the Act.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must
receive your information no later than December 3, 2007. However, we
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any
time.
ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review the
information that we receive on these species, see ``Public Solicitation
of New Information.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information,
contact the appropriate person under ``Public Solicitation of New
Information.''
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call
the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why Do We Conduct a 5-Year Review?
Under the Act we maintain the List of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plant Species (List) at 50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12. We amend
the List by publishing final rules in the Federal Register. 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, we will consider a
species 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
we listed the species, or interpretation of such data, were in error.
Any change in Federal classification requires a separate rulemaking
process. Therefore, we are requesting submission of any new information
(best scientific and commercial data) on these species since they were
originally listed.
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 species in Table
1.
Table 1.--Listing Information Summary for Four Species in the Midwest Region
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Common name Scientific name Status Listed entity Final listing rule
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Dwarf lake iris................. Iris lacustris.... Threatened........ U.S.A. (MI, WI), Sept. 28, 1988 (53
Canada (Ont.). FR 37972).
Houghton's goldenrod............ Solidago Threatened........ U.S.A. (MI), July 18, 1988 (53
houghtonii. Canada (Ont.). FR 27134).
Niangua darter.................. Etheostoma Threatened........ U.S.A. (MO)....... June 12, 1985 (50
nianguae. FR 24649).
Scaleshell mussel............... Leptodea leptodon. Endangered........ U.S.A. (AL, AR, Oct. 9, 2001 (66
IA, IL, IN, KY, FR 51322).
MN, MO, OH, OK,
SD, TN, WI).
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What Information Do We Consider in Our Review?
In our 5-year review, we consider all new information available at
the time of the review. These reviews will consider the best scientific
and commercial data that have become available since the original
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.
Public Solicitation of New Information
We request any new information concerning the status of the plant
species Houghton's goldenrod and dwarf lake iris, and of the wildlife
species Niangua darter and scaleshell mussel. See ``What Information Do
We Consider in Our Review?'' for specific criteria. If you submit
information, support it with 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. We specifically request information regarding data from any
systematic surveys, as well as any studies or analysis of data that may
show population size or trends; information pertaining to the biology
or ecology of the species; information regarding the effects of current
land management on population distribution and abundance; information
on the current condition of habitat; and recent information regarding
conservation measures that have been implemented to benefit the
species. Additionally, we
[[Page 56788]]
specifically request information on the current distribution of
populations and evaluation of threats faced by the species in relation
to the five listing factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act)
and the species' listed status as judged against the definition of
threatened or endangered. Finally, we solicit recommendations
pertaining to the development of, or potential updates to, recovery
plans and additional actions or studies that would benefit these
species in the future.
Our practice is to make information, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Before including
your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your response, you should be aware that your
entire submission--including your personal identifying information--may
be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
response to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Mail or hand-deliver information on the following species to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Field Supervisor, at the corresponding
addresses below. You may also view information we receive in response
to this notice, as well as other documentation in our files, at the
following locations by appointment, during regular business hours.
Houghton's goldenrod: 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing,
MI 48823-6316, Attention: Houghton's goldenrod 5-Year Review. For
species-specific information, contact Ms. Tameka Dandridge at 517-351-
8315.
Dwarf lake iris: 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing, MI
48823-6316, Attention: Dwarf lake iris 5-Year Review. For species-
specific information, contact Ms. Barbara Hosler at 517-351-6326.
Niangua darter: 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO
65203-0007, Attention: Niangua darter 5-Year Review. For species-
specific information, contact Mr. Rick Hansen at 573-234-2132,
extension 106.
Scaleshell mussel: 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO
65203-0007, Attention: Scaleshell mussel 5-Year Review. For species-
specific information, contact Mr. Andy Roberts at 573-234-2132,
extension 110.
Electronic information must be submitted in Text format or Rich
Text format to [email protected]. Please send
information for each species in a separate e-mail. Include the
following identifier in the subject line of the e-mail: Information on
the 5-year review for (add name of species--for example, `` * * * for
scaleshell mussel''), and include your name and return address in the
body of your message.
How Are These Species Currently Listed?
Table 1 provides current listing information for the species under
active review in this notice. Also, the List, which covers all listed
species, is available on our Internet site at http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html#Species.
Definitions
To help you submit information about the species we are reviewing,
we provide the following definitions:
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;
Endangered species means any species that is in danger of
extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and
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.
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 Our Review?
For each species under review, if we find new information that
indicates 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 threatened to endangered (uplist); (b) reclassify the species from
endangered to threatened (downlist); or (c) remove the species from the
List (delist).
If we determine that a change in classification is not warranted,
then the species will remain on the List under its current status.
Authority
We publish this document under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: September 4, 2007.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3.
[FR Doc. E7-19603 Filed 10-3-07; 8:45 am]
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