[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20714-20716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5983]


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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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