[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42871-42872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12108]



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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;

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    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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