[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55005-55007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7924]


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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 Kendall Warm Springs dace, Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, and 
Dudley Bluffs twinpod

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 5-
year review of Kendall Warm Springs dace (Rhinichthys osculus 
thermalis), Dudley Bluffs bladderpod (Lesquerella congesta), and Dudley 
Bluffs twinpod (Physaria obcordata) under section 4(c)(2) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The purpose of 
reviews conducted under section 4(c)(2) 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 us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than November 20, 2006. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: For Kendall Warm Springs dace--submit information to the 
Wyoming Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: 5-year 
Review, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Suite 308A, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009. For 
Dudley Bluffs bladderpod and Dudley Bluffs twinpod--submit information 
to the Western Colorado Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Attention: 5-year Review, 764 Horizon Drive, Building B, Grand 
Junction, Colorado 81506-3946. Information received in response to this 
notice and review, as well as other documentation in our files, will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours, at the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Kendall Warm Springs dace--contact 
Brian Kelly, Wyoming Field Supervisor, at the above address, or 
telephone 307-772-2374. For Dudley Bluffs bladderpod and Dudley Bluffs 
twinpod--contact Al Pfister, Western Colorado Project Leader, at the 
above address, or telephone 970-243-2778.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 55006]]

Why Is a 5-Year Review Being 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) of section 4, to determine, on the basis of such a review, 
whether or not any species should be removed from the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (delisted), or 
reclassified from endangered to threatened (downlisted), or 
reclassified 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 species since their original listings as threatened 
(Dudley Bluffs bladderpod and Dudley Bluffs twinpod (55 FR 4152, 
February 6, 1990)) and endangered (Kendall Warm Springs dace (35 FR 
16047, October 13, 1970; 39 FR 1175, January 4, 1974)). 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 the 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 review of the Kendall Warm Springs 
dace, Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, and Dudley Bluffs twinpod.

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 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; (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 Kendall 
Warm Springs dace, Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, and Dudley Bluffs twinpod. 
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. 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; and recent 
information regarding conservation measures that have been implemented 
to benefit the species. Additionally, we specifically request 
information regarding 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 each 
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 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. 
However, we will not consider anonymous comments. 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.

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 also is available on our Internet site at http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html#Species. In Table 1 below, we provide 
a summary of the listing information for the species under active 
review.

               Table 1.--Summary of Listing Information for Kendall Warm Springs dace, Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, and Dudley Bluffs twinpod
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                        Species
--------------------------------------------------------    Historic range    Where endangered or      Status      When listed    Critical     Special
           Common name                Scientific name                              threatened                                     habitat       rules
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                                                                      * * * * * * *
              Plants
Twinpod, Dudley Bluffs...........  Physaria obcordata..  U.S.A. (CO)........  Entire.............  T                       374           NA           NA
Dudley Bluffs bladderpod.........  Lesquerella congesta  U.S.A. (CO)........  Entire.............  T                       374           NA           NA
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
               Fish
Dace, Kendall Warm Springs.......  Rhinichthys osculus   U.S.A. (WY)........  Entire.............  E                         2           NA           NA
                                    thermalis.
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
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[[Page 55007]]

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 Kendall Warm 
Springs dace, Dudley Bluffs bladderpod, and Dudley Bluffs twinpod 
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.

Authority

    This document is published under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: August 15, 2006.
James J. Slack,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 06-7924 Filed 9-19-06; 8:45 am]
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