[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 183 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55212-55214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7883]


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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: [email protected].
    2. Indiana bat: 620 S. Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403-
2121, or e-mail to: [email protected].
    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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