[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56545-56547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15824]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 
37 Southeastern Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces 5-year reviews of the 
Anastasia Island beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma), 
Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys), Perdido 
Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis), Lower Keys marsh 
rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), Everglade snail kite (Rostrhamus 
sociabilis plumbeus), wood stork (Mycteria americana), Culebra giant 
anole (Anolis roosevelti), bluetail mole skink (Eumeces egregius 
lividus), sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi), golden coqui 
(Eleutherodactylus jasperi), purple bankclimber (Elliptoideus 
sloatianus), Gulf moccasinshell (Medionidus penicillatus), Ochlockonee 
moccasinshell (Medionidus simpsonianus), oval pigtoe (Pleurobema 
pyriforme), shinyrayed pocketbook (Lampsilis subangulata), Chipola 
slabshell (Elliptio chipolaensis), fat three-ridge (Amblema neislerii), 
Crenulate lead-plant (Amorpha crenulata), Catesbaea melanocarpa (no 
common name), Garber's spurge (Chamaesyce garberi), Etonia rosemary 
(Conradina etonia), Cordia bellonis (no common name), Avon Park 
harebells (Crotalaria avonensis), beautiful goetzea (Goetzea elegans), 
Lepanthes eltoroensis (no common name), Mitracarpus maxwelliae (no 
common name), Mitracarpus polycladus (no common name), Peperomia 
wheeleri (no common name), wide-leaf warea (Warea amplexifolia), elfin 
tree fern (Cyathea dryopteroides), Elaphoglossum serpens (no common 
name), Polystichum calderonense (no common name), Tectaria estremerana 
(no common name), Thelypteris inabonensis (no common name), Thelypteris 
verecunda (no common name) and Thelypteris yaucoensis (no common name), 
and Florida perforate cladonia (Cladonia perforata) under section 
4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
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 November 
27, 2006. However, we will continue to accept new information about any 
listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: Information submitted on the Anastasia Island beach mouse, 
wood stork, Etonia rosemary, and wide-leaf warea should be sent to 
Sandy MacPherson, Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 
32216, fax 904-232-2404. Information on the Lower Keys marsh rabbit, 
Everglades snail kite, bluetail mole skink, sand skink, Crenulate lead-
plant, Garber's spurge, Avon Park harebells, and Florida perforate 
cladonia should be sent to Cindy Schulz, South Florida Ecological 
Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero 
Beach, Florida 32960, fax 772-562-4288. Information on the 
Choctawhatchee beach mouse, Perdido Key beach mouse, purple 
bankclimber, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, oval 
pigtoe, shinyrayed pocketbook, Chipola slabshell, and fat three-ridge 
should be sent to Gail Carmody, Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida 32405, fax 
850-763-2177. Information submitted on the Culebra giant anole, golden 
coqui, Catesbaea melanocarpa, Cordia bellonis, beautiful goetzea, 
Lepanthes eltoroensis, Mitracarpus maxwelliae, Mitracarpus polycladus, 
Peperomia wheeleri, elfin tree fern, Elaphoglossum serpens, Polystichum 
calderonense, Tectaria estremerana, Thelypteris inabonensis, 
Thelypteris verecunda and Thelypteris yaucoensis should be sent to 
Edwin Muniz, Field

[[Page 56546]]

Supervisor, Caribbean Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P.O. Box 491, Boquer[oacute]n, Puerto Rico 00622, fax 787-851-7440. 
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: Sandy MacPherson at the Jacksonville, 
Florida, address above for the Anastasia Island beach mouse, wood 
stork, Etonia rosemary, and wide-leaf warea (telephone, 904/232-2580, 
ext. 110, e-mail [email protected]); Cindy Schulz at the Vero 
Beach, Florida, address above for Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Everglade 
snail kite, bluetail mole skink, sand skink, Crenulate lead-plant, 
Garber's spurge, Avon Park harebells, and Florida perforate cladonia 
(telephone, 772/562-3909, ext. 305, e-mail [email protected]); Gail 
Carmody at the Panama City, Florida, address above for the 
Choctawhatchee beach mouse, Perdido Key beach mouse, purple 
bankclimber, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, oval 
pigtoe, shinyrayed pocketbook, Chipola slabshell, and fat three-ridge 
(telephone, 850/769-0552, ext. 225, e-mail [email protected]); and 
Edwin Muniz, at the above Boquer[oacute]n, Puerto Rico, address for the 
Culebra giant anole, golden coqui, Catesbaea melanocarpa, Cordia 
bellonis, beautiful goetzea, Lepanthes eltoroensis, Mitracarpus 
maxwelliae, Mitracarpus polycladus, Peperomia wheeleri, elfin tree 
fern, Elaphoglossum serpens, Polystichum calderonense, Tectaria 
estremerana, Thelypteris inabonensis, Thelypteris verecunda and 
Thelypteris yaucoensis (telephone, 787/851-7297, ext. 228, e-mail 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Act, the Service maintains a list 
of endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species at 50 CFR 17.11 
(for wildlife) 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: Anastasia 
Island beach mouse, Choctawhatchee beach mouse, Perdido Key beach 
mouse, Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Everglade snail kite, wood stork, 
Culebra giant anole, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, 
oval pigtoe, shinyrayed pocketbook, fat three-ridge, Crenulate lead-
plant, Catesbaea melanocarpa, Etonia rosemary, Cordia bellonis, Avon 
Park harebells, beautiful goetzea, Lepanthes eltoroensis, Mitracarpus 
maxwelliae, Mitracarpus polycladus, Peperomia wheeleri, wide-leaf 
warea, elfin tree fern, Elaphoglossum serpens, Polystichum 
calderonense, Tectaria estremerana, Thelypteris inabonensis, 
Thelypteris verecunda, Thelypteris yaucoensis, and Florida perforate 
cladonia. This notice also announces our active review of the following 
species that are currently federally listed as threatened: bluetail 
mole skink, sand skink, golden coqui, purple bankclimber, Chipola 
slabshell, and Garber's spurge.
    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;
    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.

What could happen as a result of this review?

    If we find that there is new information concerning any of these 37 
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 37 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

[[Page 56547]]

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 
during normal business hours. 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. 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.

Authority

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

    Dated: September 14, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
 [FR Doc. E6-15824 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]
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