[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 192 (Thursday, October 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56787-56788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19603]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of Two Plant Species and Two Wildlife Species in the 
Midwest Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of review; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), initiate 5-
year reviews of Houghton goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii), dwarf lake 
iris (Iris lacustris), scaleshell mussel (Leptodea leptodon), and 
Niangua darter (Etheostoma nianguae) under the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended (Act). We request any new information on these 
species that may have a bearing on their classification as endangered 
or threatened. Based on the results of these reviews, we will make a 
finding on whether these species are properly classified under the Act.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must 
receive your information no later than December 3, 2007. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review the 
information that we receive on these species, see ``Public Solicitation 
of New Information.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information, 
contact the appropriate person under ``Public Solicitation of New 
Information.''
    Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call 
the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Why Do We Conduct a 5-Year Review?

    Under the Act we maintain the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife and Plant Species (List) at 50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12. We amend 
the List by publishing final rules in the Federal Register. 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, we will consider a 
species 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 
we listed the species, or interpretation of such data, were in error. 
Any change in Federal classification requires a separate rulemaking 
process. Therefore, we are requesting submission of any new information 
(best scientific and commercial data) on these species since they were 
originally listed.
    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 species in Table 
1.

                  Table 1.--Listing Information Summary for Four Species in the Midwest Region
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           Common name              Scientific name         Status           Listed entity    Final listing rule
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Dwarf lake iris.................  Iris lacustris....  Threatened........  U.S.A. (MI, WI),    Sept. 28, 1988 (53
                                                                           Canada (Ont.).      FR 37972).
Houghton's goldenrod............  Solidago            Threatened........  U.S.A. (MI),        July 18, 1988 (53
                                   houghtonii.                             Canada (Ont.).      FR 27134).
Niangua darter..................  Etheostoma          Threatened........  U.S.A. (MO).......  June 12, 1985 (50
                                   nianguae.                                                   FR 24649).
Scaleshell mussel...............  Leptodea leptodon.  Endangered........  U.S.A. (AL, AR,     Oct. 9, 2001 (66
                                                                           IA, IL, IN, KY,     FR 51322).
                                                                           MN, MO, OH, OK,
                                                                           SD, TN, WI).
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What Information Do We Consider in Our Review?

    In our 5-year review, we consider 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 original 
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 the plant 
species Houghton's goldenrod and dwarf lake iris, and of the wildlife 
species Niangua darter and scaleshell mussel. See ``What Information Do 
We Consider in Our Review?'' for specific criteria. If you submit 
information, support it with 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; information 
on the current condition of habitat; and recent information regarding 
conservation measures that have been implemented to benefit the 
species. Additionally, we

[[Page 56788]]

specifically request information on 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 the 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 information, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Before including 
your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your response, you should be aware that your 
entire submission--including your personal identifying information--may 
be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
response to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Mail or hand-deliver information on the following species to the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Field Supervisor, at the corresponding 
addresses below. You may also view information we receive in response 
to this notice, as well as other documentation in our files, at the 
following locations by appointment, during regular business hours.
    Houghton's goldenrod: 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing, 
MI 48823-6316, Attention: Houghton's goldenrod 5-Year Review. For 
species-specific information, contact Ms. Tameka Dandridge at 517-351-
8315.
    Dwarf lake iris: 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 
48823-6316, Attention: Dwarf lake iris 5-Year Review. For species-
specific information, contact Ms. Barbara Hosler at 517-351-6326.
    Niangua darter: 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 
65203-0007, Attention: Niangua darter 5-Year Review. For species-
specific information, contact Mr. Rick Hansen at 573-234-2132, 
extension 106.
    Scaleshell mussel: 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 
65203-0007, Attention: Scaleshell mussel 5-Year Review. For species-
specific information, contact Mr. Andy Roberts at 573-234-2132, 
extension 110.
    Electronic information must be submitted in Text format or Rich 
Text format to [email protected]. Please send 
information for each species in a separate e-mail. Include the 
following identifier in the subject line of the e-mail: Information on 
the 5-year review for (add name of species--for example, `` * * * for 
scaleshell mussel''), and include your name and return address in the 
body of your message.

How Are These Species Currently Listed?

    Table 1 provides current listing information for the species under 
active review in this notice. Also, the List, which covers all listed 
species, is available on our Internet site at http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html#Species.

Definitions

    To help you submit information about the species we are reviewing, 
we provide the following definitions:
    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;
    Endangered species means any species that is in danger of 
extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and
    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.

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 Our Review?

    For each species under review, if we find new information that 
indicates 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 threatened to endangered (uplist); (b) reclassify the species from 
endangered to threatened (downlist); or (c) remove the species from the 
List (delist).
    If we determine that a change in classification is not warranted, 
then the species will remain on the List under its current status.

Authority

    We publish this document under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: September 4, 2007.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3.
[FR Doc. E7-19603 Filed 10-3-07; 8:45 am]
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