[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20702-20704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8124]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS--R4-ES-2008-N0043; 40120-1113-0000; ABC Code: C4]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status 
Review of 18 Southeastern Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is initiating 5-
year status reviews of the Key Largo cotton mouse (Peromyscus 
gossypinus allapaticola), Audubon's crested caracara (Polyborus plancus 
audubonii), Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), Stock Island 
tree snail (Orthalicus reses (not incl. nesodryas)), four-petal pawpaw 
(Asimina tetramera), Florida golden aster (Chrysopsis floridana), 
Apalachicola rosemary (Conradina glabra), Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita 
okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis), beautiful pawpaw (Deeringothamnus 
pulchellus), Garrett's mint (Dicerandra christmanii), scrub mint 
(Dicerandra frutescens), Harper's beauty (Harperocallis flava), white 
birds in a nest (Macbridea alba), Godfrey's butterwort (Pinguicula 
ionantha), scrub plum (Prunus geniculata), Florida skullcap 
(Scutellaria floridana), gentian pinkroot (Spigelia gentianoides), and 
Florida ziziphus (Ziziphus celata), under section 4(c)(2) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The purpose of 
reviews conducted

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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 June 16, 
2008. However, we will continue to accept new information about any 
listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: Information submitted on the Florida golden aster and scrub 
plum 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 Key 
Largo cotton mouse, Audubon's crested caracara, Stock Island tree 
snail, four-petal pawpaw, Okeechobee gourd, Garrett's mint, scrub mint, 
beautiful pawpaw, and Florida ziziphus should be sent to Cindy Schulz, 
South Florida Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th 
Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960, fax 772-562-4288. Information on the 
Gulf sturgeon, Apalachicola rosemary, Harper's beauty, white birds in a 
nest, Godfrey's butterwort, Florida skullcap, and gentian pinkroot 
should be sent to Janet Mizzi, Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida 32405, fax 
850-763-2177. Information received in response to this notice of review 
will be available for public inspection by appointment, during regular 
business hours, at the same addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy MacPherson at the Jacksonville, 
Florida, address above for the Florida golden aster and scrub plum 
(telephone, 904/232-2580, ext. 110, e-mail [email protected]); 
Cindy Schulz at the Vero Beach, Florida, address above for the Key 
Largo cotton mouse, Audubon's crested caracara, Stock Island tree 
snail, four-petal pawpaw, Okeechobee gourd, Garrett's mint, scrub mint, 
beautiful pawpaw, and Florida ziziphus (telephone, 772/562-3909, ext. 
305, e-mail [email protected]); and Janet Mizzi at the Panama City, 
Florida, address above for the Gulf sturgeon, Apalachicola rosemary, 
Harper's beauty, white birds in a nest, Godfrey's butterwort, Florida 
skullcap, and gentian pinkroot (telephone, 850/769-0552, ext. 247, e-
mail [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 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. Amendments 
to the List through final rules are published in the Federal Register.
    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 listed as endangered: Key Largo cotton 
mouse, four-petal pawpaw, Florida golden aster, Apalachicola rosemary, 
Okeechobee gourd, beautiful pawpaw, Garrett's mint, Scrub mint, 
Harper's beauty, gentian pinkroot, scrub plum, and Florida ziziphus. 
The other 6 species in this notice are currently listed as threatened. 
The List is also available on our internet site at http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html#Species.

What Information Is Considered in the Review?

    A 5-year review considers 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

    We provide the following definitions to assist individuals 
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 18 
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 their 
current status.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    We request any new information concerning the status of any of 
these 18

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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 during regular business hours. 
Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home 
addresses, etc., but if you wish us to withhold this information, you 
must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. In 
addition, you must present a rationale for withholding this 
information. This rationale must demonstrate that disclosure would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. Unsupported 
assertions will not meet this burden. In the absence of exceptional, 
documental circumstances, this information will be released. We will 
always make 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: February 19, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-8124 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
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