[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43947-43948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17368]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2008-N0183; 40120-1113-0000-C4]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status 
Review of 20 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 slender chub (Erimystax cahni), blackside 
dace (Phoxinus cumberlandensis), vermillion darter (Etheostoma 
chermocki), pygmy madtom (Noturus stanauli), palezone shiner (Notropis 
albizonatus), fanshell (Cyprogenai stegaria), inflated heelsplitter 
(Potamilus inflatus), pink mucket (Lampsilis abrupta), spruce-fir moss 
spider (Microhexura montivaga), cave crayfish (Cambarus aculabrum), 
Pyne's ground plum (Astragalus bibulatus), small-anthered bittercress 
(Cardamine micranthera), leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa), smooth 
coneflower (Echinacea laevigata), spreading avens (Geum radiatum), Roan 
Mountain bluet (Hedyotis purpurea var. montana), rough-leaved 
loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulaefolia), Michaux's sumac (Rhus 
michauxii), Alabama canebrake pitcher plant (Sarracenia rubra ssp. 
alabamensis), and Blue Ridge goldenrod (Solidago spithamaea), under 
section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 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 September 
29, 2008. However, we will continue to accept new information about any 
listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: Information submitted on the slender chub, pygmy madtom, 
Pyne's groundplum, and leafy prairie clover should be sent to Geoff 
Call, Tennessee Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal 
Street, Cookeville, TN 38501, fax 931-528-7075. Information on the 
palezone shiner, blackside dace, and fanshell should be sent to Mike 
Floyd, Kentucky Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 330 W. 
Broadway, Rm. 265, Frankfort, KY 40601, fax 502-695-1024. Information 
on the smooth coneflower, Michaux's sumac, and rough-leaved loosestrife 
should be sent to Dale Suiter, Raleigh Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 33726, Raleigh, NC 27636, fax 919-856-4556. 
Information on the pink mucket, spruce fir moss spider, spreading 
avens, Blue Ridge goldenrod, Roan Mountain bluet, and small-anthered 
bittercress should be sent to Field Supervisor, Asheville Field Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa St., Asheville, NC 28801, 
fax 828-258-5330. Information on the vermillion darter, inflated 
heelsplitter, and Alabama canebrake pitcher plant should be sent to 
Cary Norquist, Mississippi Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 6578 Dogwood View Pkwy., Jackson, MS 39213, fax 601-965-4340. 
Information on the cave crayfish should be sent to David Kampwerth, 
Arkansas Field Office, 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300, Conway, AR 
72032, fax 501-513-4480. 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: Geoff Call at Cookeville, Tennessee 
address above for the slender chub, pygmy madtom, Pyne's groundplum and 
leafy prairie clover (telephone, 931/528-6481 ext. 213, e-mail 
[email protected]); Mike Floyd at the Frankfort, Kentucky, address above for 
the palezone shiner, blackside dace, and fanshell (telephone, 502/695-
0468 ext. 102, e-mail [email protected]); Dale Suiter at the Raleigh, 
North Carolina address above for the smooth coneflower, Michaux's 
sumac, and rough-leaved loosestrife (telephone, 919/856-4520 ext. 18, 
e-mail [email protected]); Bob Butler at Asheville, North Carolina 
address above for the pink mucket (telephone, 828/258-3939 ext. 235, e-
mail [email protected]); John Fridell at the Asheville, North 
Carolina for the spruce fir moss spider (telephone, 828/258-3939 ext. 
225, e-mail [email protected]); Carolyn Wells at Asheville, North 
Carolina for the spreading avens, Blue Ridge goldenrod, Roan Mountain 
bluet, and small-anthered bittercress (telephone, 828/258-3939 ext. 
231, [email protected]); Cary Norquist at Jackson, Mississippi 
address above for the vermillion darter, inflated heelsplitter, and 
Alabama canebrake pitcher plant (telephone, 601/321-1128,

[[Page 43948]]

e-mail [email protected]); and David Kampwerth at Conway, Arkansas 
for the cave crayfish (telephone, 501-501-4477, 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: vermillion darter, 
pygmy madtom, palezone shiner, fanshell, pink mucket, spruce-fir moss 
spider, cave crayfish, Pyne's groundplum, small-anthered bittercress, 
leafy prairie clover, smooth coneflower, spreading avens, Roan Mountain 
bluet, rough-leaved loosestrife, Michaux's sumac, and Alabama canebrake 
pitcher plant. The other four 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 20 
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 20 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: June 30, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-17368 Filed 7-28-08; 8:45 am]
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