[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6917-6919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2885]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2009-N0003; 20124-11130000-C4]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Reviews of 
23 Southwestern Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reviews.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 5-
year reviews of 23 southwestern species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (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 is accurate. The 5-year review is an assessment of 
the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the 
review.

DATES: To allow adequate time to conduct this review, information 
submitted for our consideration must be received on or before May 12, 
2009. However, we will continue to accept new information about any 
listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: You should submit information on these species to the 
Service at the addresses listed under ``Public Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. We will make information received in 
response to this notice of review available for public inspection by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the same addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the appropriate office named 
in ``Public Comments'' for species-specific information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Why is a 5-year review conducted?

    Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires 
that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years. 
We are then, under section 4(c)(2)(B) and the provisions of subsections 
(a) and (b), to determine, on the basis of such a review, whether or 
not any species should be removed (delisted) from the

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List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.12), 
or reclassified from endangered to threatened (downlisted), or from 
threatened to endangered (uplisted).
    The 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and 
commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we are 
requesting submission of any new information (best scientific and 
commercial data) on the following 23 species since their original 
listings as either endangered (ashy dogweed, Canelo Hills ladies'-
tresses, Comanche Springs pupfish, Davis' green pitaya, Gila chub, Gulf 
Coast jaguarundi, Huachuca water-umbel, Koster's springsnail, Little 
Aguja (=Creek) pondweed, masked bobwhite (quail), Mexican long-nosed 
bat, Nellie cory cactus, Noel's amphipod, Pecos assiminea snail, Pecos 
gambusia, Roswell springsnail, Texas poppy-mallow, and Zapata 
bladderpod) or threatened (Arkansas River shiner, bunched cory cactus, 
Chisos Mountains hedgehog cactus, Lloyd's Mariposa cactus, and Navajo 
sedge). If the present classification of any of these species is not 
consistent with the best scientific and commercial information 
available, the Service will recommend whether or not a change is 
warranted in the Federal classification of that species. Any change in 
Federal classification would require a separate rulemaking process.
    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 23 species 
listed in Table 1.

What information is considered in the review?

    A 5-year review considers all new information available at the time 
of the review. These reviews will consider the best scientific and 
commercial data that has 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 of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife and Plants, and improved analytical methods.

How are these species currently listed?

    The List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (List) is 
found in 50 CFR 17.11 (wildlife) and 17.12 (plants). Amendments to the 
List through final rules are published in the Federal Register. The 
List is also available on our internet site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html. In Table 1 below, we provide a summary of the 
listing information for the species under active review.

                                   Table 1--Summary of the Listing Information
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           Common name                Scientific name     Status       Where listed        Final listing rule
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Arkansas River shiner............  Notropis girardi....        T   AR, KS, NM, OK, TX.  63 FR 64771.
ashy dogweed.....................  Thymophylla                 E   TX 49..............  FR 29232.
                                    tephroleuca.
bunched cory cactus..............  Coryphantha                 T   TX.................  44 FR 64247.
                                    ramillosa.
Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses.....  Spiranthes                  E   AZ.................  62 FR 665.
                                    delitescens.
Chisos Mountain hedgehog cactus..  Echinocereus                T   TX.................  53 FR 38453.
                                    chisoensis var.
                                    chisoensis.
Comanche Springs pupfish.........  Cyprinodon elegans..        E   TX.................  32 FR 4001.
Davis' green pitaya..............  Echinocereus                E   TX.................  44 FR 64738.
                                    viridiflorus var.
                                    davisii.
Gila chub........................  Gila intermedia.....        E   AZ, NM.............  70 FR 66663.
Gulf Coast jaguarundi............  Herpailurus (=Felis)        E   TX.................  41 FR 24062.
                                    yagouaroundi
                                    cacomitli.
Huachuca water-umbel.............  Lilaeopsis                  E   AZ.................  62 FR 665.
                                    schaffneriana var.
                                    recurva.
Koster's springsnail.............  Juturnia kosteri....        E   NM.................  70 FR 46303.
Little Aguja (=Creek) pondweed...  Potamogeton                 E   TX.................  56 FR 57844.
                                    clystocarpus.
Lloyd's Mariposa cactus..........  Echinomastus                T   TX.................  44 FR 64247.
                                    ariposensis.
masked bobwhite (quail)..........  Colinus virginianus         E   AZ.................  32 FR 4001.
                                    ridgwayi.
Mexican long-nosed bat...........  Leptonycteris               E   NM, TX.............  53 FR 38456.
                                    nivalis.
Navajo sedge.....................  Carex specuicola....        T   AZ, UT.............  50 FR 19370.
Nellie cory cactus...............  Coryphantha minima..        E   TX.................  44 FR 64738.
Noel's amphipod..................  Gammarus desperatus.        E   NM.................  70 FR 46303.
Pecos assiminea snail............  Assiminea pecos.....        E   NM, TX.............  70 FR 46303.
Pecos gambusia...................  Gambusia nobilis....        E   NM, TX.............  35 FR 16047.
Roswell springsnail..............  Pyrgulopsis                 E   NM.................  70 FR 46303.
                                    roswellensis.
Texas poppy-mallow...............  Callirhoe                   E   TX.................  46 FR 3184.
                                    scabriuscula.
Zapata bladderpod................  Lesquerella                 E   TX.................  64 FR 63745.
                                    thamnophila.
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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 five 
following factors:
    A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of its habitat or range;

[[Page 6919]]

    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 this review?

    If we find that there is new information concerning any of the 23 
species listed in Table 1 indicating 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; 
(b) reclassify the species from threatened to endangered; or (c) remove 
the species from the List. If we determine that a change in 
classification is not warranted, then these species will remain on the 
List under their current status.

Public Comments

    Submit information regarding the Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses 
(Spiranthes delitescens), Gila chub (Gila intermedia), Huachuca water-
umber (Lilaeopsis schaffneriana var. recurva), and Navajo sedge (Carex 
specuicola) to the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 
West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021. The office phone 
number is 602-242-0210.
    Submit information regarding the bunched cory cactus (Coryphantha 
ramillosa), Chisos Mountain hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus chisoensis 
var. chisoensis), Comanche Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon elegans), Davis' 
green pitaya (Echinocereus viridiflorus var. davisii), Little Aguja 
(=Creek) pondweed (Potamogeton clystocarpus), Lloyd's Mariposa cactus 
(Echinomastus ariposensis), Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris 
nivalis), Nellie cory cactus (Coryphantha minima), Pecos gambusia 
(Gambusia nobilis), and Texas poppy-mallow (Callirhoe scabriuscula) to 
the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, 
Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. The office phone number is 512-490-
0057.
    Submit information regarding masked bobwhite (quail) (Colinus 
virginianus ridgwayi) to the Refuge Manager, Buenos Aires National 
Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 109, Sasabe, AZ 85633. The office phone 
number is 520-823-4251, extension 116.
    Submit information regarding ashy dogweed (Notropis girardi) and 
Zapata bladderpod (Lesquerella thamnophila) to the Field Supervisor, 
Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service c/o TAMU-CC, 
Corpus Christi Ecological Services Field Office, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 
5837, Corpus Christi, TX 78412. The office phone number is 361-994-
9005.
    Submit information regarding Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Herpailurus 
(=Felis) yagouaroundi cacomitli) to Jody Mays, Wildlife Biologist, 
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 450, Rio Hondo, TX 
78583. The office phone number is 956-748-3607.
    Submit information regarding Koster's springsnail (Juturnia 
kosteri), Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus), Pecos assiminea snail 
(Assiminea pecos), and Roswell springsnail (Pyrgulopsis roswellensis) 
to the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 
Osuna Road, NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. The office phone number is 505-
346-2525.
    Submit information regarding the Arkansas River shiner (Notropis 
girardi) to the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office, 222 S. 
Houston, Suite A, Tulsa, OK 74127. The office phone number is 918-581-
7458.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    We request any new information concerning the status of the 23 
species listed in Table 1. 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. 
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

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

    Dated: January 30, 2009.
Brian A. Millsap,
Regional Director, Region 2.
 [FR Doc. E9-2885 Filed 2-10-09; 8:45 am]
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