[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 118 (Monday, June 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35906-35908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15183]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2011-N101; 60120-1113-0000; C4]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status 
Reviews of 12 Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year 
status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act), of 2 animal and 10 plant species. We are requesting any 
information that has become available since our original listing of 
each of these species. Based on review results, we will determine 
whether we should change the listing status of any of these species.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written information by 
August 19, 2011.

ADDRESSES: For how and where to send comments or information, see 
``VIII. Contacts.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request information, see ``VIII. 
Contacts.'' Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may 
call the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY (telephone 
typewriter or teletypewriter) assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating 5-year status reviews 
under the Act of 2 animal and 10 plant species: Autumn buttercup 
(Ranunculus acriformis var. aestivalis), clay phacelia (Phacelia 
argillacea), Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. 
coloradensis), desert yellowhead (Yermo xanthocephalus), dwarf bear-
poppy (Arctomecon humilis), Last Chance townsendia (Townsendia aprica), 
Neosho madtom (Noturus placidus), Penland alpine fen mustard (Eutrema 
penlandii), Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana), 
San Rafael cactus (Pediocactus despainii), Welsh's milkweed (Asclepias 
welshii), and Winkler cactus (Pediocactus winkleri) species.

I. Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

    We conduct 5-year status reviews to ensure that our classification 
of each species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
Plants as threatened or endangered is accurate. A 5-year review 
assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time 
of the review. We are requesting any information that has become 
available since our original listing of the species under review. Based 
on review results, we will determine whether we should change the 
listing status of any of these species.
    Under the Act, we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 
17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires us to review 
each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Then, under 
section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether to remove any species from the 
List (delist), to reclassify it from endangered to threatened, or to 
reclassify it from threatened to endangered. Any change in Federal 
classification requires a separate rulemaking process.
    In classifying, we use the following definitions, from 50 CFR 
424.02:
    A. Species includes any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or 
plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of 
vertebrate, that interbreeds when mature;
    B. Endangered species means any species that is in danger of 
extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and
    C. 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.
    We must support delisting by the best scientific and commercial 
data available, and only consider delisting if data substantiate that 
the species is neither endangered nor threatened for one or more of the 
following reasons (50 CFR 424.11(d)):
    A. The species is considered extinct;
    B. The species is considered to be recovered; or
    C. The original data available when the species was listed, or the 
interpretation of data, were in error.
    Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice 
in the Federal Register announcing the species we are reviewing.

II. What species are under review?

    This notice announces our active 5-year status reviews of the 
species in Table 1.

                      Table 1--Current Listing Status of Species Under 5-Year Status Review
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                                                                                              Final listing rule
           Common name              Scientific name         Status           Where listed     publication date &
                                                                                                   citation
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                                                     ANIMALS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beetle, Salt Creek Tiger........  Cicindela nevadica  Endangered........  U.S.A. (NE).......  October 6, 2005
                                   lincolniana.                                                (70 FR 58335).
Madtom, Neosho..................  Noturus placidus..  Threatened........  U.S.A. (KS, MO,     May 22, 1990 (55
                                                                           OK).                FR 21148).
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[[Page 35907]]

 
                                                     PLANTS
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Autumn buttercup................  Ranunculus          Endangered........  U.S.A. (UT).......  July 21, 1989 (54
                                   acriformis var.                                             FR 30550).
                                   aestivalis.
Clay phacelia...................  Phacelia            Endangered........  U.S.A. (UT).......  September 28, 1978
                                   argillacea.                                                 (43 FR 44810).
Colorado butterfly plant........  Gaura Neomexicana   Threatened........  U.S.A. (WY, NE,     October 18, 2000
                                   ssp. coloradensis.                      CO).                (65 FR 62302).
Desert yellowhead...............  Yermo               Threatened........  U.S.A. (WY).......  March 14, 2002 (67
                                   xanthocephalus.                                             FR 11442).
Dwarf bear-poppy................  Arctomecon humilis  Endangered........  U.S.A. (UT).......  November 6, 1979
                                                                                               (44 FR 64250).
Last Chance townsendia..........  Townsendia aprica.  Threatened........  U.S.A. (UT).......  August 21, 1985
                                                                                               (50 FR 33734).
Penland alpine fen mustard......  Eutrema penlandii.  Threatened........  U.S.A. (CO).......  July 28, 1993 (58
                                                                                               FR 40539).
San Rafael cactus...............  Pediocactus         Endangered........  U.S.A. (UT).......  September 16, 1987
                                   despainii.                                                  (52 FR 34914).
Welsh's milkweed................  Asclepias welshii.  Threatened........  U.S.A. (AZ, UT)...  October 28, 1987
                                                                                               (52 FR 41435).
Winkler cactus..................  Pediocactus         Threatened........  U.S.A. (UT).......  August 20, 1998
                                   winkleri.                                                   (63 FR 44587).
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III. What do we consider in our review?

    We consider all new information available at the time we conduct a 
5-year status review. We consider the best scientific and commercial 
data that has become available since our current listing determination 
or most recent status review, 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 that benefit 
the species;
    D. Threat status and trends (see five factors under heading ``IV. 
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.

IV. How do we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened?

    Section 4(a)(1) of the Act requires 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.
    Under section 4(b)(1) of the Act, we must base our assessment of 
these factors solely on the best scientific and commercial data 
available.

V. 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 remains on the List under its current status.

VI. Request for New Information

    To ensure that a 5-year review is complete and based on the best 
available scientific and commercial information, we request new 
information from all sources. See ``III. What 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.
    Submit your comments and materials to the appropriate Fish and 
Wildlife Office listed under ``VIII. Contacts.''

VII. Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, 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. Comments and materials received will be available for 
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
offices where the comments are submitted.

VIII. Contacts

    Send your comments and information on the following species, as 
well as requests for information, to the corresponding contacts/
addresses included in Table 2. You may view information we receive in 
response to this notice, as well as other documentation in our files, 
at the following locations by appointment, during normal business 
hours.

[[Page 35908]]



   Table 2--Contact Information for Species Under 5-Year Status Review
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                                    Contact person,
             Species                 phone, e-mail      Contact address
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Neosho Madtom...................  Mike LeValley,      Kansas Field
                                   Kansas Field        Office, U.S. Fish
                                   Supervisor; (785)   & Wildlife
                                   539-3474; e-mail    Service,
                                   Mike--LeValley@fw   Attention: Neosho
                                   s.gov.              Madtom 5-Year
                                                       Review, 2609
                                                       Anderson Avenue,
                                                       Manhattan, KS
                                                       66502.
Salt Creek Tiger Beetle.........  Michael George,     Nebraska Field
                                   Nebraska Field      Office, U.S. Fish
                                   Supervisor; (308)   & Wildlife
                                   382-6468; e-mail    Service,
                                   Mike--George@fws.   Attention: Salt
                                   gov.                Creek Tiger
                                                       Beetle 5-Year
                                                       Review, 203 West
                                                       Second, 2nd
                                                       Floor, Federal
                                                       Building, Grand
                                                       Island, NE 68801.
Autumn buttercup, Clay phacelia,  Larry Crist, Utah   Utah Field Office,
 Dwarf bear-poppy, Last Chance     Field Supervisor;   U.S. Fish &
 townsendia, San Rafael cactus,    (801) 975-3330; e-  Wildlife Service,
 Winkler cactus, Welsh's           mail Larry--        Attention: 5-Year
 milkweed.                         [email protected].      Review, 2369 West
                                                       Orton Circle,
                                                       Suite 50, West
                                                       Valley City, UT
                                                       84119.
Colorado butterfly plant, Desert  Mark Sattelberg,    Wyoming Field
 yellowhead.                       Wyoming Field       Office, U.S. Fish
                                   Supervisor; (307)   & Wildlife
                                   772-2374; e-mail    Service,
                                   Mark--Sattelberg@   Attention: 5-Year
                                   fws.gov.            Review, 5353
                                                       Yellowstone Road,
                                                       Suite 308A,
                                                       Cheyenne, WY
                                                       82009.
Penland alpine fen mustard......  Al Pfister,         Western Colorado
                                   Western Colorado    Field Office,
                                   Supervisor; (970)   U.S. Fish &
                                   243-2778; e-mail    Wildlife Service,
                                   [email protected]   Attention: 5-Year
                                   ov.                 Review, 764
                                                       Horizon Drive,
                                                       Building B, Grand
                                                       Junction, CO
                                                       81506-3946.
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IX. Authority

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

    Dated: May 25, 2011.
Noreen E. Walsh,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2011-15183 Filed 6-17-11; 8:45 am]
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