[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29916-29918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13758]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2017-N024; FXES11130900000C2-178-FF09E32000]


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

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 (Service), are 
initiating 5-year status reviews of 23 species under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We conduct these reviews to 
ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered 
on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is 
accurate. A 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 information that has become available since 
the last review of each of these species.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must 
receive your comments or information on or before August 29, 2017. 
However, we

[[Page 29917]]

will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review 
information we receive on these species, see ``Request for New 
Information.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information, see 
``Request for New Information.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Why do we conduct a 5-year review?

    Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain lists of 
endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife) 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. Our regulations at 
50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing those species under active review. For additional 
information about 5-year reviews, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html, scroll down to ``Learn More about 5-
Year Reviews,'' and click on our factsheet.

Species Under Review

    This notice announces our active review of 22 species that are 
currently listed as endangered:

Fish and Wildlife

    Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
    Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus brunnescens)
    Puerto Rican nightjar (Caprimulgus noctitherus)
    Cumberland darter (Etheostoma susanae)
    Rush darter (Etheostoma phytopilum)
    Vermilion darter (Etheostoma chermocki)
    Pygmy madtom (Noturus stanauli)
    Cumberland bean (Villosa trabalis)
    Ring pink (Obovaria retusa)
    Anthony's riversnail (Athearnia anthonyi)

Plants

    Arabis perstellata (Braun's rock-cress)
    Chamaesyce deltoidea spp. deltoidea (Deltoid spurge)
    Clematis morefieldii (Morefield's leatherflower)
    Conradina verticillata (Cumberland rosemary)
    Galactia smallii (Small's milkpea)
    Lyonia truncata var. proctorii (no common name)
    Polygala smallii (Tiny polygala)
    Pityopsis ruthii (Ruth's golden aster)
    Sarracenia rubra ssp.alabamensis (Alabama canebrake pitcher plant)
    Schwalbea americana (American chaffseed)
    Vernonia proctorii (no common name)
    Adiantum vivesii (no common name)
    This notice also announces our active review of 1 species that is 
currently listed as threatened:

Fish and Wildlife

    Ozark cavefish (Troglichthys rosae)

What information do we consider in our 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.
    New information will be considered in the 5-year review and ongoing 
recovery programs for the species.

Definitions

    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.

Request for New Information

    To do any of the following, contact the person associated with the 
species you are interested in below:
    A. To get more information on a species;
    B. To submit information on a species; or
    C. To review information we receive, which will be available for 
public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the 
listed addresses.

Mammals

     Florida panther: South Florida Ecological Services Field 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 12085 State Road 29 S, 
Immokalee, FL 34142; fax 772-562-4288. For information on these 
species, contact David Shindle at the ES Field Office (by phone at 239-
657-8013, or by email at [email protected]).

Birds

     Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk and Puerto Rican nightjar: 
Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Road 301, Km. 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boqueron, PR 00622; fax 787-
851-7440. For information on these species, contact Jose Cruz-Burgos at 
the ES Field Office (by phone at 787-851-7297, ext.218 or by email at 
[email protected]).

Fishes

     Ozark Cavefish: Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300, 
Conway, Arkansas 72032; fax 501-513-4480. For information on these 
species, contact Tommy Inebnit at the ES Field Office (by phone at 501-
513-4483 or by email at [email protected]).
     Cumberland darter: Kentucky Ecological Services Field 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 330 West Broadway, Frankfort, 
Kentucky 40601 fax 502-695-1024. For information on these species, 
contact Dr. Michael Floyd at the ES Field Office (by phone at 502-695-
0468 ext. 102 or by email at [email protected]).
     Rush darter and Vermilion darter: Mississippi Ecological 
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Jackson, MS 39213; fax 
601-965-4340. For information on these species, contact Daniel Drennen 
at the ES Field Office

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(by phone at 601-321-1127 or by email at [email protected]).
     Pygmy madtom: Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 
Neal Street, Cookeville, TN 38501; fax 931-528-7075. For information on 
these species, contact Warren Stiles at the ES Field Office (by phone 
at 931-525-4977 or by email at [email protected]).

Clams

     Cumberland bean and Ring pink: Kentucky Ecological 
Services Field Office (see contact information above). For information 
on these species, contact Leroy Koch at the ES Field Office (by phone 
at 502-695-0468 ext. 106 or by email at [email protected].

Snails

     Anthony's riversnail: Tennessee Ecological Services Field 
Office (see contact information above). For information on these 
species, contact Stephanie Chance at the ES Field Office (by phone at 
931-528-6481 ext. 211 or by email at [email protected]).

Plants

     Arabis perstellata (Braun's rock-cress): Kentucky 
Ecological Services Field Office. For information on these species, 
contact Dr. Michael Floyd (see contact information above).
     Chamaesyce deltoidea spp. deltoidea (Deltoid spurge), 
Galactia smallii (Small's milkpea), and Polygala smallii (Tiny 
polygala): South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960; fax 772-
562-4288. For information on these species, contact David Bender at the 
ES Field Office (by phone at 772-469-4294 or by email at 
[email protected]).
     Clematis morefieldii (Morefield's leatherflower), 
Conradina verticillata (Cumberland rosemary), and Pityopsis ruthii 
(Ruth's golden aster): Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office (see 
contact information above). For information on these species, contact 
Geoff Call at the ES Field Office (by phone at 931-525-4983 or by email 
at [email protected]).
     Lyonia truncata var. proctorii (no common name), Vernonia 
proctorii (no common name), and Adiantum vivesii (no common name): 
Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office. For information on these 
species, contact Jose Cruz-Burgos (see contact information above).
     Sarracenia rubra ssp. alabamensis (Alabama canebrake 
pitcher plant): Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office (see 
contact information above). For information on these species, contact 
Scott Wiggers at the ES Field Office (by phone at 228-475-0765 or by 
email at [email protected]).
     Schwalbea americana (American chaffseed): South Carolina 
Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 176 
Croghan Spur Road, Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29412; fax 843-727-4218. 
For information on these species, contact April Punsalan at the ES 
Field Office (by phone at 843-727-4707 ext. 218 or by email at 
[email protected]).
    We request any new information concerning the status of any of 
these 23 species. See ``What Information Do We Consider In Our 
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.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that the 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

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

    Dated: April 18, 2017.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-13758 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P