[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39113-39115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16931]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-ES-2018-N050; FXES11130500000-189-FF05E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of 19 Northeastern 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 reviews under the Endangered Species Act, as amended 
(ESA), for 19 northeastern species. A 5-year review is based on the 
best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the 
review. We are requesting submission of any such information that has 
become available since the previous 5-year review for each species.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please submit your written information 
by September 7, 2018. However, we will continue to accept new 
information about any listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how and where to submit information, see 
Request for Information and Table 2--Contacts under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding a particular 
species, contact the appropriate person or office listed in Table 2--
Contacts in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. For general information, contact 
Mary Parkin, by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 
Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035; by telephone at 617-417-3331; 
or by electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Service, are initiating 5-year 
reviews under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) for 19 northeastern 
species: The endangered sandplain gerardia, roseate tern (northeastern 
North American population), Roanoke logperch, Virginia big-eared bat, 
dwarf wedgemussel, northern riffleshell, clubshell, purple bean, 
Peter's Mountain mallow, Furbish's lousewort, and northeastern bulrush, 
and the threatened Puritan tiger beetle, northeastern beach tiger 
beetle, flat-spired three-toothed (=Cheat) snail, Chittenango ovate 
amber snail, bog turtle (northern population), American hart's-tongue 
fern, Knieskern's beaked-rush, and Virginia sneezeweed.
    A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data 
available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of 
any such information that has become available since the most recent 
status review for each species.

Why do we conduct 5-year reviews and species status assessments?

    Under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain Lists of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively 
refer to as the List). Listed wildlife and plants can be found at 
http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/listedAnimals.jsp and http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/listedPlants.jsp, respectively. Section 
4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA 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 species 
under active review. For additional information about 5-year reviews, 
refer to our fact sheet at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html.

What species are under review?

    We are initiating 5-year status reviews of the species in table 1.

                                          Table 1--Species Under Review
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Listing date and
          Common name             Scientific name           Status             Where listed         citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Animals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roseate tern...................  Sterna dougallii   Endangered............  Northeastern       52 FR 42064; 11/
                                  dougallii.                                 North American     02/1987.
                                                                             population (CT,
                                                                             ME, MA, NJ, NY,
                                                                             NC, RI, VA).
Roanoke logperch...............  Percina rex......  Endangered............  Wherever found...  54 FR 34468; 08/
                                                                                                18/1989.
Virginia big-eared bat.........  Corynorhinus       Endangered............  Wherever found...  44 FR 69206; 11/
                                  (=plecotus)                                                   30/1979.
                                  townsendii
                                  virginianus.
Dwarf wedgemussel..............  Alasmidonta        Endangered............  Wherever found...  55 FR 9447; 03/14/
                                  heterodon.                                                    1990.
Northern riffleshell...........  Epioblasma         Endangered............  Wherever found...  58 FR 5638; 01/22/
                                  torulosa                                                      1993.
                                  rangiana.
Clubshell......................  Pleurobema clava.  Endangered............  Wherever found...  58 FR 5638; 01/22/
                                                                                                1993.
Purple bean....................  Villosa            Endangered............  Wherever found...  62 FR 1647; 01/10/
                                  perpurpurea.                                                  1997.
Puritan tiger beetle...........  Cicindela          Threatened............  Wherever found...  55 FR 32088; 08/
                                  puritana.                                                     07/1990.
Northeastern beach tiger beetle  Cicindela          Threatened............  Wherever found...  55 FR 32088; 08/
                                  dorsalis                                                      07/1990.
                                  dorsalis.
Flat-spired three-toothed        Triodopsis         Threatened............  Wherever found...  43 FR 28932; 07/
 (=Cheat) snail.                  platysayoides.                                                03/1978.
Chittenango ovate amber snail..  Novisuccinea       Threatened............  Wherever found...  43 FR 28932; 07/
                                  chittenangoensis.                                             03/1978.
Bog turtle.....................  Glyptemys [=       Threatened............  Northern           62 FR 59605; 11/
                                  Clemmys]                                   population (CT,    04/1997.
                                  muhlenbergii.                              DE, MD, MA, NJ,
                                                                             NY, PA).
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                                                     Plants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandplain gerardia.............  Agalinis acuta...  Endangered............  Wherever found...  53 FR 34701; 09/
                                                                                                07/1988.
Peter's Mountain mallow........  Iliamna corei....  Endangered............  Wherever found...  56 FR 32978; 07/
                                                                                                18/1991.
Furbish's lousewort............  Pedicularis        Endangered............  Wherever found...  51 FR 17343; 05/
                                  furbishiae.                                                   12/1986.
Northeastern bulrush...........  Scirpus            Endangered............  Wherever found...  56 FR 21091; 05/
                                  ancistrochaetus.                                              07/1991.
American hart's-tongue fern....  Asplenium          Threatened............  Wherever found...  54 FR 29726; 07/
                                  scolopendrium                                                 14/1989.
                                  var. americanum.
Knieskern's beaked-rush........  Rhynchospora       Threatened............  Wherever found...  56 FR 32978; 07/
                                  knieskernii.                                                  18/1991.
Virginia sneezeweed............  Helenium           Threatened............  Wherever found...  63 FR 59239; 11/
                                  virginicum.                                                   03/1998.
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[[Page 39114]]

What information do we consider in our 5-year reviews and SSAs?

    A 5-year review considers all new information available at the time 
of the review. In conducting the review, we consider the best 
scientific and commercial data that have become available since the 
most recent status review. We are seeking new information specifically 
regarding:
    (1) Species biology, including but not limited to life history and 
habitat requirements and impact tolerance thresholds;
    (2) Historical and current population conditions, including but not 
limited to population abundance, trends, distribution, demographics, 
and genetics;
    (3) Historical and current habitat conditions, including but not 
limited to amount, distribution, and suitability;
    (4) Historical and current threats, threat trends, and threat 
projections in relation to the five listing factors (as defined in 
section 4(a)(1) of the ESA);
    (5) Conservation measures for the species that have been 
implemented or are planned; and
    (6) 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.
    Any new information received will be considered during the 5-year 
review and will also be useful in evaluating ongoing recovery programs 
for the species.

Request for New Information

    To ensure that 5-year reviews are based on the best available 
scientific and commercial information, we request new information from 
all sources. If you submit information, please 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.

How do I ask questions or provide information?

    Please submit your questions, comments, and materials to the 
appropriate contact in table 2. Individuals who are hearing impaired or 
speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for 
TTY assistance.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, electronic mail 
address, or other personal identifying information in your submission, 
you should be aware that your entire submission--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. Although you can request that personal information be withheld 
from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the offices where the 
information is submitted.

Contacts

    New information on the species covered in this notice should be 
submitted by mail or electronic mail to the appropriate contact person 
within the timeframe provided in DATES.

                            Table 2--Contacts
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                                 Contact person,
            Species                phone, email       Contact address
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Roseate tern..................  Susi von           U.S. Fish and
                                 Oettingen, 603-    Wildlife Service,
                                 223-2541,          New England Field
                                 extension 22,      Office, 70
                                 susi_vonoettinge   Commercial Street,
                                 [email protected].         Suite 300, Concord,
                                                    NH 03301.
Chittenango ovate amber snail.  Robyn Niver, 607-  U.S. Fish and
                                 299-0620,          Wildlife Service,
                                 robyn_niver@fws.   New York Field
                                 gov.               Office, 3817 Luker
                                                    Road, Cortland, NY
                                                    13045.
Roanoke logperch..............  Sumalee Hoskin,    U.S. Fish and
                                 804-824-2414,      Wildlife Service,
                                 sumalee_hoskin@f   Virginia Field
                                 ws.gov.            Office, 6669 Short
                                                    Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Virginia big-eared bat........  Barbara Douglas,   U.S. Fish and
                                 304-636-6586,      Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 19,      West Virginia Field
                                 barbara_douglas@   Office, 694 Beverly
                                 fws.gov.           Pike, Elkins, WV
                                                    26241.
Dwarf wedgemussel.............  Sandra Doran, 607- U.S. Fish and
                                 753-9334,          Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 0586,    New York Field
                                 sandra_doran@fws   Office, 3817 Luker
                                 .gov.              Road, Cortland, NY
                                                    13045.
Northern riffleshell..........  Robert Anderson,   U.S. Fish and
                                 814-234-4090,      Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 7447,    Pennsylvania Field
                                 robert_m_anderso   Office, 110 Radnor
                                 [email protected].         Road, Suite 101,
                                                    State College, PA
                                                    16801.
Clubshell.....................  Robert Anderson,   U.S. Fish and
                                 814-234-4090,      Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 7447,    Pennsylvania Field
                                 robert_m_anderso   Office, 110 Radnor
                                 [email protected].         Road, Suite 101,
                                                    State College, PA
                                                    16801.
Purple bean...................  Jordan Richard,    U.S. Fish and
                                 276-623-1233,      Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 15,      Southwestern
                                 jordan_richard@f   Virginia Field
                                 ws.gov.            Office, 330 Cummings
                                                    Street, Abingdon, VA
                                                    24210.
Puritan tiger beetle..........  Cherry Keller,     U.S. Fish and
                                 410-573-4532,      Wildlife Service,
                                 cherry_keller@fw   Chesapeake Bay Field
                                 s.gov.             Office, 177 Admiral
                                                    Cochrane Drive,
                                                    Annapolis, MD 21401.
Northeastern beach tiger        Jennifer           U.S. Fish and
 beetle.                         Stanhope, 804-     Wildlife Service,
                                 824-2408,          Virginia Field
                                 Jennifer_stanhop   Office, 6669 Short
                                 [email protected].         Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Flat-spired three-toothed       Barbara Douglas,   U.S. Fish and
 snail (Cheat snail).            304-636-6586,      Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 19,      West Virginia Field
                                 barbara_douglas@   Office, 694 Beverly
                                 fws.gov.           Pike, Elkins, WV
                                                    26241.
Bog turtle....................  Noelle Rayman-     U.S. Fish and
                                 Metcalf, 607-753-  Wildlife Service,
                                 9334,              New York Field
                                 noelle_rayman@fw   Office, 3817 Luker
                                 s.gov.             Road, Cortland, NY
                                                    13045.
Sandplain gerardia............  Steve Sinkevich,   U.S. Fish and
                                 631-286-0485,      Wildlife Service,
                                 steve_sinkevich@   Long Island Field
                                 fws.gov.           Office, 340 Smith
                                                    Road, Shirley, NY
                                                    11967.
Peter's Mountain mallow.......  Jennifer           U.S. Fish and
                                 Stanhope, 804-     Wildlife Service,
                                 824-2408,          Virginia Field
                                 jennifer_stanhop   Office, 6669 Short
                                 [email protected].         Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Furbish's lousewort...........  Mark McCollough,   U.S. Fish and
                                 207-902-1570,      Wildlife Service,
                                 mark_mccollough@   Maine Fish and
                                 fws.gov.           Wildlife Service
                                                    Complex, Maine Field
                                                    Office, P.O. Box A,
                                                    East Orland, ME
                                                    04431.
Northeastern bulrush..........  Melinda Turner,    U.S. Fish and
                                 814-234-4090,      Wildlife Service,
                                 extension 7449,    Pennsylvania Field
                                 melinda_turner@f   Office, 110 Radnor
                                 ws.gov.            Road, Suite 101,
                                                    State College, PA
                                                    16801.
American hart's-tongue fern...  John Wiley, 607-   U.S. Fish and
                                 753-9334,          Wildlife Service,
                                 [email protected]   New York Field
                                 ov.                Office, 3817 Luker
                                                    Road, Cortland, NY
                                                    13045.
Knieskern's beaked-rush.......  Ron Popowski, 609- U.S. Fish and
                                 241-7065,          Wildlife Service,
                                 ron_popowski@fws   New Jersey Field
                                 .gov.              Office, 4 East
                                                    Jimmie Leeds Road,
                                                    Suite 4, Galloway,
                                                    NJ 08205.

[[Page 39115]]

 
Virginia sneezeweed...........  Jennifer           U.S. Fish and
                                 Stanhope, 804-     Wildlife Service,
                                 824-2408,          Virginia Field
                                 jennifer_stanhop   Office, 6669 Short
                                 [email protected].         Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
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Authority

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

    Dated: July 16, 2018.
Deborah Rocque,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-16931 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P