[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39771-39773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17143]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2018-N180; FXES11130600000-189-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Reviews of 11 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 six animal and five plant species. A 5-year status review is 
based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time 
of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any new 
information on these species that has become available since the last 
review of the species.

DATES: To ensure consideration in our reviews, we are requesting 
submission of new information no later than October 9, 2018. However, 
we will continue to accept new information about any listed species at 
any time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on a particular 
species, contact the appropriate person or office listed in the table 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Individuals who

[[Page 39772]]

are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay 
Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Why do we conduct 5-year status reviews?

    Under the Act (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) 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. 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 status reviews, go to 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html, scroll 
down to ``Learn More about 5-Year Status Reviews,'' and click on our 
factsheet.

What information do we consider in our review?

    A 5-year status review considers all new information available at 
the time of the review. In conducting these reviews, we consider the 
best scientific and commercial data that have become available since 
the 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 in relation to the five listing 
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act); 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.
    Any new information will be considered during the 5-year status 
review and will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery 
programs for the species.

Which species are under review?

    This notice announces our active review of the eleven species 
listed in the tables below.

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                                                                                            Final listing rule
                                                                                             (Federal Register    Contact person,      Contact person's
           Common name              Scientific name     Listing status   Historical range      citation and         phone, email      U.S. mail address
                                                                                             publication date)
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                                                                         Animal
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Black-footed ferret.............  Mustela nigripes...  Endangered.....  Arizona, Colorado,  32 FR 4001; 03/11/  John Hughes,         National Black-
                                                                         Kansas, Montana,    1967.               Wildlife             footed Ferret
                                                                         Nebraska, New                           Biologist, 970-897-  Conservation
                                                                         Mexico, North                           2730 x229;           Center, P.O. Box
                                                                         Dakota, South                           [email protected]   190, Wellington,
                                                                         Dakota, Texas,                          v.                   CO 80459.
                                                                         Utah, Wyoming,
                                                                         U.S.A; Canada;
                                                                         Mexico.
Gunnison sage-grouse............  Centrocercus         Threatened.....  Colorado, Utah,     79 FR 69191; 11/20/ Ann Timberman,       Ecological
                                   minimus.                              U.S.A.              2014.               Colorado Field       Services, Western
                                                                                                                 Office, 970-628-     Colorado Field
                                                                                                                 7181;                Office, 445 W.
                                                                                                                 ann_timberman@fws.   Gunnison Ave.,
                                                                                                                 gov.                 #240, Grand
                                                                                                                                      Junction, CO 81501-
                                                                                                                                      5711.
Preble's meadow jumping mouse...  Zapus hudsonius      Threatened.....  Colorado, Wyoming,  73 FR 39790; 07/10/ Drue DeBerry, CO/NE  Ecological
                                   preblei.                              U.S.A.              2008.               Project Leader,      Services, Colorado
                                                                                                                 303-236-4774;        Field Office, P.O.
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   Box 25486-DFC,
                                                                                                                 ov.                  Denver, CO 80225.
Neosho madtom...................  Noturus placidus...  Threatened.....  Kansas, Missouri,   55 FR 21148; 5/22/  Jason Luginbill,     Ecological
                                                                         Oklahoma, U.S.A.    1990.               Project Leader,      Services, Kansas
                                                                                                                 785-539-3474;        Field Office, 2609
                                                                                                                 jason_luginbill@fw   Anderson Ave.,
                                                                                                                 s.gov.               Manhattan, KS
                                                                                                                                      66502.
Utah prairie dog................  Cynomys parvidens..  Threatened.....  Utah, U.S.A.......  76 FR 36053; 6/21/  Larry Crist,         Ecological
                                                                                             2011.               Project Leader,      Services, Utah
                                                                                                                 801-975-3330;        Field Office, 2369
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   W. Orton Circle,
                                                                                                                 v.                   #50, West Valley
                                                                                                                                      City, UT 84119.
Wyoming toad....................  Bufo hemiophrys      Endangered.....  Wyoming, U.S.A....  49 FR 1992; 1/17/   Tyler Abbott,        Ecological
                                   baxteri.                                                  1984.               Project Leader,      Services, Wyoming
                                                                                                                 307-772-2374;        Field Office, 5353
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   Yellowstone Road,
                                                                                                                 ov.                  #308A, Cheyenne,
                                                                                                                                      WY 82009.
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                                                                         Plants
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Parachute beardtongue...........  Penstemon debilis..  Threatened.....  Colorado, U.S.A...  76 FR 45054; 07/27/ Ann Timberman,       Ecological
                                                                                             2011.               Colorado Field       Services, Western
                                                                                                                 Office, 970-628-     Colorado Field
                                                                                                                 7181;                Office, 445 W.
                                                                                                                 ann_timberman@fws.   Gunnison Ave.,
                                                                                                                 gov.                 #240, Grand
                                                                                                                                      Junction, CO 81501-
                                                                                                                                      5711.
Blowout penstemon...............  Penstemon haydenii.  Endangered.....  Nebraska, Wyoming,  52 FR 32926; 9/1/   Eliza Hines,         Ecological
                                                                         U.S.A.              1987.               Nebraska Field       Services, Nebraska
                                                                                                                 Office, 308-382-     Field Office, 9325
                                                                                                                 6468;                S. Alda Road, Wood
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   River, NE 68883.
                                                                                                                 v.
Clay phacelia...................  Phacelia argillacea  Endangered.....  Utah, U.S.A.......  43 FR 44810; 9/28/  Larry Crist,         Ecological
                                                                                             1978.               Project Leader,      Services, Utah
                                                                                                                 801-975-3330;        Field Office, 2369
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   W. Orton Circle,
                                                                                                                 v.                   #50, West Valley
                                                                                                                                      City, UT 84119.
Last chance townsendia..........  Townsendia aprica..  Threatened.....  Utah, U.S.A.......  50 FR 33734; 8/21/  Larry Crist,         Ecological
                                                                                             1985.               Project Leader,      Services, Utah
                                                                                                                 801-975-3330;        Field Office, 2369
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   W. Orton Circle,
                                                                                                                 v.                   #50, West Valley
                                                                                                                                      City, UT 84119.

[[Page 39773]]

 
Desert yellowhead...............  Yermo                Threatened.....  Wyoming, U.S.A....  67 FR 11442; 3/14/  Tyler Abbott,        Ecological
                                   xanthocephalus.                                           2002.               Project Leader,      Services, Wyoming
                                                                                                                 307-772-2374;        Field Office, 5353
                                                                                                                 [email protected]   Yellowstone Road,
                                                                                                                 ov.                  #308A, Cheyenne,
                                                                                                                                      WY 82009.
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Request for New Information

    To ensure that a 5-year status review is complete and based on the 
best available scientific and commercial information, we request new 
information from all sources. See ``What information do we consider in 
our review?'' for specific criteria. 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?

    If you wish to provide information for any species listed above, 
please submit your comments and materials to the appropriate contact in 
the table above. You may also direct questions to those contacts. 
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

Public Availability of Submissions

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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.

Contents of Public Comments

    Please make your comments as specific as possible. Please confine 
your comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, and 
explain the basis for your comments. Include sufficient information 
with your comments to allow us to authenticate any scientific or 
commercial data you include.
    The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and 
likely to be relevant to agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by 
quantitative information or studies; and (2) Those that include 
citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations.

Completed and Active Reviews

    A list of all completed and currently active 5-year status reviews 
addressing species for which the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service has lead responsibility is available at 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.

    Authority: This document is published under the authority of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: February 9, 2018.
Matt Hogan,
Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-17143 Filed 8-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P