[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 213 (Monday, November 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61778-61780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24350]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-ES-2021-N194; FXES11130500000-201-FF05E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of Eight 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, 
for eight 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 December 8, 2021. 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 New Information and Table 2--Contacts under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    General Information: Martin Miller, via email at 
[email protected], and via U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
    Species-Specific Information and Submission of Comments: Contact 
the appropriate person or office listed in Table 2--Contacts in 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Federal 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are 
initiating 5-year reviews under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) for eight northeastern species: The endangered 
Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah), rough rabbitsfoot 
(Quadrula cylindrica strigillata), Roanoke logperch (Percina rex), and 
Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum) and the threatened Madison Cave isopod 
(Antrolana lira), small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), 
sensitive joint-vetch (Aeschynomene virginica), and Cheat Mountain 
salamander (Plethodon nettingi).
    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, we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in 
title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.11(h) (for 
wildlife) and 50 CFR 17.12(h) (for plants). Listed wildlife and plants 
can also 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
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                                                                                               Listing date and
           Common name              Scientific name         Status           Where listed          citation
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Shenandoah salamander...........  Plethodon           Endangered........  Wherever found....  08/18/1989, 54 FR
                                   shenandoah.                                                 34464.

[[Page 61779]]

 
Rough rabbitsfoot...............  Quadrula            Endangered........  Wherever found....  01/10/1997, 62 FR
                                   cylindrica                                                  1647.
                                   strigillata.
Roanoke logperch................  Percina rex.......  Endangered........  Wherever found....  08/18/1989, 54 FR
                                                                                               34468.
Harperella......................  Ptilimnium nodosum  Endangered........  Wherever found....  09/28/1988, 53 FR
                                                                                               37978.
Madison Cave isopod.............  Antrolana lira....  Threatened........  Wherever found....  10/04/1982, 47 FR
                                                                                               43699.
Small whorled pogonia...........  Isotria             Threatened........  Wherever found....  09/09/1982, 47 FR
                                   medeoloides.                                                39827; 10/06/
                                                                                               1994, 59 FR
                                                                                               50852.
Sensitive joint-vetch...........  Aeschynomene        Threatened........  Wherever found....  05/20/1992, 57 FR
                                   virginica.                                                  21569.
Cheat Mountain salamander.......  Plethodon nettingi  Threatened........  Wherever found....  08/18/1989, 54 FR
                                                                                               34464.
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What information do we consider in our 5-year reviews and species 
status assessments?

    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, below. 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.

Contacts

    New information on the species covered in this notice should be 
submitted by mail or electronic mail to the appropriate contact shown 
in table 2, by the deadline provided above in DATES.

                            Table 2--Contacts
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                                 Contact person,
           Species                    email           Contact address
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Shenandoah salamander........  Jennifer Stanhope,  U.S. Fish and
                                jennifer_stanhope   Wildlife Service,
                                @fws.gov.           Virginia Field
                                                    Office, 6669 Short
                                                    Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Rough rabbitsfoot............  Kim Maison,         U.S. Fish and
                                [email protected]   Wildlife Service,
                                v.                  Southwestern
                                                    Virginia Field
                                                    Office, 330 Cummings
                                                    Street, Abingdon, VA
                                                    24210.
Roanoke logperch.............  Sumalee Hoskin,     U.S. Fish and
                                sumalee_hoskin@fw   Wildlife Service,
                                s.gov.              Virginia Field
                                                    Office, 6669 Short
                                                    Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Harperella...................  Jennifer L.         U.S. Fish and
                                Norris,             Wildlife Service,
                                jennifer_l_norrri   West Virginia Field
                                [email protected].          Office, 6263
                                                    Appalachian Highway,
                                                    Davis, WV 26260.
Madison Cave isopod..........  Sumalee Hoskin,     U.S. Fish and
                                sumalee_hoskin@fw   Wildlife Service,
                                s.gov.              Virginia Field
                                                    Office, 6669 Short
                                                    Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Small whorled pogonia........  Cherry Keller,      U.S. Fish and
                                cherry_keller@fws   Wildlife Service,
                                .gov.               Chesapeake Bay Field
                                                    Office, 177 Admiral
                                                    Cochrane Drive,
                                                    Annapolis, MD 21401.
Sensitive joint-vetch........  Jennifer Stanhope,  U.S. Fish and
                                jennifer_stanhope   Wildlife Service,
                                @fws.gov.           Virginia Field
                                                    Office, 6669 Short
                                                    Lane, Gloucester, VA
                                                    23061.
Cheat Mountain salamander....  Jennifer L.         U.S. Fish and
                                Norris,             Wildlife Service,
                                jennifer_l_norrri   West Virginia Field
                                [email protected].          Office, 6263
                                                    Appalachian Highway,
                                                    Davis, WV 26260.
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[[Page 61780]]

Authority

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

Wendi Weber,
Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2021-24350 Filed 11-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P