[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15448-15451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05064]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2022-N063 FXES11130600000-234-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Reviews of 27 Listed 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 of 27 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended. 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 May 12, 2023. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information for each 
species, see the table in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request information, contact the 
appropriate person in the table in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section. For general information, contact Karen Newlon, Regional 
Recovery Project Manager, by phone at 406-430-9010 or by email at 
[email protected]. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, 
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access

[[Page 15449]]

telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating 5-year status reviews 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) for 15 plants and 12 animals in the Mountain-Prairie 
Region. 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 such information that has become available 
since the last review for the species.

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 
https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews.

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 27 species listed in 
the table 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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Pawnee montane skipper..........  Hesperia leonardus  Threatened........  Colorado..........  52 FR 36176; 9/25/  Liisa Niva,         Ecological
                                   montana.                                                    1987.               Eastern Colorado    Services,
                                                                                                                   Supervisor, 303-    Colorado Field
                                                                                                                   236-4779;           Office, 134 Union
                                                                                                                   [email protected]   Blvd., Suite 670,
                                                                                                                   v.                  Lakewood, CO
                                                                                                                                       80228.
Preble's meadow jumping mouse...  Zapus hudsonius     Threatened........  Colorado, Wyoming.  63 FR 26517; 5/13/  Liisa Niva          Ecological
                                   preblei.                                                    1998.               (information        Services,
                                                                                                                   above).             Colorado Field
                                                                                                                                       Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Dudley Bluffs bladderpod........  Lesquerella         Threatened........  Colorado..........  55 FR 4152; 2/6/    Creed Clayton,      Ecological
                                   congesta.                                                   1990.               Acting Western      Services,
                                                                                                                   Colorado            Colorado Field
                                                                                                                   Supervisor, 970-    Office, 445 W
                                                                                                                   628-7187;           Gunnison Ave.,
                                                                                                                   creed_clayton@fws   #240, Grand
                                                                                                                   .gov.               Junction, CO
                                                                                                                                       81501-5711.
Dudley Bluffs twinpod...........  Physaria obcordata  Threatened........  Colorado..........  55 FR 4152; 2/6/    Creed Clayton       Ecological
                                                                                               1990.               (information        Services,
                                                                                                                   above)..            Colorado Field
                                                                                                                                       Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Parachute beardtongue...........  Penstemon debilis.  Threatened........  Colorado..........  76 FR 45054; 8/26/  Creed Clayton       Ecological
                                                                                               2011.               (information        Services,
                                                                                                                   above).             Colorado Field
                                                                                                                                       Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Gunnison sage-grouse............  Centrocercus        Threatened........  Colorado, Utah....  79 FR 69191; 11/20/ Creed Clayton       Ecological
                                   minimus.                                                    2014.               (information        Services,
                                                                                                                   above).             Colorado Field
                                                                                                                                       Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Penland beardtongue.............  Penstemon           Endangered........  Colorado..........  54 FR 29658; 7/13/  Creed Clayton       Ecological
                                   penlandii.                                                  1989.               (information        Services,
                                                                                                                   above).             Colorado Field
                                                                                                                                       Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Osterhout milkvetch.............  Astragalus          Endangered........  Colorado..........  54 FR 29658; 7/13/  Creed Clayton       Ecological
                                   osterhoutii.                                                1989.               (information        Services,
                                                                                                                   above).             Colorado Field
                                                                                                                                       Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Colorado pikeminnow.............  Ptychocheilus       Endangered........  Arizona,            32 FR 4001; 3/11/   Julie Stahli,       Upper Colorado
                                   lucius.                                 California,         1967.               Director, Upper     Endangered Fish
                                                                           Colorado, New                           Colorado River      River Recovery
                                                                           Mexico, Utah,                           Recovery Program,   Program, 44 Union
                                                                           Wyoming.                                303-236-4573,       Blvd., #120,
                                                                                                                   julie_stahli@fws.   Lakewood, CO
                                                                                                                   gov.                80228-1807.
Bonytail........................  Gila elegans......  Endangered........  Arizona,            45 FR 27710; 4/23/  Julie Stahli        Upper Colorado
                                                                           California,         1980.               (information        Endangered Fish
                                                                           Colorado, Nevada,                       above).             River Recovery
                                                                           Utah.                                                       Program
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Neosho madtom...................  Noturus placidus..  Threatened........  Kansas, Missouri,   55 FR 21148; 5/22/  Jason Luginbill,    Ecological
                                                                           Oklahoma.           1990.               Project Leader,     Services, Kansas
                                                                                                                   785-539-3474,       Field Office,
                                                                                                                   jason_luginbill@f   2609 Anderson
                                                                                                                   ws.gov.             Ave., Manhattan,
                                                                                                                                       KS 66502.
Meltwater lednian stonefly......  Lednia tumana.....  Threatened........  Montana...........  84 FR 64210; 11/21/ Adam Zerrenner,     Ecological
                                                                                               2019.               Project Leader,     Services, Montana
                                                                                                                   406-430-9003;       Field Office, 585
                                                                                                                   adam_zerrenner@fw   Shephard Way,
                                                                                                                   s.gov.              Suite 1, Helena,
                                                                                                                                       MT 59601.
Western glacier stonefly........  Zapada glacier....  Threatened........  Montana, Wyoming..  84 FR 64210; 11/21/ Adam Zerrenner      Ecological
                                                                                               2019.               (information        Services, Montana
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).

[[Page 15450]]

 
Black-footed ferret.............  Mustela nigripes..  Endangered........  Arizona, Colorado,  32 FR 4001; 03/11/  Pete Gober,         National Black-
                                                                           Kansas, Montana,    1967.               Project Leader,     footed Ferret
                                                                           Nebraska, New                           720-626-5260;       Conservation
                                                                           Mexico, North                           [email protected]   Center, P.O. Box
                                                                           Dakota, South                           v.                  190, Wellington,
                                                                           Dakota, Texas,                                              CO 80459.
                                                                           Utah, Wyoming.
Desert yellowhead...............  Yermo               Threatened........  Wyoming...........  67 FR 11442; 3/14/  Tyler Abbott,       Ecological
                                   xanthocephalus.                                             2002.               Project Leader,     Services, Wyoming
                                                                                                                   307-757-3707;       Field Office, 334
                                                                                                                   tyler_abbott@fws.   Parsley Blvd.,
                                                                                                                   gov.                Cheyenne, WY
                                                                                                                                       82007.
Wyoming toad....................  Anaxyrus baxteri..  Endangered........  Wyoming...........  49 FR 1992; 1/17/   Tyler Abbott        Ecological
                                                                                               1984.               (information        Services, Wyoming
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Pariette cactus.................  Sclerocactus        Threatened........  Utah..............  74 FR 47112; 9/15/  George Weekley,     Ecological
                                   brevispinus.                                                2009.               Acting Project      Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   Leader, 385-285-    Field Office,
                                                                                                                   7929;               2369 West Orton
                                                                                                                   george_weekley@fw   Circle, Suite 50,
                                                                                                                   s.gov.              West Valley City,
                                                                                                                                       UT 84119.
Uinta Basin hookless cactus.....  Sclerocactus        Threatened........  Utah..............  74 FR 47112; 9/15/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   wetlandicus.                                                2009.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
San Rafael cactus...............  Pediocactus         Endangered........  Utah..............  52 FR 34914; 9/16/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   despainii.                                                  1987.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Winkler cactus..................  Pediocactus         Threatened........  Utah..............  63 FR 44587; 8/20/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   winkleri.                                                   1998.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Last Chance townsendia..........  Townsendia aprica.  Threatened........  Utah..............  50 FR 33734; 8/21/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                                                                               1985.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Clay reed-mustard...............  Schoenocrambe       Threatened........  Utah..............  57 FR 1398; 1/14/   George Weekley      Ecological
                                   argillacea.                                                 1992.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Shrubby reed-mustard............  Schoenocrambe       Endangered........  Utah..............  52 FR 37416; 10/6/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   suffrutescens.                                              1987.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Clay phacelia...................  Phacelia            Endangered........  Utah..............  43 FR 44810; 9/28/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   argillacea.                                                 1978.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Autumn buttercup................  Ranunculus          Endangered........  Utah..............  54 FR 30550; 7/21/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   aestivalis                                                  1989.               (information        Services, Utah
                                   (=acriformis).                                                                  above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Virgin River chub...............  Gila seminuda       Endangered........  Arizona, Nevada,    54 FR 35305; 8/24/  George Weekley      Ecological
                                   (=robusta).                             Utah.               1989.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
Woundfin........................  Plagopterus         Endangered........  Arizona, Nevada,    35 FR 16047; 10/13/ George Weekley      Ecological
                                   argentissimus.                          Utah.               1970.               (information        Services, Utah
                                                                                                                   above).             Field Office
                                                                                                                                       (information
                                                                                                                                       above).
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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 in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

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.

Contents of Submissions

    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.

[[Page 15451]]

Authority

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

Anna Mu[ntilde]oz,
Deputy Regional Director, Lakewood, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2023-05064 Filed 3-10-23; 8:45 am]
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