[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62707-62709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16749]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2023-0069; FXES1111090FEDR-245-FF09E21000]
RIN 1018-BE77


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 6-Month Extension 
of Final Determination on the Proposed Endangered Species Status for 
the Toothless Blindcat and the Widemouth Blindcat

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 
6-month extension of the final determinations of whether to list the 
toothless blindcat (Trogloglanis pattersoni) and the widemouth blindcat 
(Satan eurystomus) as endangered species under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are taking this action based on 
substantial disagreement regarding the sufficiency and accuracy of the 
available data relevant to the proposed listing rule, making it 
necessary to solicit additional information. Therefore, we are also 
reopening the comment period on the proposed rule for an additional 30 
days. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they 
are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully 
considered in our final determinations.

DATES: The comment period on the proposed rule that published August 
22, 2023, at 88 FR 57046, is reopened. We will accept comments received 
or postmarked on or before September 3,

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2024. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern 
time on the closing date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R2-ES-2023-0069, 
which is the docket number for the August 22, 2023, proposed rule and 
this document. Then click on the Search button. On the resulting page, 
in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type 
heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate the correct document. 
You may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment.''
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments 
Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2023-0069, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see Information Requested, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Myers, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 
1505 Ferguson Lane, Austin, TX 78754; telephone 512-937-7371. 
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. Please see Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2023-0069 on https://www.regulations.gov for a document that summarizes the August 22, 
2023, proposed rule.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 22, 2023, we published a proposed rule (88 FR 57046) to 
list the toothless blindcat and the widemouth blindcat as endangered 
species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). On October 12, 2023, we 
received a request to extend the proposed rule's public comment period; 
thus, on December 7, 2023, we published a document (88 FR 85177) 
reopening the proposed rule's public comment period for an additional 
30 days.
    Section 4(b)(6) of the Act and its implementing regulations at 50 
CFR 424.17(a) require that we take one of three actions within 1 year 
of publication of a proposed listing: (1) Finalize the proposed rule; 
(2) withdraw the proposed rule; or (3) extend the final determination 
by not more than 6 months, if there is substantial disagreement 
regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of the available data relevant to 
the determination.
    Since the August 22, 2023, publication of the proposed rule, there 
has been ongoing disagreement regarding the interpretation and accuracy 
of the best available information pertaining to the status of toothless 
blindcat and widemouth blindcat populations, the species' respective 
life histories, application of surrogate species, potential extent and 
use of available habitat, and impact of groundwater well mortality on 
these species. The substantial nature of this disagreement on the 
current status of these species became evident during the recently 
reopened comment period (see 88 FR 85177; December 7, 2023), when 
differing interpretations of existing information on the two species' 
biology and habitat use, aquifer dynamics, and specifications and 
operation of groundwater wells in the City of San Antonio, Texas, were 
discussed by commenters. There is substantial disagreement regarding 
the application of mortality estimates applied to groundwater wells to 
assess fish mortality with alternative modeling approaches recommended. 
Information was also submitted related to flow dynamics of the Edwards 
Aquifer and the operational history and engineering specifications of 
some groundwater wells known to produce toothless blindcats and 
widemouth blindcats that would reduce probability of well entrainment 
and expulsion of fish, and thus reduce the probability of mortality of 
the species.
    We find that there is substantial scientific disagreement about 
certain data relevant to our listing determinations. Therefore, in 
consideration of this disagreement, we have determined that a 6-month 
extension of the final determinations for this rulemaking is necessary. 
We are hereby extending the final determinations for 6 months in order 
to solicit additional information that will help us clarify these 
issues and to fully analyze any new data we receive that are relevant 
to our final listing determinations. With this 6-month extension, the 
final determinations on the proposed listings of the toothless blindcat 
and the widemouth blindcat must publish in the Federal Register no 
later than February 22, 2025.
    With this document, we reopen the public comment period on the 
August 22, 2023, proposed rule (88 FR 57046) for an additional 30 days, 
as specified above in DATES.
    For a description of previous Federal actions concerning the 
toothless blindcat and the widemouth blindcat and information on the 
types of comments that would be helpful to us in making final 
determinations on our proposal, please refer to the August 22, 2023, 
proposed rule (88 FR 57046 at 57046-57047).

Information Requested

    We will accept written comments and information during this 
reopened comment period on our August 22, 2023, proposed rule to list 
the toothless blindcat and widemouth blindcat as endangered species 
under the Act (88 FR 57046). We will consider information and 
recommendations from all interested parties. We intend that any final 
actions resulting from the proposal will be based on the best 
scientific and commercial data available and will be as accurate and as 
effective as possible. Our final determinations will take into 
consideration all comments and any additional information we receive 
during all comment periods on the proposed rule.
    Due to the scientific disagreements described above, we are 
particularly interested in new information and evidence regarding:
    (1) Data on the current status, trends, habitat preferences, and 
life history of toothless blindcat and widemouth blindcat populations.
    (2) Modeled quantitative analyses of blindcat population responses 
to additive mortality in the form of groundwater well expulsion and in 
relation to aquifer dynamics, groundwater well density, distribution, 
and operational history, including length-frequency analyses of both 
species to inform understanding of population dynamics.
    (3) Documented life histories of other subterranean catfishes that 
could better inform understanding of the toothless blindcat's and 
widemouth blindcat's biology, including population responses to 
additive mortality.
    (4) Potential for the existence of reduced predatory pressure on 
the toothless blindcat, resulting in increased abundance for that 
species, as a result of reduced widemouth blindcat numbers. (The 
widemouth blindcat is hypothesized to be a potential predator

[[Page 62709]]

that feeds on suitably sized toothless blindcat individuals).
    (5) Information on fish behavioral avoidance of increased water 
velocities.
    (6) For groundwater wells known to produce both blindcats across 
their ranges, installation and modification history from well 
establishment to present (e.g., history of artesian versus pumped flow, 
changes in pump depth, water velocity, designated use(s) over time, and 
frequency of operation), vertical hydrogeologic conditions, prevalence 
of groundwater conduits in well capture zone, and related engineering 
and geological specifications.
    (7) Information on current status (i.e., active or inactive), 
designated use, drill depth, and associated information (e.g., borehole 
diameters, yields, and vertical hydrogeologic conditions) of other 
groundwater wells within the immediate area analysis units and the 
potential area of occurrence, as defined in the species status 
assessment (Service 2023, pp. 66-67).
    (8) Specific documentation for municipal groundwater wells 
regarding total dynamic head and 50 feet water draw depth, and 
potential lack of capacity for wells to draw past 50 feet depth.
    (9) Genetic analyses of museum specimen tissues and additionally 
acquired tissue samples to ascertain the toothless blindcat's and 
widemouth blindcat's current and historical population size and 
structure, as well as potential for past genetic bottlenecks.
    (10) Documentation of the continued presence of either species at 
known groundwater wells or discovery of the species at additional 
locations across the San Antonio segment of the Edwards Aquifer.
    Because we will consider all comments and information we receive 
during all open comment periods, our final determinations may differ 
from our August 22, 2023, proposed rule (88 FR 57046). Based on the new 
information we receive (and, if relevant, any comments on that new 
information), we may conclude that one or both of the species is 
threatened instead of endangered, or we may conclude that one or both 
of the species does not warrant listing as either an endangered species 
or a threatened species. In our final rule, we will clearly explain our 
rationale and the basis for our final decisions, including why we made 
changes, if any, that differ from the August 22, 2023, proposal.
    If you already submitted comments or information on the August 22, 
2023, proposed rule during either of the previous two comment periods, 
please do not resubmit them. Any such comments are already incorporated 
as part of the public record of the rulemaking proceeding, and we will 
fully consider them in the preparation of our final determinations. Our 
final determinations concerning the proposed listings will take into 
consideration all written comments and any additional information we 
receive.
    Comments should be as specific as possible. Please include 
sufficient information with your submission (such as scientific journal 
articles or other publications) to allow us to verify any scientific or 
commercial information you include. Please note that submissions merely 
stating support for, or opposition to, the action under consideration 
without providing supporting information, although noted, will not be 
considered in making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act 
directs that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered 
species or a threatened species must be made solely on the basis of the 
best scientific and commercial data available.
    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the 
methods described in ADDRESSES. If you submit information via https://www.regulations.gov, your entire submission--including your personal 
identifying information--will be posted on the website. If your 
submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying 
information, you may request at the top of your document that we 
withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy 
submissions on https://www.regulations.gov. Comments and materials we 
receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing the 
proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov at FWS-R2-ES-2023-0069.

Authors

    The primary authors of this document are the staff members of the 
Fish and Wildlife Service's Species Assessment Team and the Austin 
Ecological Services Field Office.

Authority

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), is the authority for this action.

Gary Frazer,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-16749 Filed 7-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P