[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 18 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4018-4019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1315]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of Ten Listed Northeastern Species
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (ESA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
announce a 5-year review of 10 northeastern species. A 5-year review is
a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification
of a species is accurate. A 5-year 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 original listing of the species as
endangered or threatened. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews,
we will make the requisite findings under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the
ESA.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than March 30, 2007. However, we will
continue to accept new information about any listed species at any
time.
ADDRESSES: Submit information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Northeast Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035,
to the attention of Ms. Mary Parkin. Information received in response
to this notice and review will be available for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.
Information may also be sent to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Parkin at the above address
or at 617-876-6173.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the ESA 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the
Service maintains a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and
plant species at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants).
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a review of
listed species at least once every 5 years. Then, on the basis of such
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether or not any
species should be removed from the list (delisted), or reclassified
from endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered.
Delisting a species must be supported by the best scientific and
commercial data available and only considered if such data
substantiates that the species is neither endangered nor threatened for
one or more of the following reasons: (1) The species is considered
extinct; (2) the species is considered to be recovered; and/or (3) the
original data available when the species was listed, or the
interpretation of such data, were in error. Any change in Federal
classification would require a separate rulemaking process. The
regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing those species currently under active
review. This notice announces our active review of the endangered
Maryland darter (Etheostoma sellare), eastern cougar (Puma (=Felis)
concolor couguar), Virginia fringed mountain snail (Polygyriscus
virginianus), Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus (=Plecotus)
townsendii virginianus), Hay's Spring amphipod (Stygobromus hayi),
American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), and Lee County Cave
isopod (Lirceus usdagalun), as well as the threatened Knieskern's
beaked-rush (Rhyncospora knieskernii), bog turtle (Clemmys
muhlenbergii), and small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides).
Public Solicitation of New Information
To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best
available scientific and commercial information, we are soliciting new
information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, Tribes,
the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any
other interested parties concerning the status of the following
endangered species since their original listings: The Maryland darter
in 1967 (32 FR 4001) with Critical Habitat in 1984 (49 FR 34228-34232);
eastern cougar in 1973 (38 FR 14678); Virginia fringed mountain snail
in 1978 (43 FR 28932-28935); Virginia big-eared bat in 1979 with
Critical Habitat (44 FR 69206-69208); Hay's Spring amphipod in 1982 (47
FR 5425-5427); American burying beetle in 1989 (54 FR 29652-29655); and
the Lee County Cave isopod in 1992 (57 FR 54722-54726). In addition, we
are requesting submission of any such information that has become
available since the original listing of the following species as
threatened: The Knieskern's beaked-rush in 1991 (56 FR 32978 32983);
and bog turtle in 1997 (62 FR 59605-59623); as well as the revised
listing of the small whorled pogonia as threatened in 1994 (59 FR
50852-50857).
The 5-year review considers the best scientific and commercial data
and all new information that has become available since the listing
determination or most recent status review. Categories of requested
information include: (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; 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.
If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review, you may
submit your comments and materials to Ms. Mary Parkin (see ADDRESSES
section).
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review, by appointment,
during regular business hours (see ADDRESSES section). Individual
respondents may request that we withhold their name and/or home
address, etc., but if you wish us to consider withholding this
information, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your
comments. In addition, you must present rationale for withholding this
information. This rationale must demonstrate that disclosure would
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. Unsupported
assertions will not meet this burden. In the absence of exceptional,
documentable circumstances, this information will be released. We will
always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their
entirety.
Authority: This document is published under the authority of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531).
[[Page 4019]]
Dated: December 4, 2006.
Richard O. Bennett,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1315 Filed 1-26-07; 8:45 am]
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