Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the
Mountain-Prairie Region
[Federal Register: April 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 74)]
[Notices]
[Page 19549-19551]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ap07-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Reviews of Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the
Mountain-Prairie Region
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of review; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), initiate 5-
year reviews of seven wildlife species--Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis),
grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) (as listed in the lower 48-
States excluding the Greater Yellowstone Area population; see table 1),
bonytail chub (=bonytail) (Gila elegans), humpback chub (Gila cypha),
Colorado pikeminnow (=squawfish) (Ptychocheilus lucius), razorback
sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), and Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly
(Boloria acrocnema); and two plant species--Howellia aquatilis (water
howellia) and Astragalus desereticus (Deseret milk-vetch)--in the
Mountain-Prairie Region under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). We conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that our
classification of each species as threatened or endangered on the List
of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate. A 5-year
review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data
available at the time of the review.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct our review, we must receive
your information no later than June 18, 2007. However, we will continue
to accept new information about any listed species at any time.
ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review the
[[Page 19550]]
information that we receive on these species, see ``Public Solicitation
of New Information.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information, contact
the appropriate person under ``Public Solicitation of New Information.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why Do We Conduct a 5-Year Review?
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires that we conduct a review of
listed species at least once every 5 years. We are then, under section
4(c)(2)(B) and the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), to determine,
on the basis of such a review, whether or not any species should be
removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
(delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened (downlisted),
or reclassified from threatened to endangered (uplisted). The 5-year
review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data
available at the time of the review. Therefore, we are requesting
submission of any new information (best scientific and commercial data)
on these species since they were originally listed.
For each species, if its present classification is not consistent
with the best scientific and commercial information available, we will
recommend whether or not a change is warranted in the Federal
classification of the species. Any change in Federal classification
would require a separate rulemaking process.
Our regulations at 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 species in Table 1.
Table 1.--Summary of Listing Information, Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the Mountain-Prairie
Region
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Scientific name Status Where listed Final listing rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animals:
Bonytail chub............... Gila elegans...... Endangered........ Entire............ 45 FR 27710; 04/23/
1980.
Canada lynx................. Lynx canadensis... Threatened........ CO, ID, ME, MI, 65 FR 16051; 03/24/
MN, MT, NH, NY, 2000.
OR, UT, VT, WA,
WI, WY.
Colorado pikeminnow......... Ptychocheilus Endangered........ Entire, except 39 FR 1175; 01/04/
lucius. Salt and Verde R. 1974.
drainages, AZ.
Colorado pikeminnow......... Ptychocheilus Experimental Salt and Verde R. 50 FR 30188; 07/24/
lucius. population. drainages, AZ. 1985.
Grizzly bear................ Ursus arctos Threatened........ U.S.A., 40 FR 31734; 07/28/
horribilis. conterminous 1975.
(lower 48)
States*.
Grizzly bear................ Ursus arctos Experimental U.S.A. (portions 65 FR 69623; 11/17/
horribilis. population. of ID and MT; see 2000.
50 CFR 17.84(l)).
Humpback chub............... Gila cypha........ Endangered........ Entire............ 39 FR 1175; 01/04/
1974.
Razorback sucker............ Xyrauchen texanus. Endangered........ Entire............ 56 FR 54957; 10/23/
1991.
Uncompahgre fritillary Boloria acrocnema. Endangered........ Entire............ 56 FR 28712; 06/24/
(Butterfly). 1991.
Plants:
Deseret milk-vetch.......... Astragalus Threatened........ Entire............ 64 FR 56590; 10/20/
desereticus. 1999.
Water howellia.............. Howellia aquatilis Threatened........ Entire............ 59 FR 35860; 07/14/
1994.
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* U.S.A., conterminous (lower 48) States, except: (1) Where listed as an experimental population; and (2) that
portion of Idaho east of Interstate Highway 15 and north of U.S. Highway 30; that portion of Montana east of
Interstate Highway 15 and south of Interstate Highway 90; that portion of Wyoming south of Interstate Highway
90, west of Interstate Highway 25, Wyoming State Highway 220, and U.S. Highway 287 south of Three Forks (at
the 220 and 287 intersection), and north of Interstate Highway 80 and U.S. Highway 30. See 17.40(b).
What Information Do We Consider in Our Review?
In our 5-year review, we consider all new information available at
the time of the review. These reviews will consider the best scientific
and commercial data that have become available since the original
listing determination or most recent status review of each species,
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
to benefit the species; (D) Threat status and trends (see five factors
under heading ``How do we determine whether a species is endangered or
threatened?''); 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 of Endangered
and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, and improved analytical methods.
Public Solicitation of New Information
We request any new information concerning the status of the
wildlife species Canada lynx, grizzly bear, bonytail chub, humpback
chub, Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and Uncompahgre fritillary
butterfly, and of the plant species Howellia aquatilis and Astragalus
desereticus. See ``What Information Do We Consider in Our Review?'' for
specific criteria. If you submit information, 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. We specifically request
[[Page 19551]]
information regarding data from any systematic surveys, as well as any
studies or analysis of data that may show population size or trends;
information pertaining to the biology or ecology of the species;
information regarding the effects of current land management on
population distribution and abundance; information on the current
condition of habitat; and recent information regarding conservation
measures that have been implemented to benefit the species.
Additionally, we specifically request information regarding the current
distribution of populations and evaluation of threats faced by the
species in relation to the five listing factors (as defined in section
4(a)(1) of the Act) and the species' listed status as judged against
the definition of threatened or endangered. Finally, we solicit
recommendations pertaining to the development of or potential updates
to recovery plans and additional actions or studies that would benefit
these species in the future.
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Before including
your address, phone number, e-mail 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.
Submit your comments and information on the following species to
the corresponding address(es). You also may view information we receive
in response to this notice and review, as well as other documentation
in our files, at the following locations by appointment, during normal
business hours. For more information on a species, contact the
corresponding person listed below.
Canada lynx: Mark Wilson, Montana Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Attention: Canada lynx 5-year Review, 585 Shepard
Way, Helena, Montana 59601; telephone (406) 449-5225.
Grizzly bear: Dr. Christopher Servheen, Grizzly Bear Recovery
Coordinator, Attention: Grizzly Bear 5-year Review, University Hall,
Room #309, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812;
telephone (406) 243-4903.
Bonytail chub, humpback chub, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback
sucker: Thomas E. Czapla, PhD, Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish
Recovery Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Colorado
River Fish 5-year Review, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, Colorado 80225; telephone (303) 969-7322, extension 228.
Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly: Al Pfister, Western Colorado
Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Uncompahgre
fritillary butterfly 5-year Review, 764 Horizon Drive, Building B,
Grand Junction, Colorado 81506-3946; telephone (970) 243-2778.
Water howellia: Mark Wilson, Montana Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Attention: water howellia (Howellia aquatilis) 5-
year Review, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, Montana 59601; telephone (406)
449-5225.
Astragalus desereticus: Larry Crist, Utah Field Supervisor, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Deseret milk-vetch (Astragalus
desereticus) 5-year Review, 2369 West Orton Circle, Suite 50, West
Valley City, Utah 84119; telephone (801) 975-3330.
How Are These Species Currently Listed?
Table 1 gives current listing information. Also, the List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (List), which covers all
listed species, is in 50 CFR 17.11 (wildlife) and 17.12 (plants). We
amend the List by publishing final rules in the Federal Register. The
List also is available on our Internet site at
http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html#Species.
Definitions
To help you submit information about the species being reviewed, we
provide the following definitions:
(A) Species includes any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife,
or plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of
vertebrate, which interbreeds when mature;
(B) Endangered means any species that is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and
(C) Threatened means any species that is likely to become an
endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.
How Do We Determine Whether a Species Is Endangered or Threatened?
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act establishes that we determine whether a
species is endangered or threatened based on one or more of the five
following factors:
(A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range;
(B) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes;
(C) Disease or predation;
(D) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or
(E) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act requires that our determination be made
on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.
What Could Happen as a Result of Our Review?
For each species under review, if we find new information that
indicates a change in classification may be warranted, we may propose a
new rule that could do one of the following:
(a) Reclassify the species from threatened to endangered (uplist);
(b) Reclassify the species from endangered to threatened (downlist); or
(c) Remove the species from the List (delist).
If we determine that a change in classification is not warranted,
then this species will remain on the List under its current status.
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: March 16, 2007.
James J. Slack,
Acting Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. E7-7342 Filed 4-17-07; 8:45 am]
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