E7-2504. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of initiation of 5-year reviews; availability of completed 5-year reviews.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the initiation of a 5-year review of 58 species under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The purpose of a 5-year review is to ensure that the classification of a species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate and 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 original listing of each of these 58 species. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make the requisite findings under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. We also indicate in this notice the 5-year reviews we completed for species in California and Nevada in FY 2006.

DATES:

We must receive your information no later than April 16, 2007. However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES:

See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for instructions on how to submit information and review the information that we receive on these species.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For species-specific information, contact the appropriate individual listed under “Public Solicitation of New Information.” For contact information about completed 5-year reviews, see “Completed 5-Year Reviews.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Why Do We Conduct a 5-Year Review?

Under the Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain a List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act 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 58 species listed in Table 1.

Table 1.—Summary of Listing Information for 58 species in California and Nevada

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Where listed	Final listing rule
Animals
Bighorn (Sierra Nevada DPS)	Ovis canadensis californiana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA—Sierra Nevada)	65 FR 20 (03-JAN-00).
California tiger salamander (Santa Barbara County DPS)	Ambystoma californiense	Endangered	U.S.A (Santa Barbara County, CA)	65 FR 57241 (21-SEP-00).
Clover Valley speckled dace	Rhinichthys osculus oligoporus	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	54 FR 41448 (10-OCT-89).
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard	Uma inornata	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	45 FR 63812 (25-SEP-80).
Desert slender salamander	Batrachoseps aridus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	38 FR 14678 (04-JUN-73).
El Segundo blue butterfly	Euphilotes battoides allyni	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	41 FR 22041 (01-JUN-76).
Hiko White River springfish	Crenichthys baileyi grandis	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	50 FR 39123 (27-SEP-85).
Independence Valley speckled dace	Rhinichthys osculus lethoporus	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	54 FR 41448 (10-OCT-89).
Lahontan cutthroat trout	Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA, NV, OR, UT)	40 FR 29863 (16-JUL-75).
Lange's metalmark butterfly	Apodemia mormo langei	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	41 FR 22041 (01-JUN-76).
Lotis blue butterfly	Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	41 FR 22041 (01-JUN-76).
Pacific pocket mouse	Perognathus longimembris pacificus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 49752 (29-SEP-94).
Palos Verdes blue butterfly	Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	45 FR 44939 (02-JUL-80).
Railroad Valley springfish	Crenichthys nevadae	Threatened	U.S.A. (NV)	51 FR 10857 (31-MAR-86).
San Clemente loggerhead shrike	Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	42 FR 40682 (11-AUG-77).
Tipton kangaroo rat	Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	53 FR 25608 (08-JUL-88).
White River springfish	Crenichthys baileyi baileyi	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	50 FR 39123 (27-SEP-85).
Plants
Antioch Dunes evening primrose	Oenothera deltoides ssp. howellii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	43 FR 17910 (26-APR-78).
Applegate's milk vetch	Astragalus applegatei	Endangered	U.S.A. (OR)	58 FR 40547 (28-JUL-93).
Ash-grey (Indian) paintbrush	Castilleja cinerea	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49022 (14-SEP-98).
Beach layia	Layia carnosa	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 27848 (22-JUN-92).
Ben Lomond wallflower	Erysimum teretifolium	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 5499 (04-FEB-94).
Bear Valley sandwort	Arenaria ursina	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006 (14-SEP-98).
Braunton's milk vetch	Astragalus brauntonii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 4172 (29-JAN-97).
Burke's goldfields	Lasthenia burkei	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	56 FR 61173 (02-DEC-91).
California taraxacum	Taraxacum californicum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006 (14-SEP-98).
Contra Costa goldfields	Lasthenia conjugens	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 33029 (18-JUN-97).
Contra Costa wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. angustatum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	43 FR 17910 (26-APR-78).
Few-flowered navarretia	Navarretia leucocephala ssp. pauciflora (=N. pauciflora)	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 33029 (18-JUN-97).
Fish Slough milk vetch	Astragalus lentiginosus var. piscinensis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 53596 (06-OCT-98).
Gowen cypress	Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 43100 (12-AUG-98).
Greene's tuctoria	Tuctoria greenei	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97).
Hoover's spurge	Chamaesyce hooveri	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97).
Island barberry	Berberis pinnata ssp. insularis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97).
Island phacelia	Phacelia insularis ssp. insularis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97).
Lake County stonecrop	Parvisedum leiocarpum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 33029 (18-JUN-97).
Loch Lomond coyote thistle	Eryngium constancei	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	51 FR 45904 (23-DEC-86).
Lyon's pentachaeta	Pentachaeta lyonii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 4172 (29-JAN-97).
Many-flowered navarretia	Navarretia leucocephala ssp. plieantha	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 33029 (18-JUN-97).
Marsh sandwort	Arenaria paludicola	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	58 FR 41378 (03-AUG-93).
Mexican flannelbush	Fremontodendron mexicanum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 54956 (13-OCT-98).
Monterey spineflower	Chorizanthe pungens var. pungens	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	59 FR 5499 (04-FEB-94).
Palmate-bracted bird's-beak	Cordylanthus palmatus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	51 FR 23765 (01-JUL-86).
Purple amole	Chlorogalum purpureum	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	65 FR 14878 (20-MAR-00).
Salt marsh bird's-beak	Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	43 FR 44810 (28-SEP-78).
San Bernardino bluegrass	Poa atropurpurea	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006 (14-SEP-98).
San Benito evening-primrose	Camissonia benitensis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	50 FR 5755 (12-FEB-85).
San Joaquin Orcutt grass	Orcuttia inaequalis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97).
San Joaquin wooly-threads	Monolopia (=Lembertia) congdonii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	55 FR 29361 (19-JUL-90).
Santa Cruz cypress	Cupressus abramsiana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	52 FR 675 (08-JAN-87).
Santa Cruz Island fringepod	Thysanocarpus conchuliferus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97).
Sebastopol meadowfoam	Limnanthes vinculans	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	56 FR 61173 (02-DEC-91).
Soft bird's-beak	Cordylanthus mollis ssp. mollis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 61916 (20-NOV-97).
Solano grass	Tuctoria mucronata	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	43 FR 44810 (28-SEP-78).
Sonoma sunshine	Blennosperma bakeri	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	56 FR 61173 (02-DEC-91).
Southern mountain wild buckwheat	Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006 (14-SEP-98).
Suisun thistle	Cirsium hydrophilum var. hydrophilum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 61916 (20-NOV-97).
Vail Lake ceanothus	Ceanothus ophiochilus	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 54956 (13-OCT-98).

What Information Do We Consider in the Review?

A 5-year 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 has become available since the current 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 (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, and improved analytical methods.

How Do We Determine Whether a Species Is Endangered or Threatened?

Section 4(a)(1) of the Act requires 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.

Our assessment of these factors is required, under section 4(b)(1) of the Act, to be based solely on the best scientific and commercial data available.

What Could Happen as a Result of Our Review?

If we find information concerning the 58 species listed in Table 1 indicating that 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; (b) reclassify the species from endangered to threatened; or (c) remove the species from the List. If we find that a change in classification is not warranted, the species will remain on the List under its current status.

Public Solicitation of New Information

To ensure that these 5-year reviews are complete and based on the best available scientific and commercial information, we solicit new information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, environmental entities, industry, and any other interested parties concerning the status of the species.

If you wish to provide information for any species included in these 5-year reviews, submit your information and materials as follows:

For Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, desert slender salamander, El Segundo blue butterfly, Pacific pocket mouse, Palos Verdes blue butterfly, San Clement loggerhead shrike, ash-grey (Indian) paintbrush, Bear Valley sandwort, California taraxacum, Mexican flannelbush, salt marsh bird's-beak, San Bernardino bluegrass, southern mountain wild buckwheat, and Vail Lake ceanothus, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Scott Sobiech at the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For the Sierra Nevada DPS of bighorn, the Santa Barbara County DPS of California tiger salamander, Ben Lomond wallflower, Braunton's milk-vetch, Fish Slough milk-vetch, Gowen cypress, island barberry, island phacelia, Lyon's pentachaeta, marsh sandwort, Monterey spineflower, purple amole, San Benito evening primrose, Santa Cruz cypress, and Santa Cruz Island fringepod, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information on bighorn and California tiger salamander, contact Mike McCrary at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone]. To obtain further information on the plant species, contact Connie Rutherford at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For Lange's metalmark butterfly, Tipton kangaroo rat, Antioch Dunes evening primrose, Burke's goldfields, Contra Costa goldfields, Contra Costa wallflower, few-flowered navarretia, Greene's tuctoria, Hoover's spurge, Lake County stonecrop, Loch Lomond coyote thistle, many-flowered navarretia, palmate-bracted bird's-beak, San Joaquin Orcutt grass, San Joaquin wooly-threads, Sebastopol meadowfoam, soft bird's-beak, Solano grass, Sonoma sunshine, Suisun thistle, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Craig Aubrey at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For Clover Valley speckled dace, Hiko White River springfish, Independence Valley speckled dace, Lahontan cutthroat trout, Railroad Valley springfish, and White River springfish, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information on Hiko White River springfish and White River springfish, contact Cynthia Martinez at the Southern Nevada Field at [phone]. To obtain further information on Clover Valley speckled dace, Independence Valley speckled dace, Lahontan cutthroat trout, and Railroad Valley springfish, contact Laurie Sada at the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For lotis blue butterfly and beach layia, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 11655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail] for Lotis blue butterfly and [e-mail] for beach layia. To obtain further information on Lotis blue butterfly, contact Jim Watkins at the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone]. To obtain further information on beach layia, contact Dave Imper at the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For Applegate's milk-vetch, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, 1936 California St., Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Ron Larson at the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised 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 from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous comments, however. To the extent consistent with applicable law, we will make all 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. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the offices where the comments are submitted.

Completed 5-Year Reviews

We also take this opportunity to inform the public of 12 5-year reviews that we completed in FY 2006 for species in California and Nevada. These 12 reviews can be found at http://www.fws.gov/​cno/​es/​5yr.html. Any recommended change in listing status will require a separate rulemaking process. The table below summarizes the results of these reviews:

Table 2.—Summary of species in California and Nevada for Which 5-year Reviews Were Completed in FY 2006

Common name	Scientific name	Recommendation	Lead Fish and Wildlife Office	Contact
Animals
California least tern	Sterna antillarum browni	Downlist	Carlsbad	Jane Hendron at [phone]
Giant garter snake	Thamnophis gigas	No status change	Sacramento	Al Donner at [phone]
Island night lizard	Xantusia riversiana	Downlist San Clemente Island	Carlsbad	Jane Hendron at [phone]
Least Bell's vireo	Vireo bellii pusillus	Downlist	Carlsbad	Jane Hendron at [phone]
Morro shoulderband snail	Helminthoglypta walkeriana	Downlist Morro shoulderband and delist Chorro shoulderband	Ventura	Lois Grunwald at [phone]
San Francisco garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia	No status change	Sacramento	Al Donner at [phone]
Smith's blue butterfly	Euphilotes enoptes smithi	Downlist	Ventura	Lois Grunwald at [phone]
Valley elderberry longhorn beetle	Desmocerus californicus dimorphus	Delist	Sacramento	Al Donner at [phone]
Western snowy plover (Pacific Coast DPS)	Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus	No status change	Arcata	Al Donner at [phone]
Plants
Hidden Lake bluecurls	Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum	No status change	Carlsbad FWO	Jane Hendron at [phone]
Kneeland Prairie pennycress	Thlaspi californicum	No status change	Arcata FWO	Al Donner at [phone]
Santa Cruz Island rockcress	Sibara filifolia	No status change	Carlsbad FWO	Jane Hendron at [phone]

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: February 7, 2007.

Ken McDermond,

Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.