E6-4120. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 56 Species in California and Nevada

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of review.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the initiation of a 5-year review of 56 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 56 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.

DATES:

We must receive your information no later than May 22, 2006. 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 in Table 3 under “Public Solicitation of New Information.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Why Is a 5-Year Review Conducted?

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 56 species listed in Table 1.

Table 1.—Summary of Listing Information for 56 Species in California and Nevada

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Where listed	Final listing rule
animals
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish	Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	48 FR 40178 (02-SEP-83)
Behren's silverspot butterfly	Speyeria zerene behrensii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 64306 (05-DEC-97)
Blunt-nosed leopard lizard	Gambelia silus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	32 FR 4001 (11-MAR-67)
California freshwater shrimp	Syncaris pacifica	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	53 FR 43884 (31-OCT-88)
Conservancy fairy shrimp	Branchinecta conservatio	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 48136 (19-SEP-94)
Delta green ground beetle	Elaphrus viridis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	45 FR 52807 (08-AUG-80)
Desert dace	Eremichthys acros	Threatened	U.S.A. (NV)	50 FR 50304 (10-DEC-85)
Fresno kangaroo rat	Dipodomys nitratoides exilis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	50 FR 4222 (30-JAN-85)
Giant kangaroo rat	Dipodomys ingens	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	52 FR 283 (05-JAN-87)
Inyo California towhee	Pipilo crissalis eremophilus	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	52 FR 28780 (03-AUG-87)
Kern primrose sphinx moth	Euproserpinus euterpe	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	45 FR 24088 (08-APR-80)
Laguna Mountains skipper	Pyrgus ruralis lagunae	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 2313 (16-JAN-97)
Longhorn fairy shrimp	Branchinecta longiantenna	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 48136 (19-SEP-94)
Modoc sucker	Catostomus microps	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	50 FR 24526 (11-JUN-85)
Pahrump poolfish	Empetrichthys latos	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	32 FR 4001 (11-MAR-67)
Paiute cutthroat trout	Oncorhynchus clarki seleniris	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	32 FR 4001 (11-MAR-67)
Riverside fairy shrimp	Streptocephalus woottoni	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	58 FR 41384 (03-AUG-93)
San Diego fairy shrimp	Branchinecta sandiegonensis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 4925 (03-FEB-97)
San Joaquin kit fox	Vulpes macrotis mutica	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	32 FR 4001 (11-MAR-67)
Tidewater goby	Eucyclogobius newberryi	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 5494 (04-FEB-94)
Vernal pool fairy shrimp	Branchinecta lynchi	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA, OR)	59 FR 48136 (19-SEP-94)
Vernal pool tadpole shrimp	Lepidurus packardi	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 48136 (19-SEP-94)
White River spinedace	Lepidomeda albivallis	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	50 FR 37194 (12-SEP-85)
plants
Bakersfield cactus	Opuntia treleasei	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	55 FR 29361 (19-JUL-90)
Ben Lomond spineflower	Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 5499 (04-FEB-94)
Butte County meadowfoam	Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 24192 (08-JUN-92)
California jewelflower	Caulanthus californicus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	55 FR 29361 (19-JUL-90)
Catalina Island mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus traskiae	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 42692 (08-AUG-97)
Chorro Creek bog thistle	Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613 (15-DEC-94)
Coachella Valley milk-vetch	Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 53596 (06-OCT-98)
Colusa grass	Neostapfia colusana	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97)
Hairy Orcutt grass	Orcuttia pilosa	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97)
Hoffmann's rock-cress	Arabis hoffmannii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97)
Howell's spineflower	Chorianthe howellii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 27848 (22-JUN-92)
Indian Knob mountain balm	Eriodictyon altissimum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613 (15-DEC-94)
Kern mallow	Eremalche kernensis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	55 FR 29361 (19-JUL-90)
Lane Mountain milk-vetch	Astragalus jaegerianus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 53596 (06-OCT-98)
Menzies' wallflower	Erysimum menziesii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 27848 (22-JUN-92)
Monterey gilia	Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 27848 (22-JUN-92)
Morro manzanita	Arctostaphylos morroensis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613 (15-DEC-94)
Munz's onion	Allium munzii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 54975 (13-OCT-98)
Otay tarplant	Deinandra (=Hemizonia) conjugens	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA); Mexico (B.C.)	63 FR 54937 (13-OCT-98)
Orcutt's spineflower	Chorizanthe orcuttiana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	61 FR 52370 (07-OCT-96)
Pismo clarkia	Clarkia speciosa ssp. immaculata	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613 (15-DEC-94)
Sacramento Orcutt grass	Orcuttia viscida	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97)
San Jacinto Valley crownscale	Atriplex coronata var. notatior	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 54975 (13-OCT-98)
Santa Cruz Island bush-mallow	Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nesioticus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97)
Santa Rosa Island manzanita	Arctostaphylos confertiflora	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97)
Showy Indian clover	Trifolium amoenum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 54791 (22-OCT-97)
Slender-horned spineflower	Dodecahema leptoceras	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	52 FR 36265 (28-SEP-87)
Slender Orcutt grass	Orcuttia tenuis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 14338 (26-MAR-97)
Soft-leaved paintbrush	Castilleja mollis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954 (31-JUL-97)
Spreading navarretia	Navarretia fossalis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA); Mexico (B.C.)	63 FR 54975 (13-OCT-98)
Steamboat buckwheat	Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae	Endangered	U.S.A. (NV)	51 FR 24669 (08-JUL-86)
Thread-leaved brodiaea	Brodiaea filifolia	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 54975 (13-OCT-98)
Willowy monardella	Monardella linoides ssp. viminea	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA); Mexico	63 FR 54937 (13-OCT-98)

What Information Is Considered 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 This Review?

If we find information concerning the 56 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 comments and materials to the Field Supervisors at the appropriate Fish and Wildlife Office as presented in Table 2. Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of your comment. 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.

Table 2.—Addresses for Submitting Comments on the 5-Year Reviews of 56 Species in California and Nevada

Species	Addresses for comments
Laguna Mountains skipper	Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail].
Riverside fairy shrimp
San Diego fairy shrimp
Catalina Island mountain mahogany
Coachella Valley milk-vetch
Munz's onion
Orcutt's spineflower
Otay tarplant
San Jacinto Valley crownscale
Slender-horned spineflower
Spreading navarretia
Thread-leaved brodiaea
Willowy monardella
Inyo California towhee	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].
Tidewater goby
Ben Lomond spineflower
Chorro Creek bog thistle
Hoffmann's rock-cress
Indian Knob mountain balm
Lane Mountain milk-vetch
Menzies' wallflower
Monterey gilia
Morro manzanita
Pismo clarkia
Santa Cruz Island bush-mallow
Santa Rosa Island manzanita
Soft-leaved paintbrush
Blunt-nosed leopard lizard	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].
California freshwater shrimp
Conservancy fairy shrimp
Delta green ground beetle
Fresno kangaroo rat
Giant kangaroo rat
Kern primrose sphinx moth
Longhorn fairy shrimp
San Joaquin kit fox
Vernal pool fairy shrimp
Vernal pool tadpole shrimp
Bakersfield cactus
Butte County meadowfoam
California jewelflower
Colusa grass
Hairy Orcutt grass
Kern mallow
Sacramento Orcutt grass
Showy Indian clover
Slender Orcutt grass
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish	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].
Desert dace
Pahrump poolfish
Paiute cutthroat trout
White River spinedace
Steamboat buckwheat
Behren's silverspot butterfly	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 Howell's spineflower and [e-mail] for Behren's silverspot butterfly. Howell's spineflower
Modoc sucker	Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, 6610 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail].

For further information on any of the 56 species, contact the person identified for that species in Table 3.

Table 3.—Information Contacts for 56 Species Undergoing 5-Year Review in California and Nevada

Species	Information contact
Laguna Mountains skipper	Jim Bartel at the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].
Riverside fairy shrimp
San Diego fairy shrimp
Catalina Island mountain mahogany
Coachella Valley milk-vetch
Munz's onion
Orcutt's spineflower
Otay tarplant
San Jacinto Valley crownscale
Slender-horned spineflower
Spreading navarretia
Thread-leaved brodiaea
Willowy monardella
Inyo California towhee	Mike McCrary at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone]. Tidewater goby
Ben Lomond spineflower	Connie Rutherford at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].
Chorro Creek bog thistle
Hoffmann's rock-cress
Indian Knob mountain balm
Lane Mountain milk-vetch
Menzies' wallflower
Monterey gilia
Morro manzanita
Pismo clarkia
Santa Cruz Island bush-mallow
Santa Rosa Island manzanita
Soft-leaved paintbrush
Blunt-nosed leopard lizard	Craig Aubrey at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].
California freshwater shrimp
Conservancy fairy shrimp
Delta green ground beetle
Fresno kangaroo rat
Giant kangaroo rat
Kern primrose sphinx moth
Longhorn fairy shrimp
San Joaquin kit fox
Vernal pool fairy shrimp
Vernal pool tadpole shrimp
Bakersfield cactus
Butte County meadowfoam
California jewelflower
Colusa grass
Hairy Orcutt grass
Kern mallow
Sacramento Orcutt grass
Showy Indian clover
Slender Orcutt grass
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish	Jody Brown at the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].
Desert dace
Pahrump poolfish
Paiute cutthroat trout
White River spinedace
Steamboat buckwheat
Howell's spineflower	Dave Imper at the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].
Behren's silverspot butterfly	Jim Watkins at the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].
Modoc sucker	Ron Larson at the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office 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 9, 2006.

Paul Henson,

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