2011-12861. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Reviews of Species in California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin of Oregon

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year reviews for 53 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We conduct these reviews to ensure that our classification of each species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants as threatened or endangered is accurate. A 5-year review assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting any information that has become available since our original listing of each of these species. Based on review results, we will determine whether we should change the listing status of any of these species. In this notice, we also announce 5-year reviews that were completed for 32 species in California and Nevada between April 1, 2010, and March 16, 2011.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, please send your written information by July 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

For how and where to send comments or information, see “VIII., Contacts.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For species-specific information, contact the appropriate person listed under VIII., Contacts.” For contact information about completed 5-year reviews, see ” IX., Completed 5-Year Reviews.” Individuals who are hearing-impaired or speech-impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at [phone] for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires us to review each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Then, under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether to remove any species from the List (delist), to reclassify it from endangered to threatened, or to reclassify it from threatened to endangered. Any change in Federal classification requires a separate rulemaking process.

In classifying, we use the following definitions, from 50 CFR 424.02:

(A) Species includes any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate, that interbreeds when mature;

(B) Endangered species means any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and

(C) Threatened species means any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

We must support delisting by the best scientific and commercial data available, and only consider delisting if data substantiate that the species is neither endangered nor threatened for one or more of the following reasons (50 CFR 424.11(d)):

(A) The species is considered extinct;

(B) The species is considered to be recovered; or

(C) The original data available when the species was listed, or the interpretation of data, were in error.

Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the species we are reviewing.

II. What species are under review?

This notice announces our active 5-year status reviews of the species in Table 1.

Table 1—Summary of Listing Information, 22 Animal Species and 31 Plant Species in California and Nevada

Common name	Scientific name	Status	Where listed	Final listing rule
ANIMALS
Behren's silverspot butterfly	Speyeria zerene behrensii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 64306; 12/05/1997
California freshwater shrimp	Syncaris pacifica	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	53 FR 43884; 10/31/1988
California red-legged frog	Rana draytonii	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	61 FR 25813; 05/23/1996
California tiger salamander (Central)	Ambystoma californiense	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	69 FR 47212; 08/04/2004
Conservancy fairy shrimp	Branchinecta conservatio	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	59 FR 48136; 09/19/1994
Delhi sands flower-loving fly	Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	58 FR 49887; 09/23/1993
El Segundo blue butterfly	Euphilotes battoides allyni	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	41 FR 22041; 06/01/1976
Giant garter snake	Thamnophis gigas	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	58 FR 54053; 10/20/1993
Kern primrose sphinx moth	Euproserpinus euterpe	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	45 FR 24088; 04/08/1980
Laguna Mountains skipper	Pyrgus ruralis lagunae	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 2313; 01/16/1997
Lange's metalmark butterfly	Apodemia mormo langei	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	41 FR 22041; 06/01/1976
Longhorn fairy shrimp	Branchinecta longiantenna	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	59 FR 48136; 09/19/1994
Lost River sucker	Deltistes luxatus	Endangered	U.S.A. (OR, CA)	53 FR 27130; 07/18/1988
Lotis blue butterfly	Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	41 FR 22041; 06/01/1976
Morro shoulderband snail	Helminthoglypta walkeriana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613; 12/15/1994
Palos Verdes blue butterfly	Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	45 FR 44939; 07/02/1980
San Francisco garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	32 FR 4001; 03/11/1967
Shortnose sucker	Chasmistes brevirostris	Endangered	U.S.A. (OR, CA)	53 FR 27130; 07/18/1988
Smith's blue butterfly	Euphilotes enoptes smithi	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	41 FR 22041; 06/01/1976
Vernal pool fairy shrimp	Branchinecta lynchi	Threatened	U.S.A (CA, OR)	59 FR 48136; 09/19/1994
Vernal pool tadpole shrimp	Lepidurus packardi	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	59 FR 48136; 09/19/1994
Western snowy plover	Charadrius alexandrines nivosus	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA, OR, WA); Mexico (Baja)	58 FR 12864; 03/05/1993
PLANTS
Amargosa niterwort	Nitrophila mohavensis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA, NV)	50 FR 20777; 05/20/1985
Ash-grey paintbrush	Castilleja cinerea	Threatened	U.S.A.	63 FR 49006; 09/14/1998
Ash Meadows gumplant	Grindelia fraxino-pratensis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA, NV)	50 FR 20777; 05/20/1985
Antioch Dunes evening primrose	Oenothera deltoides howellii	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	43 FR 17910; 04/26/1978
Bear Valley sandwort	Arenaria ursina	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006; 09/14/1998
Ben Lomond spineflower	Chorizanthe pungens var. hartwegiana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 5499; 02/04/1994
California taraxacum	Taraxacum californicum	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006; 09/14/1998
Catalina Island mountain mahogany	Cercocarpus traskiae	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 42692; 08/08/1997
Chinese Camp brodiaea	Brodiaea pallida	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	63 FR 49022; 09/14/1998
Chorro Creek bog thistle	Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613; 12/15/1994
Contra Costa wallflower	Erysimum capitatum angustatum	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	43 FR 17910; 04/26/1978
Gowen cypress	Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 43100; 08/12/1998
Hartweg's golden sunburst	Pseudobahia bahiifolia	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	62 FR 5542; 02/06/1997
Hoffmann's rock-cress	Arabis hoffmannii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954; 01/31/1997
Howell's spineflower	Chorizanthe howellii	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 27848; 06/22/1992
Keck's checkermallow	Sidalcea keckii	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	65 FR 7757; 02/16/2000
Kneeland prairie pennycress	Thlaspi californicum (Noccaea fendleri)	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	65 FR 6332; 02/09/2000
Mariposa pussypaws	Calyptridium pulchellum	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	63 FR 49022; 09/14/1998
Monterey gilia	Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	57 FR 27848; 06/22/1992
Morro manzanita	Arctostaphylos morroensis	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	59 FR 64613; 12/15/1994
Orcutt's spineflower	Chorizanthe orcuttiana	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	61 FR 52370; 10/07/1996
Red Hills vervain	Verbena californica	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	63 FR 49006; 09/14/1998
San Jacinto Valley crownscale	Atriplex coronata var. notatior	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 54975; 10/13/1998
San Joaquin adobe sunburst	Pseudobahia peirsonii	Threatened	U.S.A (CA)	62 FR 5542; 02/06/1997
Santa Barbara Island liveforever	Dudleya traskiae	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	43 FR 17916; 04/26/1978
Santa Cruz Island bush-mallow	Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nesioticus	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40954; 07/31/1997
Santa Rosa Island manzanita	Arctostaphylos confertiflora	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40957; 07/31/1997
Showy indian clover	Trifolium amoenum	Endangered	U.S.A (CA)	62 FR 54791; 10/22/1997
Soft-leaved paintbrush	Castilleja mollis	Endangered	U.S.A. (CA)	62 FR 40957; 07/31/1997
Southern Mountain wild buckwheat	Eriogonum kennedyi var. austromontanum	Threatened	U.S.A. (CA)	63 FR 49006; 09/14/1998
Yreka phlox	Phlox hirsuta	Endangered	U.S.A.(CA)	65 FR 5268; 02/03/2000

III. What information do we consider in our review?

We consider all new information available at the time we conduct a 5-year status review. We consider the best scientific and commercial data that has become available since our 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 “IV., 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.

We specifically request 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 these 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 request 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.

IV. 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.

Under section 4(b)(1) of the Act, we must base our assessment of these factors solely on the best scientific and commercial data available.

V. 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 the species remains on the List under its current status.

VI. Request for New Information

To ensure that a 5-year review is complete and based on the best available scientific and commercial information, we request new information from all sources. See “III., 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.

Submit your comments and materials to the appropriate Fish and Wildlife Office listed under “VIII., Contacts.”

VII. Public Availability of Comments

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. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the offices where the comments are submitted.

VIII. Contacts

Send your comments and information on the following species, as well as requests for information, to the corresponding contacts/addresses. You may view information we receive in response to this notice, as well as other documentation in our files, at the following locations by appointment, during normal business hours.

For the Behren's silverspot butterfly, Howell's spineflower, Kneeland prairie pennycress, lotis blue butterfly, and western snowy plover, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Kathleen Brubaker at [phone].

For the ash-grey paintbrush, Bear Valley sandwort, California taraxacum, Catalina Island mountain mahogany, Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, El Segundo blue butterfly, Laguna Mountains skipper, Orcutt's spineflower, Palos Verdes blue butterfly, San Jacinto Valley crownscale, and Southern Mountain wild buckwheat, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101, Carlsbad, CA 92011. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Bradd Baskerville-Bridges at the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For the Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, 1936 California Avenue, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Josh Rasmussen at the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For the Amargosa niterwort and Ash Meadows gumplant, send information to State Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Suite 234, Reno, Nevada 89502-7147. Information may also be submitted electronically at [e-mail]. To obtain further information, contact Jill Ralston at the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For the Antioch Dunes evening primrose, California freshwater shrimp, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander (Central), Chinese Camp brodiaea, Conservancy fairy shrimp, Contra Costa wallflower, Giant garter snake, Hartweg's golden sunburst, Keck's checkermallow, Kern primrose sphinx moth, Lange's metalmark butterfly, longhorn fairy shrimp, Mariposa pussypaws, Red Hills vervain, San Francisco garter snake, San Joaquin adobe sunburst, showy indian clover, vernal pool fairy shrimp, and vernal pool tadpole shrimp, 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 Josh Hull at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

For the Ben Lomond spineflower, Chorro Creek bog thistle, Gowen cypress, Hoffmann's rock-cress, Monterey gilia, Morro manzanita, Morro shoulderband snail, Santa Barbara Island liveforever, Santa Cruz Island bush-mallow, Santa Rosa Island manzanita, Smith's blue butterfly, and soft-leaved paintbrush, 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 the animal species, 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 the Yreka phlox, send information to Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office, 1829 South Oregon Street Yreka, CA 96097. To obtain further information, contact Nadine Kanim at the Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office at [phone].

All electronic information must be submitted in Text format or Rich Text format. Include the following identifier in the subject line of the e-mail: Information on 5-year review for [NAME OF SPECIES], and include your name and return address in the body of your message.

IX. Completed 5-Year Reviews

We also take this opportunity to inform the public of 5-year reviews that we completed between April 1, 2010, and March 16, 2011, for 31 species in California and Nevada (Table 2). In addition, we include in Table 2 the desert pupfish for which a review was completed in which we concurred. Reviews for these 32 species can be found at http://www.fws.gov/​endangered/​species/​index.html. Any recommended change in listing status resulting from these completed reviews will require a separate rulemaking process.

Table 2—Summary of 32 Species in California and Nevada for Which 5-Year Reviews Were Completed Between April 1, 2010 and March 16, 2011

Common name	Scientific name	Recommendation	Lead Fish and Wildlife Office	Contact
ANIMALS
Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard	Uma inornata	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Coastal California gnatcatcher	Polioptila californica california	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Delta smelt	Hypomesus transpacificus	Uplist	San Francisco Bay Delta	Jennifer Norris [phone].
Desert pupfish	Cyprinodon macularius	No status change	Tucson, Arizona sub-office	Doug Duncan [phone].
Desert tortoise (Mojave population)	Gopherus agassizii	No status change	Nevada	Jill Ralston [phone].
Pacific pocket mouse	Perognathus longimembris pacificus	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Santa Ana sucker	Catostomus santaanae	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
PLANTS
Big-leaved crownbeard	Verbesina dissita	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
California Orcutt grass	Orcuttia californica	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Del Mar manzanita	Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. crassifolia	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Fountain thistle	Cirsium fontinale var. fontinale	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
Ione buckwheat	Eriogonum apricum (inclusive of vars. apricum and prostratum)	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
Ione manzanita	Arctostaphylos myrtifolia	Uplist	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
Island malacothrix	Malacothrix squalida	No status change	Ventura	Connie Rutherford [phone].
Island rush-rose	Helianthemum greenei	No status change	Ventura	Connie Rutherford [phone].
La Graciosa thistle	Cirsium loncholepis	No status change	Ventura	Connie Rutherford [phone].
Laguna Beach liveforever	Dudleya stolonifera	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Lompoc yerba santa	Eriodictyon capitatum	No status change	Ventura	Connie Rutherford [phone].
Otay mesa mint	Pogogyne nudiuscula	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Presidio clarkia	Clarkia franciscana	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
San Diego ambrosia	Ambrosia pumila	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
San Diego button celery	Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
San Diego mesa mint	Pogogyne abramsii	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
San Joaquin woolly-threads	Monolopia (=Lembertia) congdonii	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
San Mateo thornmint	Acanthomintha obovata ssp. duttonii	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
Santa Cruz Island malacothrix	Malacothrix indecora	No status change	Ventura	Connie Rutherford [phone].
Slender-horned spineflower	Dodecahema leptoceras	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Slender-petaled mustard (thelypodium)	Thelypodium stenopetalum	No status change	Carlsbad	Bradd Baskerville-Bridges [phone].
Sonoma spineflower	Chorizanthe valida	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
Tiburon jewelflower	Streptanthus niger	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].
Ventura marsh milk-vetch	Astragalus pycnostachyus var. lanosi	No status change	Ventura	Connie Rutherford [phone].
White-rayed pentachaeta	Pentachaeta bellidiflora	No status change	Sacramento	Josh Hull [phone].

X. Authority

We publish this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: May 18, 2011.

Alexandra Pitts,

Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.