2018-16734. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status Reviews for 42 Southeastern Species  

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    AGENCY:

    Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

    ACTION:

    Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information.

    SUMMARY:

    We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating 5-year status reviews of 42 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of information that has become available since the last reviews of these species.

    DATES:

    To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must receive your comments or information on or before October 5, 2018. 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 information that we receive on these species, see Request for New Information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    For species-specific information, see Request for New Information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

    Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species (referred to as the Lists) in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires us to review each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing those species under active review. For additional information about 5-year reviews, go to http://www.fws.gov/​endangered/​what-we-do/​recovery-overview.html.

    Which species are under review?

    This notice announces our active 5-year reviews of the species in the following table.

    Common name/scientific nameContact person, email, phoneStatus (endangered or threatened)States where the species is known to occurFinal listing rule (Federal Register citation and publication date)Contact's mailing address
    ANIMALS
    Mammals
    Bat, Florida bonneted (Eumops floridanus)Roxanna Hinzman, floridabonnetedbat_5-yearreview@fws.gov, 772-468-4341EndangeredFlorida78 FR 61003; 10/2/2013USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
    Mouse, St. Andrew beach (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)Kristi Yanchis, panamacity@fws.gov, 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida63 FR 70053; 12/18/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405.
    Rabbit, Lower Keys (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)Roxanna Hinzman, lowerkeysmarshrabbit_5-yearreview@fws.gov, 772-469-4342EndangeredFlorida55 FR 25588; 6/21/1990USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
    Rice rat, (=silver rice rat) (Oryzomys palustris natator)Roxanna Hinzman, silverricerat_5-yearreview@fws.gov, 772-469-4343EndangeredFlorida56 FR 19809; 4/30/1991USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
    Birds
    Woodpecker, red-cockaded (Picoides borealis)Will McDearman, mississippi_field_office@fws.gov, 601-321-1124EndangeredAlabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia35 FR 16047: 10/13/1970USFWS, 6578 Dogwood View Pkwy., Jackson, MS 39213.
    Reptiles
    Crocodile, American (Crocodylus acutus)Roxanna Hinzman, americancrocodile_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4355ThreatenedFlorida71 FR 13027; 3/20/2007USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Lizard, St. Croix ground (Ameiva polops)Jan Zegarra, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredU.S. Virgin Islands42 FR 28543; 6/3/1977USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Fishes
    Darter, bayou (Etheostoma rubrum)Daniel Drennen, mississippi_field_office@fws.gov., 601-321-1127ThreatenedMississippi40 FR 44149; 9/25/1975USFWS, 6578 Dogwood View Pkwy., Jackson, MS 39213
    Darter, Okaloosa (Etheostoma okaloosae)Bill Tate, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552ThreatenedFlorida76 FR 18087; 4/1/2011USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Darter, Relict (Etheostoma chienense)Mike Floyd, kentuckyes@fws.gov., 502-695-0468EndangeredKentucky58 FR 68480; 12/27/1993USFWS, 330 W. Broadway, Ste 265, Frankfort, KY 40601
    Logperch, Conasauga (Percina jenkinsi)Robin Goodloe, georgiaes@fws.gov., 706-613-9493EndangeredGeorgia/Tennessee56 FR 31597; 8/5/1985USFWS, 355 East Hancock Ave Room 320, Athens, GA 30601
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    Clams
    Bankclimber, purple (Elliptoideus sloatianus)Maureen Walsh, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552ThreatenedFlorida63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Moccasinshell, Gulf (Medionidus penicillatus)Maureen Walsh, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Moccasinshell, Ochlockonee (Medionidus simpsonianus)Maureen Walsh., panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Pearlymussel, littlewing (Pegias fabula)Leroy Koch, kentuckyes@fws.gov., 502-695-0468EndangeredAlabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia53 FR 45861; 11/14/1988USFWS, 330 West Broadway, Suite 265, Frankfort, KY 40601
    Pigtoe, oval (Pleurobema pyriforme)Maureen Walsh, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552ThreatenedFlorida63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Pocketbook, shinyrayed (Lampsilis subangulata)Maureen Walsh, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Slabshell, Chipola (Elliptio chipolaensis)Maureen Walsh, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552ThreatenedFlorida63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS., 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Spinymussel, Altamaha (Elliptio spinosa)Anthony Sowers, georgiaes@fws.gov., 706-613-9493EndangeredGeorgia76 FR 62928; 10/11/2011USFWS, 355 East Hancock Ave Room 320, Athens, GA 30601
    Threeridge, fat (Amblema neislerii)Maureen Walsh, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida/Georgia63 FR 12664; 3/16/1998USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave, Panama City, FL 32405
    Snails
    Snail, Stock Island tree (Orthalicus reses)Roxanna Hinzman, stockislandtreesnail_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4347ThreatenedFlorida43 FR 28932; 7/3/1978USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Insects
    Swallowtail, Schaus (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus)Roxanna Hinzman, schausswallowtailbutterfly_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4345EndangeredFlorida49 FR 34501; 8/31/1984USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Crustaceans
    Crayfish, Benton County Cave (Cambarus aculabrum)Tommy Inebnit, arkansas-es_recovery@fws.gov., 501-513-4483EndangeredFlorida58 FR 25742; 4/27/1993USFWS, 110 South Amity Rd., Suite 300, Conway, AR 72032
    PLANTS
    Flowering Plants
    Buxus vahlii (Vahl's boxwood)Omar Monsegur, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredPuerto Rico50 FR 32572; 8/13/1985USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Calyptranthes thomasiana (Thomas lidflower)Jaime Yrigoyen, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredPuerto Rico; U.S. Virgin Islands59 FR 8138; 2/18/1994USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Cladonia perforata (Florida perforate cladonia)Roxanna Hinzman, floridaperforatecladonia_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4349EndangeredFlorida58 FR 25746; 4/27/1993USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Clitoria fragrans (Pigeon wings)Roxanna Hinzman, pigeonwings_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4353ThreatenedFlorida58 FR 25746; 4/27/1993USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Crotalaria avonensis (Avon Park harebells)Roxanna Hinzman, avonparkharebells_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4350EndangeredFlorida58 FR 25746; 4/27/1993USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Daphnopsis hellerana (no common name)Jennifer Valentin, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredPuerto Rico53 FR 23740; 6/23/1988USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Dicerandra immaculata (Lakela's mint)Roxanna Hinzman, lakelasmint_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4350EndangeredFlorida50 FR 20212; 5/15/1985USFWS., 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Gesneria pauciflora (no common name)Omar Monsegur, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297ThreatenedPuerto Rico60 FR 12483; 3/7/1995USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Goetzea elegans (Beautiful goetzea)Martiza Vargas, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredPuerto Rico50 FR 15564; 4/19/1985USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Helianthus schweinitzii (Schweinitz's sunflower)Rebekkah Reid, fw4esasheville@fws.gov., 828-258-3939EndangeredNorth Carolina; South Carolina56 FR 21087; 5/7/1991USFWS, 160 Zillicoa St., Asheville, NC 28801
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    Hudsonia montana (Mountain golden heather)Rebekkah Reid, fw4esasheville@fws.gov., 828-258-3939ThreatenedNorth Carolina45 FR 69360; 10/20/1980USFWS, 160 Zillicoa St., Asheville, NC 28801
    Ilex cookii (Cook's holly)Angel Colon, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredPuerto Rico52 FR 22936; 6/16/1987USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Jacquemontia reclinata (Beach jacquemontia)Roxanna Hinzman, beach_jacquemontia_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4348EndangeredFlorida58 FR 62046; 11/24/1993USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Juglans jamaicensis (West Indian walnut (nogal))Angel Colon, caribbean_es@fws.gov., 787-851-7297EndangeredPuerto Rico62 FR 1691; 1/13/1997USFWS, Road 301, Km 5.1, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622
    Paronychia chartacea (Papery whitlow-wort)Roxanna Hinzman, paperywhitlow-wort_5-yearreview@fws.gov., 772-469-4352ThreatenedFlorida52 FR 2227; 1/21/1987USFWS, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
    Rhododendron chapmanii (Chapman's rhododendron)Vivian Negron-Ortiz, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida44 FR 24248; 4/24/1979USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405
    Sisyrinchium dichotomum (White irisette)Rebekkah Reid, fw4esasheville@fws.gov., 828-258-3939EndangeredNorth Carolina; South Carolina56 FR 48752; 9/26/1991USFWS., 160 Zillicoa St., Asheville, NC 28801
    Solidago spithamaea, (Blue Ridge goldenrod)Rebekkah Reid, fw4esasheville@fws.gov., 828-258-3939ThreatenedNorth Carolina, Tennessee50 FR 12306; 3/28/1985USFWS, 160 Zillicoa St., Asheville, NC 28801
    Conifers
    Torreya taxifolia (Florida torreya)Vivian Negron-Ortiz, panamacity@fws.gov., 850-769-0552EndangeredFlorida, Georgia49 FR 2783; 1/23/1984USFWS, 1601 Balboa Ave., Panama City, FL 32405

    What information do we consider in our review?

    A 5-year review considers the best scientific and commercial data that have become available since the current 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 the five factors under 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 request any new information concerning the status of any of these 42 species. Information submitted should be supported by 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 expect we could conduct a species status assessment (SSA) for some of these species under review. An SSA is a biological risk assessment to aid decision makers who must use the best available scientific information to make policy decisions under the ESA. The SSA provides decisionmakers with a scientifically rigorous characterization of a species' status, and of the likelihood that the species will sustain populations, along with key uncertainties in that characterization.

    It presents a compilation of the best available information on a species, as well as its ecological needs, based on environmental factors. An SSA also describes the current condition of the species' habitat and demographics, and probable explanations for past and ongoing changes in abundance and distribution within the species' range. Finally, it forecasts the species' response to probable future scenarios of environmental conditions and conservation efforts. Overall, an SSA uses the conservation biology principles of resiliency, redundancy, and representation (collectively known as the “3 Rs”) to evaluate the current and future condition of the species. As a result, the SSA characterizes a species' ability to sustain populations in the wild over time based on the best scientific understanding of current and future abundance and distribution within the species' ecological settings.

    Definitions

    A. Species means 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.

    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 ESA requires that we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened based on one or more of the following five 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.

    Request for New Information

    To do any of the following, contact the person associated with the species you are interested in under the table in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:Start Printed Page 38323

    A. To get more information on a species;

    B. To submit information on a species; or

    C. To review information we receive, which will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the listed addresses.

    Public Availability of Comments

    Comments we receive become part of the administrative record associated with this action. Before including your address, phone number, email 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 request in your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their entirety.

    Availability of Status Reviews

    All completed status reviews under the ESA are available via the Service website, at https://www.fws.gov/​endangered/​species/​us-species.html.

    Authority

    We publish this document under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

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    Dated: May 1, 2018.

    Mike Oetker,

    Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.

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    [FR Doc. 2018-16734 Filed 8-3-18; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Document Information

Published:
08/06/2018
Department:
Fish and Wildlife Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information.
Document Number:
2018-16734
Dates:
To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must receive your comments or information on or before October 5, 2018. However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any time.
Pages:
38320-38323 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
FWS-R4-ES-2018-N057, FXES11130900000C2-189-FF09E32000
PDF File:
2018-16734.Pdf