[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 4 (Friday, January 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 804-806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00029]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2023-N089; FX3ES11130300000-245-FF03E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Reviews of 16 Listed Animal and Plant Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year 
status reviews under the Endangered Species Act, for 3 plant and 13 
animal species. A 5-year status review is based on the best scientific 
and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we 
are requesting submission of any such information that has become 
available since the last review for the species. We invite comments 
from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written information by 
March 5, 2024. However, we will continue to accept new information 
about any listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information for each 
species, see the table in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request information on specific 
species, contact the appropriate person in the table in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section or, for general information, contact 
Laura Ragan, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 612-713-
5157. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating 5-year status reviews 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), for 3 plant and 13 animal species. A 5-year status 
review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at 
the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any 
such information that has become available since the last review for 
the species.

Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

    Under the ESA, 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 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 https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews.

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;

[[Page 805]]

    (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 in relation to the five listing 
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA); 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.
    New information will be considered in the 5-year review and ongoing 
recovery programs for the species.

Which species are under review?

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

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                                                                                                    Final listing
                                                                                                    rule  (Federal                      Contact person's
          Common name            Scientific name      Taxonomic      Listing      Where listed         Register       Contact person,       U.S. mail
                                                        group         status                         citation and       email, phone         address
                                                                                                  publication date)
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                                                                         Animals
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Hine's emerald dragonfly......  Somatochlora       Insect.........  E          IL, MI, MO, WI...  60 FR 5267;        Kris Lah,          USFWS, 230 South
                                 hineana.                                                          January 26, 1995.  kristopher_lah@f   Dearborn, Suite
                                                                                                                      ws.gov, 847-366-   2398, Chicago,
                                                                                                                      2347.              IL 60604.
Dakota skipper................  Hesperia dacotae.  Butterfly......  T          IA, IL, MN, ND,    79 FR 63672;       Araceli Morales    USFWS, 3815
                                                                                SD.                October 24, 2014.  Santos,            American
                                                                                                                      araceli_moraless   Boulevard East,
                                                                                                                      [email protected],     Bloomington, MN
                                                                                                                      612-352-7969.      55425.
Karner blue butterfly.........  Lycaeides melissa  Butterfly......  E          IL, IN, MI, MN,    57 FR 59236;       Dawn Marsh,        USFWS, 3815
                                 samuelis.                                      NH, NY, OH, WI.    December 14,       [email protected]   American
                                                                                                   1992.              ov, 612-283-8054.  Boulevard East,
                                                                                                                                         Bloomington, MN
                                                                                                                                         55425.
Poweshiek skipperling.........  Oarisma poweshiek  Butterfly......  E          IA, IL, IN, MI,    79 FR 63672;       Tamara Smith,      USFWS, 3815
                                                                                MN, ND, SD, WI.    October 24, 2014.  tamara_smith@fws   American
                                                                                                                      .gov, 612-600-     Boulevard East,
                                                                                                                      1599.              Bloomington, MN
                                                                                                                                         55425.
Illinois cave amphipod........  Gammarus           Crustacean.....  E          IL...............  63 FR 46900;       Kristen Lundh,     USFWS, 1511 47th
                                 acherondytes.                                                     September 3,       kristen_lundh@fw   Avenue, Moline,
                                                                                                   1998.              s.gov, 309-757-    IL 61265.
                                                                                                                      5800, ext. 215.
Iowa Pleistocene snail........  Discus             Snail..........  E          IA, IL...........  43 FR 28932; July  Kraig McPeek,      USFWS, 1511 47th
                                 macclintocki.                                                     3, 1978.           kraig_mcpeek@fws   Avenue, Moline,
                                                                                                                      .gov, 309-757-     IL 61265.
                                                                                                                      5800, ext. 202.
Pink mucket...................  Lampsilis abrupta  Mussel.........  E          AL, AR, GA, IL,    41 FR 24062; June  Joshua Hundley,    USFWS, 101 Park
                                                                                IN, KY, LA, MS,    14, 1976.          joshua_hundley@f   DeVille Drive,
                                                                                MO, OH, TN, VA,                       ws.gov, 573-234-   Suite A,
                                                                                WV.                                   432, ext. 176.     Columbia, MO
                                                                                                                                         65203.
Purple cat's paw..............  Epioblasma         Mussel.........  E          KY, OH, TN, WV...  55 FR 28209; July  Angela Boyer,      USFWS, 4625
                                 obliquata.                                                        10, 1990.          angela_boyer@fws   Morse Road,
                                                                                                                      .gov, 614-416-     Suite 104,
                                                                                                                      8993, ext. 122.    Columbus, OH
                                                                                                                                         43230.
Spectaclecase mussel..........  Cumberlandia       Mussel.........  E          AL, AR, IL, IN,    77 FR 14914;       Nick Utrup,        USFWS, 3815
                                 monodonta.                                     IA, KS, KY, MN,    March 13, 2012.    [email protected]   American
                                                                                MO, OH, TN, VA,                       ov, 612-600-6122.  Boulevard East,
                                                                                WV, WI.                                                  Bloomington, MN
                                                                                                                                         55425.
Niangua darter................  Etheostoma         Fish...........  T          MO...............  50 FR 24649; June  Bryan Simmons,     USFWS, 101 Park
                                 nianguae.                                                         12, 1985.          bryan_simmons@fw   DeVille Drive,
                                                                                                                      s.gov, 417-836-    Suite A,
                                                                                                                      5302.              Columbia, MO
                                                                                                                                         65203.
Ozark hellbender..............  Cryptobranchus     Amphibian......  E          AR, MO...........  76 FR 61956;       Trisha Crabill,    USFWS, 101 Park
                                 alleganiensis                                                     October 6, 2011.   trisha_crabill@f   DeVille Drive,
                                 bishopi.                                                                             ws.gov, 573-234-   Suite A,
                                                                                                                      5016.              Columbia, MO
                                                                                                                                         65203.
Piping plover (Great Lakes      Charadrius         Bird...........  E          Great Lakes        50 FR 50726;       Jillian Farkas,    USFWS, 2651
 breeding population).           melodus.                                       watershed in IL,   December 11,       jillian_farkas@f   Coolidge Road,
                                                                                IN, MI, MN, NY,    1985.              ws.gov, 517-351-   Suite 101, East
                                                                                OH, PA, WI.                           5467.              Lansing, MI
                                                                                                                                         48823.
Piping plover (Atlantic Coast   Charadrius         Bird...........  T          Entire, except     50 FR 50726;       Montana, North     USFWS, 55245
 and Northern Great Plains       melodus.                                       those areas        December 11,       Dakota, South      Highway 121,
 populations).                                                                  where listed as    1985.              Dakota, Iowa,      Crofton, NE
                                                                                E, above.                             Nebraska,          68730.
                                                                                                                      Colorado,
                                                                                                                      Kansas, Alberta,
                                                                                                                      Saskatchewan,
                                                                                                                      Manitoba: Jordan
                                                                                                                      Smith,
                                                                                                                      [email protected], 605-957-
                                                                                                                      5375.
                                                                                                                     North Carolina,    USFWS, 176
                                                                                                                      South Carolina,    Croghan Spur
                                                                                                                      Georgia,           Road, Suite
                                                                                                                      Bahamas, Cuba,     200,
                                                                                                                      Puerto Rico,       Charleston, SC
                                                                                                                      other Caribbean    29407.
                                                                                                                      Islands: Melissa
                                                                                                                      Chaplin,
                                                                                                                      [email protected], 843-727-
                                                                                                                      4707.

[[Page 806]]

 
                                                                                                                     Florida, Alabama,  USFWS, 1601
                                                                                                                      Mississippi,       Balboa Avenue,
                                                                                                                      Louisiana:         Panama City, FL
                                                                                                                      Patricia Kelly,    32405.
                                                                                                                      [email protected], 850-273-
                                                                                                                      4611.
                                                                                                                     Texas and Mexico:  USFWS, 17629 El
                                                                                                                      Moni Belton,       Camino Real
                                                                                                                      moni_belton@fws.   #211, Houston,
                                                                                                                      gov, 281-212-      TX 77058.
                                                                                                                      1512.
                                                                                                                     Maine, New         USFWS, 73 Weir
                                                                                                                      Hampshire,         Hill Road,
                                                                                                                      Massachusetts,     Sudbury, MA
                                                                                                                      Rhode Island,      01776.
                                                                                                                      Connecticut, New
                                                                                                                      York, New
                                                                                                                      Jersey,
                                                                                                                      Delaware,
                                                                                                                      Maryland,
                                                                                                                      Virginia,
                                                                                                                      Newfoundland,
                                                                                                                      Quebec, Nova
                                                                                                                      Scotia, Prince
                                                                                                                      Edward Island,
                                                                                                                      New Brunswick,
                                                                                                                      and St. Pierre
                                                                                                                      and Miquelon
                                                                                                                      (France), any
                                                                                                                      area not listed
                                                                                                                      above, and
                                                                                                                      information
                                                                                                                      pertinent to
                                                                                                                      multiple
                                                                                                                      regions: Anne
                                                                                                                      Hecht,
                                                                                                                      [email protected], 413-575-4031.
Indiana bat...................  Myotis sodalis...  Mammal.........  E          AL, AR, CT, GA,    32 FR 4001; March  Andy King,         USFWS, 620 South
                                                                                IL, IN, IA, KY,    11, 1967.          andrew_king@fws.   Walker Street,
                                                                                MD, MI, MS, MO,                       gov, 812-902-      Bloomington, IN
                                                                                NJ, NY, NC, OH,                       1809.              47403.
                                                                                OK, PA, TN, VT,
                                                                                VA, WV.
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                                                                         Plants
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Decurrent false aster.........  Boltonia           Plant..........  T          IL, MO...........  53 FR 45858;       Kristen Lundh,     USFWS, 1511 47th
                                 decurrens.                                                        November 14,       kristen_lundh@fw   Avenue, Moline,
                                                                                                   1988.              s.gov, 309-757-    IL 61265.
                                                                                                                      5800, ext. 215.
Dwarf lake iris...............  Iris lacustris...  Plant..........  T          MI, WI...........  53 FR 37972;       Kaitlyn Kelly,     USFWS, 2651
                                                                                                   September 28,      kaitlyn_kelly@fw   Coolidge Road,
                                                                                                   1988.              s.gov, 517-351-    Suite 101, East
                                                                                                                      8315.              Lansing, MI
                                                                                                                                         48823.
Missouri bladderpod...........  Physaria           Plant..........  T          MO...............  68 FR 59337;       Gabriela Wolf-     USFWS, 101 Park
                                 filiformis.                                                       October 15, 2003.  Gonzalez,          DeVille Drive,
                                                                                                                      gabriela_wolf-     Suite A,
                                                                                                                      [email protected]   Columbia, MO
                                                                                                                      , 573-234-2132,    65203.
                                                                                                                      ext. 116.
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Request for 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 ``What Information Do We Consider in 
Our Review?'' for specific criteria. If you submit information, please 
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.

How do I ask questions or provide information?

    If you wish to provide information for any species listed above, 
please submit your comments and materials to the appropriate contact in 
the table above. You may also direct questions to those contacts.

Public Availability of Comments

    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 
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.

Authority

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

Lori Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-00029 Filed 1-4-24; 8:45 am]
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