Peer Review of Scientific Information

Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for Fat Threeridge (Amblema neislerii), Shinyrayed Pocketbook (Lampsilis subangulata), Gulf Moccasinshell (Medionidus penicillatus), Ochlockonee Moccasinshell (Medionidus simpsonianus), Oval Pigtoe (Pleurobema pyriforme), Chipola Slabshell (Elliptio chipolaensis), and Purple Bankclimber (Elliptoideus sloatianus)

About the Document

Title:  Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for Five Endangered and Two Threatened Mussels in Four Northeast Gulf of Mexico Drainages

Summary: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing to designate critical habitat for the endangered fat threeridge, shinyrayed pocketbook, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, and oval pigtoe, and the threatened Chipola slabshell and purple bankclimber (collectively referred to as the seven mussels), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are proposing to designate 11 units encompassing approximately 1,864 kilometers (1,158 miles) of river and stream channels as critical habitat. Proposed critical habitat includes portions of the Econfina Creek drainage in Florida, the Apalachicola--Chattahoochee--Flint River drainage in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, the Ochlockonee River drainage in Florida and Georgia, and the Suwannee River drainage in Florida.

         Document to be Finalized:  May 30, 2007

         Type of Review:  Influential

Timeline of the Peer Review

         Draft Document Disseminated:  June 6, 2006

         Peer Review Initiated:  July 24, 2006

         Peer Review to be Completed by:  Spring 2007

About the Peer Review Process

The Service will solicit written comments from four independent scientific reviewers.  Formal request for peer review will be made by individual letters to experts with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, U. S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center.  These reviewers were selected by the Service for their recognized expertise mussels and their habitats.  This review will occur concurrently with the public comment periods for the proposed action.  The first comment period closed on August 7, 2006.  A second comment period will be open in either February or March of 2007.  The Service will use the information received from the peer review, as appropriate, to develop the final critical habitat rule for the seven mussels.

About Public Participation

Public comments on the seven mussels proposed critical habitat rule were sought with a Federal Register announcement on June 6, 2006, and the distribution by mail and press release of this announcement to interested parties.  This comment period ended on August 7, 2006.  A second comment period will open with the announcement in the Federal Register of the availability of the economic analysis.  This comment period is expected in February or March of 2007 and will include the proposed rule.  This peer review plan is made available on this website to allow the public to monitor our compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s “Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.”
 
Contact

         Jerry Ziewitz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Ecological Services Office, 850-769-0552 x223