[Federal Register: April 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 16230-16232]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ap09-99]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2009-N0032]; [40120-1113-0000-C4]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status
Reviews of 13 Southeastern 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 (Service) are
initiating 5-year status reviews of 13 species under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We conduct these reviews to
ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered
on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is
accurate. A 5-year review is an
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assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the
time of the review.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must
receive your comments or information on or before June 8, 2009.
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 we receive on these species, see ``Request for New
Information.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information,
contact the appropriate person under ``Request for New Information.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we
maintain lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species
in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife)
and 17.12 (for plants) (collectively referred to as the List). 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 Lists (delisted), or reclassified
from endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered. If we
consider delisting a species, we must support the action by the best
scientific and commercial data available, and we must consider if these
data substantiate 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 requires a separate rulemaking process. We make
amendments to the List in the CFR through final rules published in the
Federal Register.
Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice
in the Federal Register announcing those species currently under our
active review. This notice announces our active review of 13 species
that are currently listed as endangered: The Brooksville bellflower
(Campanula robinsiae), fragrant prickly-apple (Cereus eriophorus var.
fragrans), pygmy fringe-tree (Chionanthus pygmaeus), snakeroot
(Eryngium cuneifolium), Cooley's water-willow (Justicia cooleyi), scrub
blazingstar (Liatris ohlingerae), Britton's beargrass (Nolina
brittoniana), Key tree-cactus (Pilosocereus robinii), Lewton's polygala
(Polygala lewtonii), wireweed (Polygonella basiramia), sandlace
(Polygonella myriophylla), Chapman's rhododendron (Rhododendron
chapmanii), and Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia). The List is also
available on our internet site at http://endangered.fws.gov/
wildlife.html#Species.
What Information Do We Consider in a 5-Year 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 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.
Definitions
A. Species includes 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 Act establishes 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.
What Could Happen Because of This 5-Year Review?
If we find that there is new information concerning any of these 13
species 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 endangered to threatened; (b) reclassify
the species from threatened to endangered; or (c) delist the species.
If we determine that a change in classification is not warranted, then
the species will remain on the List under its current status.
Request for New Information
To do any of the following, contact the person associated with the
species you are interested in below:
(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.
Brooksville bellflower, Cooley's water-willow, and
Britton's beargrass: Sandy MacPherson, Jacksonville Field Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200,
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7517; fax: 904-731-3045; telephone: 904/731-
3328; e-mail: sandy_macpherson@fws.gov.
Fragrant prickly-apple, pygmy fringe-tree, snakeroot,
scrub blazingstar, Key tree-cactus, Lewton's polygala, wireweed, and
sandlace: Chris Belden, South Florida Ecological Services Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960; fax:
772-562-4288; telephone: 772/562-3909, ext. 237; e-mail: chris_
belden@fws.gov.
Chapman's rhododendron and Florida torreya: Janet Mizzi,
Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa
Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405; fax: 850-763-2177; telephone: 850/769-
0552, ext. 247; e-mail janet_mizzi@fws.gov
We request any new information concerning the status of any of
these 13 species. See ``What Information Do We Consider in a 5-Year
Review?'' heading for specific criteria. Support your information 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.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other
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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 document under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: February 25, 2009.
Michael L. Piccirilli,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9-8078 Filed 4-8-09; 8:45 am]
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