The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published today a notice of review in the Federal Register initiating 5-year reviews for one fish and two plant species as required under the Endangered Species Act. The purpose of these reviews is to ensure that the listing classifications of these species are accurate, are based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review, and whether the status of the species should be considered for change.
The species in consideration in the notice of review are the Kendall Warm Springs dace (Rhinichthys osculus thermalis), an endangered fish found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming; and the Dudley Bluffs bladderpod (Lesquerella congesta) and Dudley Bluffs twinpod (Physaria obcordata), two plants listed as threatened and found in Rio Blanco County, Colorado.
The Service is requesting submission of any new information that has become available since these species were listed. Based on the results of the 5-year reviews, the Service will determine if the current listing status is accurate. Any change in Federal classification would require a separate rule making process.
To ensure that the 5-year reviews are complete and based on the best available science and commercial information, the Service is soliciting new information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other interested parties concerning the status of these species.
Periodic status reviews of all listed species are required by the ESA at least once every five years to determine whether a species? classification as threatened or endangered is still appropriate. If the best scientific and commercial data produced since the time of listing are not consistent with the current classification of any species, the Service will recommend a change in the species? federal classification. A species could be recommended for reclassification from endangered to threatened (downlisting), from threatened to endangered (uplisting), or for removal from the federal list of threatened and endangered species (delisting).
Any recommended change in classification would be subject to a separate rule-making process that includes opportunities for public review and comment. If no change in classification is recommended, the species would remain under its current listing
Categories of requested information include: (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; 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.
If you wish to provide information for these 5?year reviews, you may submit your comments and materials regarding the Kendall Warm Springs dace to the Wyoming Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: 5-year Review, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Suite 308A, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009. For the Dudley Bluffs bladderpod and the Dudley Bluffs twinpod, submit information to the Western Colorado Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention 5-year Review, 764 Horizon Drive, Building B, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506-3946.
- FWS -
visit the Mountain Prairie website: http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov
