[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4966-4968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01493]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2023-N105; FXES11130200000-245-FF02ENEH00]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Reviews of 22 Species in the Southwest

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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[[Page 4967]]

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are conducting 5-year 
status reviews under the Endangered Species Act, of 22 animal and plant 
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 reviews for the species.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we are requesting submission of new 
information no later than February 26, 2024. However, we will continue 
to accept new information about any listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: For details on how to request or submit information, see 
Request for Information and How Do I Ask Questions or Provide 
Information? in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on a particular 
species, contact the appropriate person or office listed in the table 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. For general information, 
contact Beth Forbus, by telephone at 505-248-6681; or by email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1e5c7b6a764158716c7c6b6d5e78696d30797168"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bffddacbd7e0f9d0cdddcaccffd9c8cc91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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:

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 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 status reviews, refer to our 
factsheet at https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews.

What information do we consider in our review?

    A 5-year status review considers all new information available at 
the time of the review. In conducting these reviews, we consider the 
best scientific and commercial data that have become available since 
the listing determination or most recent status review, 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 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.
    Any new information will be considered during the 5-year status 
review and will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery 
programs for the species.

Which species are under review?

    The species in the following table are under active 5-year status 
review.

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                                                                                              Final listing rule
                                                                                               (Federal Register    Contact person,    Contact person's
           Common name              Scientific name       Listing status       Lead state        citation and        phone, email      U.S. mail address
                                                                                               publication date)
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                                                                         ANIMALS
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Comal Springs dryopid beetle....  Styoparnus           Endangered.........  Texas...........  62 FR 66295; 12/18/ Karen Myers, Field  U.S. Fish and
                                   comalensis.                                                 1997.               Supervisor, 512-    Wildlife Service,
                                                                                                                   490-0057 (phone)    Austin Ecological
                                                                                                                   or                  Services Office,
                                                                                                                   <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="92f9f3e0f7fccdffebf7e0e1d2f4e5e1bcf5">[email protected]</a>   10711 Burnet
                                                                                                                   ov (email).         Road, Suite 200,
                                                                                                                                       Austin, TX 78758.
Comal Springs riffle beetle.....  Heterelmis           Endangered.........  Texas...........  62 FR 66295; 12/18/
                                   comalensis.                                                 1997.
Mexican long-nosed bat..........  Leptonycteris        Endangered.........  Texas...........  53 FR 38456; 9/30/
                                   nivalis.                                                    1988.
Peck's Cave amphipod............  Stygobromus          Endangered.........  Texas...........  62 FR 66295; 12/18/
                                   (=Stygonectes)                                              1997.
                                   pecki.
Government Canyon Bat Cave        Cicurina vespera...  Endangered.........  Texas...........  65 FR 81419; 12/26/
 meshweaver.                                                                                   2000.
Comanche Springs pupfish........  Cyprinodon elegans.  Endangered.........  Texas...........  32 FR 4001; 3/11/
                                                                                               1967.
Leon Springs pupfish............  Cyprinodon bovinus.  Endangered.........  Texas...........  45 FR 54678; 8/15/
                                                                                               1980.
San Marcos salamander...........  Eurycea nana.......  Threatened.........  Texas...........  45 FR 47355; 7/14/
                                                                                               1980.
Gulf Coast jaguarundi...........  Herpailurus          Endangered.........  Texas...........  41 FR 24062; 6/14/  Field Supervisor,   U.S. Fish and
                                   (=Felis)                                                    1976.               281-286-8282        Wildlife Service,
                                   yagouaroundi                                                                    (phone) or          Texas Coastal
                                   cacomitli.                                                                      <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="155d7a6066617a7b5046535a557362663b72">[email protected]</a>   Ecological
                                                                                                                   ov (email).         Services Field
                                                                                                                                       Office, 17629 El
                                                                                                                                       Camino Real,
                                                                                                                                       Suite 211,
                                                                                                                                       Houston, TX
                                                                                                                                       77058.
American burying beetle.........  Nicrophorus          Threatened.........  Oklahoma........  54 FR 29652; 7/13/  Field Office        U.S. Fish and
                                   americanus.                                                 1989.               Supervisor, 918-    Wildlife Service,
                                                                                                                   581-7458 (phone),   Oklahoma
                                                                                                                   or                  Ecological
                                                                                                                   OKProjectReview@f   Services Field
                                                                                                                   ws.gov (email).     Office, 9014 East
                                                                                                                                       21st Street,
                                                                                                                                       Tulsa, OK 74129.

[[Page 4968]]

 
Whooping crane..................  Grus americana.....  Threatened.........  Texas...........  32 FR 4001; 3/11/   Kevin McAbee,       U.S. Fish and
                                                                                               1967.               Whooping Crane      Wildlife Service,
                                                                                                                   Recovery            160 Zillicoa
                                                                                                                   Coordinator, 303-   Street, Suite B,
                                                                                                                   482-7425 (phone)    Asheville, NC
                                                                                                                   or                  28801.
                                                                                                                   <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d9b2bcafb0b786b4bab8bbbcbc99bfaeaaf7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="422927342b2c1d2f2123202727022435316c252d34">[email protected]</span></a> (email).
Narrow headed gartersnake.......  Thamnophis           Threatened.........  Arizona.........  79 FR 38678; 7/8/   Field Supervisor,   U.S. Fish and
                                   rufipunctatus.                                              2014.               602-242-0210        Wildlife Service,
                                                                                                                   (phone) or          Arizona
                                                                                                                   incomingazcorr@fw   Ecological
                                                                                                                   s.gov (email).      Services Office,
                                                                                                                                       9828 North 31st
                                                                                                                                       Avenue, #C3,
                                                                                                                                       Phoenix, AZ 85051-
                                                                                                                                       2517.
Southwestern willow flycatcher..  Empidonax trailii    Endangered.........  Arizona.........  60 FR 10694; 2/27/
                                   extimus.                                                    1995.
Sonoyta mud turtle..............  Kinosternon          Endangered.........  Arizona.........  82 FR 43897; 9/20/
                                   sonoriense                                                  2017.
                                   longifemorale.
Masked bobwhite.................  Colinus virginianus  Endangered.........  Arizona.........  32 FR 4001; 3/11/
                                   ridgwayi.                                                   1967.
San Bernardino springsnail......  Pyrgulopsis          Threatened.........  Arizona.........  77 FR 23060; 4/17/
                                   bernardina.                                                 2012.
Yaqui catfish...................  Ictalurus pricei...  Threatened.........  Arizona.........  49 FR 34490; 8/31/
                                                                                               1984.
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                                                                         PLANTS
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Pima pineapple cactus...........  Coryphantha scheeri  Endangered.........  Arizona.........  58 FR 49875; 9/23/  Field Supervisor,   U.S. Fish and
                                   var. robustispina.                                          1993.               602-242-0210        Wildlife Service,
                                                                                                                   (phone) or          Arizona
                                                                                                                   incomingazcorr@fw   Ecological
                                                                                                                   s.gov (email).      Services Office,
                                                                                                                                       9828 North 31st
                                                                                                                                       Avenue, #C3,
                                                                                                                                       Phoenix, AZ 85051-
                                                                                                                                       2517.
Siler pincushion cactus.........  Pediocactus          Threatened.........  Arizona.........  44 FR 61786; 10/26/
                                   (=Echinocactus,=                                            1979.
                                   Utahia) sileri.
Gierisch mallow.................  Sphaeralcea          Endangered.........  Arizona.........  78 FR 49149; 8/13/
                                   gierischii.                                                 2013.
Sentry milk-vetch...............  Astragalus           Endangered.........  Arizona.........  55 FR 50184; 12/5/
                                   cremnophylax var.                                           1990.
                                   cremnophylax.
Huachuca water-umbel............  Lilaeopsis           Endangered.........  Arizona.........  62 FR 665; 1/6/
                                   schaffneriana var.                                          1997.
                                   recurva.
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Request for Information

    To ensure that a 5-year status 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 (also 
see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

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.

Completed and Active Reviews

    A list of all completed and currently active 5-year status reviews 
can be found at https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/species-five-year-review.

Authority

    This document is published under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Jeffrey Fleming,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-01493 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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