[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 17, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8004-8007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03256]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2016-0006; FXES11130900000C6-167-FF09E42000]
RIN 1018-BB28


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Technical Corrections for 
Eight Wildlife Species on the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
revised taxonomy of eight wildlife species under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are revising the List of Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife to reflect the current scientifically accepted 
taxonomy and nomenclature of these species.

DATES: This rule is effective May 17, 2016 without further action, 
unless significant adverse comment is received by March 18, 2016. If 
significant adverse comment is received regarding taxonomic changes for 
any of these species, we will publish in the Federal Register a timely 
withdrawal of the rule for the appropriate species.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments to FWS-R1-ES-2016-0006, which is the docket number for this 
rulemaking.
    <bullet> By hard copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail or hand-
delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2016-0006; 
Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC; Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
    See Public Comments, below, for more information about submitting 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilet Zablan, Program Manager for 
Restoration and Endangered Species Classification, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Pacific Regional Office, Ecological Services, 911 NE 
11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232; telephone 503-231-6131. Individuals 
who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay 
Service at 800-877-8337 for TTY (telephone typewriter or 
teletypewriter) assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose of Direct Final Rule and Final Action

    The purpose of this direct final rule is to notify the public that 
we are revising the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in title 
50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Sec.  17.11(h) (50 CFR 
17.11(h)) to reflect the scientifically accepted taxonomy and 
nomenclature of eight wildlife species listed under section 4 of the 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). These changes to the List of Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife reflect the most recently accepted scientific 
names in accordance with 50 CFR 17.11(b).
    We are publishing this rule without a prior proposal because this 
is a noncontroversial action that is in the best interest of the public 
and should be undertaken in as timely a manner as possible. This rule 
will be effective, as published in this document, on the effective date 
specified in DATES, unless we receive significant adverse comments on 
or before the comment due date specified in DATES. Significant adverse 
comments are comments that provide strong justification as to why this 
rule should not be adopted or why it should be changed.
    If we receive significant adverse comments regarding the taxonomic 
changes for any of these species, we will publish a document in the 
Federal Register withdrawing this rule for the appropriate species 
before the effective date, and we will publish a proposed rule to 
initiate promulgation of those changes to 50 CFR 17.11(h).

Public Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials regarding this direct 
final rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. Please include 
sufficient information with your comments that will allow us to verify 
any scientific or commercial information you include. We will not 
consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an address not listed in 
ADDRESSES.
    We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
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.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we use in preparing this direct final rule, will be 
available for public inspection on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or by appointment, during normal business hours, at 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office listed in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please note that comments posted to http://www.regulations.gov are not immediately viewable. When you submit a 
comment, the system receives it immediately. However, the comment will 
not be publicly viewable until we post it, which might not occur until 
several days after submission. Information regarding this rule is 
available in alternative formats upon request (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT). For information pertaining to specific species, 
please contact Kristi Young, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Pacific 
Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 
Ala Moana Blvd., Room 3-122, Honolulu, HI 96813; telephone 808-792-
9400.

Background

    50 CFR 17.11(b) and 17.12(b) direct us to use the most recently 
accepted scientific name of any wildlife or plant

[[Page 8005]]

species, respectively, that we have determined to be an endangered or 
threatened species. Using the best available scientific information, 
this direct final rule documents taxonomic changes of the scientific 
names to seven entries under ``Birds'' on the current List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (50 CFR 17.11(h)). In addition, this 
rule corrects a previous error on the List by splitting one entry into 
two separate entries and updates the scientific names for those two 
entries, for a total of eight entries updated by this rule. The basis 
for these taxonomic changes is supported by published studies in peer-
reviewed journals. Accordingly, we revise the scientific names of these 
species under section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Species name as currently listed          Corrected species name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newell's Townsend's shearwater           Newell's shearwater (Puffinus
 (Puffinus auricularis newelli).          newelli).
Oahu elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis   Oahu elepaio (Chasiempis
 ibidis).                                 ibidis).
Kauai `akialoa (honeycreeper)            Kauai akialoa (Akialoa
 (Hemignathus procerus).                  stejnegeri).
`akiapola`au (honeycreeper)              akiapolaau (Hemignathus
 (Hemignathus munroi).                    wilsoni).
nukupu`u (honeycreeper) (Hemignathus     Kauai nukupuu (Hemignathus
 lucidus).                                hanapepe).
                                         Maui nukupuu (Hemignathus
                                          affinis).
Hawaii `akepa (honeycreeper) (Loxops     Hawaii akepa (Loxops
 coccineus coccineus).                    coccineus).
Maui `akepa (honeycreeper) (Loxops       Maui akepa (Loxops ochraceus).
 coccineus ochraceus).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We make these changes to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife to reflect the most recently accepted scientific names in 
accordance with 50 CFR 17.11(b). As revised, the common names omit 
Hawaiian orthographic characters and parenthetical descriptors of bird 
groups (e.g. `` 'Akiapola'au (honeycreeper)''), which have heretofore 
been used inconsistently and sometimes inaccurately in the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.
    Of the species that are the subjects of this rule, only the Oahu 
elepaio (Chasiempis ibidis) has designated critical habitat. For 
clarity and consistency, in this direct final rule, we are revising the 
heading of the critical habitat designation for the Oahu elepaio at 50 
CFR 17.95(b) to reflect its corrected species name.

Taxonomic Classification

Newell's Shearwater

    The Newell's Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus newelli), a seabird 
native to the Hawaiian Islands, was listed as threatened on October 28, 
1975 (40 FR 44149; September 25, 1975). At that time the taxon newelli 
was treated as a subspecies of the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), 
following Murphy (1952, pp. 1-21) who had recognized eight subspecies 
worldwide (puffinus [North Atlantic], mauretanicus [western 
Mediterranean], yelkouan [eastern Mediterranean], gavia [New Zealand], 
huttoni [New Zealand], newelli [Hawaiian Islands], auricularis 
[Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico], and opisthomelas [Baja California]).
    Subsequently the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) (1983, pp. 
24-25) restricted the Manx shearwater to the North Atlantic and 
Mediterranean forms, recognizing newelli and auricularis as subspecies 
of the distinct species Townsend's shearwater (Puffinus auricularis). 
The List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife currently follows this 
taxonomy, identifying the listed entity as Newell's Townsend's 
shearwater (P. auricularis newelli).
    The Hawaiian and Revillagigedo Islands populations differ 
substantially from one another in their plumage (Howell et al. 1994, 
pp. 171-176), breeding chronology (Ainley et al. 1997), and foraging 
ecology (Spear et al. 1995, pp. 621-637). Consequently, the AOU now 
considers Newell's shearwater (Puffinus newelli) to be a full species 
distinct from Townsend's shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) (Chesser et 
al. 2015, pp. 751-752). This taxonomic change does not affect the range 
or threatened status of the Newell's shearwater.

Oahu elepaio

    The elepaios are a group of three forest songbird species endemic 
to the Hawaiian Islands. The forms on Hawaii, Oahu, and Kauai were 
originally described as separate species (Chasiempis sandwichensis, C. 
ibidis, and C. sclateri, respectively), but were subsequently combined 
into a single species under C. sandwichensis (Bryan and Greenway 1944, 
pp. 124-125). The AOU (1982) followed this approach. The Oahu elepaio 
was listed as endangered on May 18, 2000 (65 FR 20760; April 18, 2000), 
under the scientific name Chasiempis sandwichensis ibidis.
    The three island forms of elepaio differ substantially in their 
vocalizations (VanderWerf 2007) and their morphology and ecology 
(Conant et al. 1998; VanderWerf 2012, 2015). Analysis of mitochondrial 
DNA further indicates that the three island forms have diverged 
genetically and do not share haplotypes (VanderWerf et al. 2010). 
Consequently the AOU has now restored the three subspecies of elepaio 
to species level (Chesser et al. 2010). Thus the scientific name of the 
Oahu elepaio is now Chasiempis ibidis. This taxonomic change does not 
affect the range or endangered status of the Oahu elepaio.

Akialoa, Akiapolaau, and Nukupuu

    The genus Hemignathus was formerly considered to include four 
species of forest songbirds endemic to the Hawaiian islands: Hawaiian 
akialoa (H. obscurus [extinct]; Hawaii, Oahu, and Lanai), Kauai akialoa 
(H. procerus; Kauai), nukupuu (H. lucidus; Kauai, Oahu [where extinct], 
and Maui), and akiapolaau (H. wilsoni; Hawaii) (Amadon 1950, pp. 168-
169). On March 11, 1967, the Kauai akialoa (Hemignathus procerus), 
akiapolaau (Hemignathus wilsoni) (syn. H. munroi), and the Kauai 
nukupuu (H. lucidus hanapepe) were determined under the Endangered 
Species Preservation Act to be threatened with extinction (32 FR 4001). 
On October 13, 1970, these species (including both the Kauai and Maui 
nukupuu) were included on the United States List of Endangered Native 
Fish and Wildlife (35 FR 16047).
    The AOU (1982, p. 16CC) transferred three additional species to 
Hemignathus that had formerly been classified in the genus 
Loxops:Common amakihi (H. virens; all major islands), anianiau (H. 
parvus; Kauai), and greater amakihi (H. sagittirostris [extinct]; 
Hawaii). The common amakihi was subsequently split into three species: 
Hawaii amakihi (H. virens), Oahu amakihi (H. chloris), and Kauai 
amakihi (H. kauaiensis) (AOU 1995, p. 828). None of these species has 
been listed under the Act.
    Olson and James (1988, p. 13) noted that the Kauai akialoa was 
first described by Wilson in 1889, under the name Hemignathus 
stejnegeri. The name Hemignathus procerus was first used by Cabanis in 
1890; thus stejnegeri has

[[Page 8006]]

priority under the rules of zoological nomenclature. This change was 
subsequently adopted by the AOU (1998, p. 675).
    The akialoa species classification was rearranged by the AOU (1997, 
p. 548; 1998, p. 675) to elevate the Hawaii subspecies (obscurus) to a 
full species (lesser akialoa, Hemignathus obscurus [extinct, not 
listed]) and include the subspecies on Kauai (stejnegeri [endangered]), 
Oahu (ellisianus [extinct, not listed]), and Lanai (lanaiensis 
[extinct, not listed]) within a different species (greater akialoa, H. 
ellisianus).
    A variety of genetic and morphological data indicates that the 
genus Hemignathus in the broad sense is not a monophyletic group 
(Fleischer et al. 1998, pp. 533-545; James 2004, p. 241; Reding et al. 
2008, pp. 221-224; Lerner et al. 2011, p. 1841). Consequently, the AOU 
has now distributed these species among several genera. The anianiau 
(H. parvus) was transferred to the genus Magumma (Banks et al. 2008, p. 
765), the greater amakihi (H. sagittirostris) to the genus Viridonia, 
the common amakihi group (H. virens, H. chloris, and H. kauaiensis) to 
the genus Chlorodrepanis, and the akialoa group (H. obscurus and H. 
ellisianus) to the genus Akialoa, while the akiapolaau (H. wilsoni) and 
nukupuu (H. lucidus, H. hanapepe, and H. affinis) remain in the genus 
Hemignathus (Chesser et al. 2015, pp. 758-760).
    Although the akiapolaau remains in the genus Hemignathus, its 
species name was changed as an indirect result of the above generic 
split (Olson and James 1988, p. 13). The akiapolaau was originally 
described in November 1893, under the name Heterorhynchus wilsoni 
(Rothschild 1893a, pp. 97-99). However, 6 months earlier in May 1893, 
the Maui race of amakihi (now Chlorodrepanis virens wilsoni) had been 
described under the name Himatione wilsoni (Rothschild 1893b, p. 42). 
Thus, during the period from 1982 to 2015, when the amakihi and the 
akiapolaau were both included within the genus Hemignathus, the species 
name wilsoni was unavailable to be used for the akiapolaau, and the 
alternative name Hemignathus munroi was used. However, with the 
transfer of the common amakihi group to Chlorodrepanis, the species 
name wilsoni again has priority for the akiapolaau. Thus, the AOU has 
again adopted the name Hemignathus wilsoni for the akiapolaau (Chesser 
et al. 2015, p. 758). This taxonomic change does not affect the range 
or endangered status of the akiapolaau.
    Because the four historically known subspecies of akialoa are now 
known from fossil evidence to have been sympatric with at least two 
additional akialoa species, Olson and James (1995, pp. 384-385) and 
Pratt (2014, pp. 9-10) recommended that they be conservatively treated 
as full species. Consequently, the AOU has elevated the three 
subspecies of the greater akialoa to species level: Kauai akialoa 
(Akialoa stejnegeri), Oahu akialoa (A. ellisiana [extinct]), and Maui-
nui akialoa (A. lanaiensis [extinct]) (Chesser et al. 2015). This 
taxonomic change does not affect the range or endangered status of the 
Kauai akialoa (Akialoa stejnegeri (syn. Hemignathus procerus)).
    Plumage differences among the three taxa of nukupuu on Kauai, Oahu, 
and Maui (hanapepe, lucidus, and affinis) are comparable to those 
existing among other species groups of Hawaiian honeycreepers (Pratt et 
al. 2001; Pratt and Pratt 2001, p. 75). Consequently, the AOU has 
elevated these three taxa from subspecies to species level: Kauai 
nukupuu (Hemignathus hanapepe), Oahu nukupuu (H. lucidus) (extinct), 
and Maui nukupuu (H. affinis) (Chesser et al. 2015, pp. 759-760).
    As noted above, the original 1967 listing rule covered only the 
Kauai nukupuu (32 FR 4001), and a later 1970 rule listed both the Kauai 
and Maui nukupuu (35 FR 16047). However, the current List of Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife at 50 CFR 17.11(h) erroneously describes the 
listed entity as ``nukupuu (honeycreeper)'' and ``Hemignathus 
lucidus,'' with a single entry rather than separately specifying the 
Kauai and Maui nukupuu as stated in the 1970 listing rule. No Federal 
Register document describes the basis on which the listed entity was 
changed from the Kauai and Maui nukupuu to a collective listing of the 
entire species. In particular, the current entry at 50 CFR 17.11(h) 
implicitly includes the Oahu nukupuu within the listed entity although 
no listing rule has ever specifically listed it as endangered. Thus, 
the current nukupuu entry at 50 CFR 17.11(h) does not accurately 
represent the 1970 listing. Moreover, our most recent recovery plan and 
5-year review (USFWS 2006, pp. 89-95; 2010a) reference the Kauai 
nukupuu and Maui nukupuu individually. Given that the AOU supports 
elevation of the three nukupuu subspecies to species level, it is 
consistent both with the intent of the original listing rules and with 
current scientific information to correct this error in the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and treat the Kauai nukupuu 
(Hemignathus hanapepe) and Maui nukupuu (Hemignathus affinis) as 
distinct listed entities. This approach is also consistent with the 
treatment of the Laysan finch (Telespyza cantans) and Nihoa finch (T. 
ultima), which were similarly listed as a pair of taxa in 1970 (35 FR 
16047) and have since been considered consistently as distinct listed 
entities. The taxonomic change from subspecies to species level does 
not affect the range or endangered status of the Kauai nukupuu or the 
Maui nukupuu. Because the recognition of Kauai nukupuu and Maui nukupuu 
as distinct listed entities does not alter the listing decision from 
the 1970 listing rule, but simply corrects an error at 50 CFR 17.11(h), 
it requires no formal status review.

Hawaii and Maui Akepa

    The Hawaii akepa (Loxops coccineus coccineus) and Maui akepa 
(Loxops coccineus ochraceus) are forest songbirds that were originally 
included on the United States List of Endangered Native Fish and 
Wildlife on October 13, 1970 (35 FR 16047). The akepa subspecies on 
Oahu (L. c. wolstenholmei) and Kauai (L. c. caeruleirostris) were not 
listed at that time. Subsequently, the Kauai population has been 
determined to be a separate species (the akekee, Loxops 
caeruleirostris) (AOU 1991, pp. 753-754), and it was listed as an 
endangered species on May 13, 2010 (75 FR 18960; April 13, 2010). The 
Oahu akepa was last reported in the wild in 1976, and is likely 
extinct, but has not been listed under the Act.
    Pratt (2014, p. 10) found that the Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu 
populations of the akepa were distinct at the species level based on 
molecular data and differences in plumage and nest placement. Based on 
this research, the AOU (Chesser et al. 2015, p. 760) accepts the Hawaii 
akepa (Loxops coccineus), the Maui akepa (Loxops ochraceus), and the 
Oahu akepa (Loxops wolstenholmei) as distinct species. The taxonomic 
change does not affect the range or endangered status of either the 
Hawaii akepa or the Maui akepa.

Required Determinations

National Environmental Policy Act

    We have determined that environmental assessments and environmental 
impact statements, as defined under the authority of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), need not be 
prepared in connection with regulations issued pursuant to section 4(a) 
of the Act. We published a notice outlining our reasons for this

[[Page 8007]]

determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (43 FR 
49244).

Clarity of the Rule

    We are required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and by the 
Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain 
language. This means that each rule we publish must:
    (a) Be logically organized;
    (b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (c) Use clear language rather than jargon;
    (d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
    If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us 
comments by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. To help us to 
revise this rule, your comments should be as specific as possible.

References Cited

    A complete list of the referenced materials is available upon 
request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    For the reasons given in the preamble, we amend part 17, subchapter 
B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set 
forth below:

PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16. U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; 4201-4245, unless 
otherwise noted.


0
2. Amend Sec.  17.11(h), the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife, under BIRDS, by:
0
a. Removing the entries for `` 'Akepa, Hawaii (honeycreeper)'', `` 
'Akepa, Maui (honeycreeper)'', `` 'Akialoa, Kauai (honeycreeper)'', and 
`` 'Akiapola'au (honeycreeper)'';
0
b. Adding, in alphabetical order, entries for ``Akepa, Hawaii'', 
``Akepa, Maui'', ``Akialoa, Kauai'', and ``Akiapolaau'';
0
c. Revising the entry for ``Elepaio, Oahu'';
0
d. Removing the entry for ``Nukupu'u (honeycreeper)'';
0
e. Adding, in alphabetical order, entries for ``Nukupuu, Kauai'' and 
``Nukupuu, Maui'';
0
f. Removing the entry for ``Shearwater, Newell's Townsend's''; and
0
g. Adding, in alphabetical order, an entry for ``Shearwater, 
Newell's''.
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Species                                                    Vertebrate
--------------------------------------------------------                        population where                                  Critical     Special
                                                            Historic range       endangered or         Status      When listed    habitat       rules
           Common name                Scientific name                              threatened
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
              Birds
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Akepa, Hawaii....................  Loxops coccineus....  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                         2           NA           NA
Akepa, Maui......................  Loxops ochraceus....  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                         2           NA           NA
Akialoa, Kauai...................  Akialoa stejnegeri..  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                         1           NA           NA
Akiapolaau.......................  Hemignathus wilsoni.  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                         1           NA           NA
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Elepaio, Oahu....................  Chasiempis ibidis...  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                       696     17.95(b)           NA
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Nukupuu, Kauai...................  Hemignathus hanapepe  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                      1, 2           NA           NA
Nukupuu, Maui....................  Hemignathus affinis.  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                         2           NA           NA
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Shearwater, Newell's.............  Puffinus newelli....  U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  T                        10           NA           NA
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *


Sec.  17.95  [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec.  17.95(b) by removing the heading ``Oahu elepaio 
(Chasiempis sandwichensis ibidis)'' and adding in its place the heading 
``Oahu elepaio (Chasiempis ibidis)''.

    Dated: February 8, 2016.
Stephen Guertin,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-03256 Filed 2-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P