Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Extension of comment period.

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce an extension of the comment period for the 5-year reviews of 31 listed species in Table 1 below, under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The first request for information closed September 6, 2005. The purpose of a 5-year review is to ensure that the classification of a species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate and based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the original listing of each of these 31 species. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make the requisite findings under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the Act.

Table 1.—Summary of the Listing Information for the Following 31 Species

Common name

Scientific name

Status

Where listed

Final listing rule

Valley elderberry longhorn beetle

Desmocerus californicus dimorphus

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

45 FR 52803

(8-AUG-80).

Smith's blue butterfly

Euphilotes enoptes smithi

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

41 FR 22041

(1-JUN-76).

Delhi Sands flower-loving fly

Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

58 FR 49881

(23-SEP-93).

Morro shoulderband snail

Helminthoglypta walkeriana

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

59 FR 64613

(15-DEC-94).

Giant garter snake

Thamnophis gigas

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

58 FR 54053

(20-OCT-93).

San Francisco garter snake

Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

32 FR 4001

(11-MAR-67).

Island night lizard

Xantusia riversiana

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

42 FR 40682

(11-AUG-77).

California least tern

Sterna antillarum browni

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA) Mexico

35 FR 8491

(2-JUN-70).

Least Bell's vireo

Vireo bellii pusillus

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA) Mexico

1 FR 16474

(2-MAY-86).

Chinese Camp brodiaea

Brodiaea pallida

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

63 FR 49022

(14-SEP-98).

Mariposa pussypaws

Calyptridium pulchellum

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

63 FR 49022

(14-SEP-98).

San Clemente Island Indian paintbrush

Castilleja grisea

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

42 FR 40682

(11-AUG-77).

Spring-loving centaury

Centaurium namophilum

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA, NV)

50 FR 20777

(20-MAY-85).

Springville clarkia

Clarkia springvillensis

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

63 FR 49022

(14-SEP-98).

San Clemente Island larkspur

Delphinium variegatum

var.

kinkiense

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

42 FR 40682

(11-AUG-77).

Santa Barbara Island dudleya

Dudleya traskiae

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

43 FR 17910

(26-APR-78).

Ash meadows gumplant

Grindelia fraxino-pratensis

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA, NV)

50 FR 20777

(20-MAY-85).

San Clemente Island woodland star

Lithophragma maximum

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

62 FR 42692

(8-AUG-97).

San Clemente Island lotus

Lotus dendroideus

var.

traskiae

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

42 FR 40682

(11-AUG-77).

San Clemente Island bush mallow

Malacothamnus clementinus

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

42 FR 40682

(11-AUG-77).

Amargosa niterwort

Nitrophila mohavensis

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA, NV)

50 FR 20777

(20-MAY-85).

Eureka Valley evening primrose

Oenothera californica

ssp.

eurekensis

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

43 FR 17910

(26-APR-78).

Yreka phlox

Phlox hirsuta

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

65 FR 5268

(3-FEB-00).

Hartweg's golden sunburst

Pseudobahia bahiifolia

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

62 FR 5542

(6-FEB-97).

San Joaquin adobe sunburst

Pseudobahia peirsonii

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

62 FR 5542

(6-FEB-97).

Santa Cruz Island rock-cress

Sibara filifolia

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

62 FR 42692

(8-AUG-97).

Keck's checker-mallow

Sidalcea keckii

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

65 FR 7757

(16-FEB-00).

Eureka Dune grass

Swallenia alexandrae

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

43 FR 17910

(26-APR-78).

Kneeland Prairie pennycress

Thlaspi californicum

Endangered

U.S.A. (CA)

65 FR 6332

(9-SEP-00).

Hidden Lake bluecurls

Trichostema austromontanum

ssp.

compactum

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

63 FR 49006

(14-SEP-98).

Red Hills vervain

Verbena californica

Threatened

U.S.A. (CA)

63 FR 49022

(14-SEP-98).

DATES:

To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must receive your information no later than January 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Information may be submitted to the following U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish and Wildlife Offices:

For the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, island night lizard, California least tern, least Bell's vireo, San Clemente Island Indian paintbrush, San Clemente Island larkspur, San Clemente Island woodland star, San Clemente Island lotus, San Clemente Island bush mallow, Santa Cruz Island rock-cress, and Hidden Lake bluecurls, submit comments to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, California 92009. Information may also be submitted electronically at

fw1cfwo_5yr@fws.gov.

For the Smith's blue butterfly, Morro shoulderband snail, Santa Barbara Island dudleya, Eureka Valley evening primrose, and Eureka Dune grass, submit comments to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. Information may also be submitted electronically at

fw1vfwo5year@fws.gov.

For the Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, giant garter snake, San Francisco garter snake, Chinese Camp brodiaea, Mariposa pussypaws, Springville clarkia, Hartweg's golden sunburst, San Joaquin adobe sunburst, Keck's checker-mallow, and Red Hills vervain, submit comments to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825. Information may also be submitted electronically at

fw1sfo5year@fws.gov.

For Ash Meadows gumplant, spring-loving centaury, and Amargosa niterwort, submit comments to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502. Information may also be submitted electronically at

fw1nfwo_5yr@fws.gov.

For Kneeland Prairie pennycress, submit comments to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arctata Fish and Wildlife Office, 11655 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521. Information may also be submitted electronically at

fw8kneelandpennycress@fws.gov.

Please note that this electronic mail address is different than the address given in the July 7, 2005, notice opening the first comment period.

For Yreka phlox, submit comments to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office, 1829 S. Oregon Street, Yreka, California 96097. Information may also be submitted electronically at

fw1yrekaphlox@fws.gov.

Information received in response to this notice and these reviews will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the appropriate above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, island night lizard, California least tern, least Bell's vireo, San Clemente Island Indian paintbrush, San Clemente Island larkspur, San Clemente Island woodland star, San Clemente Island lotus, San Clemente Island bush mallow, Santa Cruz Island rock-cress, or Hidden Lake bluecurls, contact Tannika Engelhard at the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office at (760) 431-9440. For the Smith's blue butterfly, Morro shoulderband snail, Santa Barbara Island dudleya, Eureka Valley evening primrose, or Eureka Dune grass, contact Mike McCrary at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at (805) 644-1766. For the Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, giant garter snake, San Francisco garter snake, Chinese Camp brodiaea, Mariposa pussypaws, Springville clarkia, Hartweg's golden sunburst, San Joaquin adobe sunburst, Keck's checker-mallow, and Red Hills vervain, contact Craig Aubrey at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at (916) 414-6600. For Ash Meadows gumplant, spring-loving centaury, Amargosa niterwort, contact Steve Caicco at the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office at (775) 861-6300. For Kneeland Prairie pennycress, contact Dave Imper at the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office at (707) 822-7201. For Yreka phlox, contact Nadine Kanim at the Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office at (530) 842-5763.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years. The purpose of a 5-year review is to ensure that the classification of a species as threatened or endangered on the List is accurate.

The 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review that has become available since the species' original listing or its most recent status or 5-year review.

On July 7, 2005, we announced in a

Federal Register

notice (70 FR 39327) that we are commencing a 5-year review of the 31 species listed in Table 1 of this notice. The public comment period for the July 7, 2005, notice ended September 6, 2005.

The 5-year reviews for these species will assess: (a) Whether new information suggests that the species' populations are increasing, declining, or stable; (b) whether existing threats are increasing, the same, reduced, or eliminated; (c) if there are any new threats; and (d) if new information or analysis calls into question any of the conclusions in the original listing determinations as to the species' status. The review will also apply this new information to consideration of the appropriate application of the Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct Vertebrate Population Segments (61 FR 4722) to the listed entity, if applicable.

If there is no new information concerning the species in Table 1, no changes will be made to their classifications. However, if we find that there is new information indicating a change in classification is warranted for any of these species, we may propose a new rule that could either: (a) Reclassify the species from endangered to threatened; (b) reclassify the species from threatened to endangered or (c) remove the species from the List.

Public Solicitation of New Information

We are publishing this second request for any new information relating to the current status of the species listed in Table 1 that has become available since their original listings. In particular, we are seeking information 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; and

E. Other new information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, or improved analytical methods.

Information submitted should be supported 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. Information submitted between the close of the first comment period on September 6, 2005, and today's date shall be considered in the reviews, along with information submitted within the timeframes established by the July 7, 2005, notice and this notice.

Authority:

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

et seq.

).

Dated: October 27, 2005.

Paul Henson,

Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 05-21912 Filed 11-2-05; 8:45 am]

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