Fish & Wildlife Service: 5 Year Status Reviews of 23 Southeastern Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct five-year status reviews of 15 endangered and 8 threatened species occurring in one or more of 10 states. 

These five-year reviews are conducted to ensure that listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are accurate.  Any interested party is invited to provide information and comments pertaining to these species.  Written comments and information related to these five-year reviews must be received on or before September 4, 2009.

This notice covers the following species federally listed as endangered: Mississippi gopher frog (amphibian); Alabama sturgeon (fish); Cape Fear shiner (fish); Cahaba shiner (fish); bluemask darter (fish); amber darter (fish); Etowah darter (fish); Tar River spinymussel (mussel); Anthony's riversnail (snail); Saint Francis' satyr butterfly (insect); mountain sweet pitcher plant (plant); bunched arrowhead (plant); white irisette (plant); Tennessee yellow-eyed grass (plant); and Spring Creek bladderpod (plant). This notice also covers the following species federally listed as threatened: flattened musk turtle (reptile); spotfin chub (fish); Waccamaw silverside (fish); Cherokee darter (fish); Magazine Mountain shagreen (snail); Heller's blazing star (plant); Price's potato-bean (plant); and Cumberland rosemary (plant).

Specifically, this review seeks information on: (1) species biology, including population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions, including amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented; (4) threat status and trends; and (5) other new information, data, or corrections, including taxonomic or nomenclatural changes; identification of erroneous information contained in the ESA list; and improved analytical methods.  Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection by appointment.

In addition to reviewing the classification of these species, a five-year review presents an opportunity to track the species’ recovery progress.  It may benefit species by providing valuable information to guide future conservation efforts.  Information gathered during a review can assist in making funding decisions, conducting interagency consultations, making permitting decisions, and determining whether to update recovery plans, and other actions under the ESA.

The Federal Register notice announcing the status review of these 23 federally listed species is available online at http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E9-15918.html

Written comments and information on the spotfin chub may be e-mailed to bob_butler@fws.gov, faxed to 828/258-5330, or sent via regular mail to Bob Butler, Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801.

Written comments and information on the Tar River spinymussel may be e-mailed to john_fridell@fws.gov, faxed to 828/258-5330, or sent via regular mail to John Fridell, Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801.

Written comments and information on the bunched arrowhead, Heller’s blazing star, mountain sweet pitcher plant, and white irisette may be e-mailed to carolyn_wells@fws.gov, faxed to 828/258-5330, or sent via regular mail to Carolyn Wells, Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801.

Written comments and information on the amber darter, Etowah darter, and Cherokee darter may be e-mailed to robin_goodloe@fws.gov, faxed to 706/613-6059, or sent via regular mail to Robin Goodloe, Athens Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, West Park Center Suite D, 105 West Park Drive, Athens, Georgia, 30606.

Written comments and information on the bluemask darter, Spring Creek bladderpod, Price’s potato-bean, and Cumberland rosemary may be e-mailed to geoff_call@fws.gov, faxed to 931/528-7075, or sent via regular mail to Geoff Call, Cookeville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee, 38501.

Written comments and information on the Anthony’s riversnail may be e-mailed to stephanie_chance@fws.gov, faxed to 931/528-7075, or sent via regular mail to Stephanie Chance, Cookeville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal Steet, Cookeville, Tennessee, 38501.

Written comments and information on the Magazine Mountain shagreen may be e-mailed to chris_davidson@fws.gov, faxed to 501/513-4480, or sent via regular mail to Chris Davidson, Conway Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300, Conway, Arkansas, 72032.  

Written comments and information on the Tennessee yellow-eyed grass may be e-mailed to dan_everson@fws.gov, faxed to 251/441-6222, or sent via regular mail to Dan Everson Daphne Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama, 36526.

Written comments and information on the Alabama sturgeon may be e-mailed to jeff_powell@fws.gov, faxed to 251/441-6222, or sent via regular mail to Daphne Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama, 36526.

Written comments and information on the flattened musk turtle may be e-mailed to daniel_drennen@fws.gov, faxed to 601/965-4340, or sent via regular mail to Daniel Drennen, Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi, 39213.

Written comments and information on the Mississippi gopher frog may be e-mailed to linda_laclaire@fws.gov, faxed to 601/965-4340, or sent via regular mail to Linda LaClaire, Jackson Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi, 39213.

Written comments and information on Cape Fear shiner and Waccamaw silverside may be e-mailed to david_rabon@fws.gov, faxed to 919/856-4556, or sent via regular mail to David Rabon, Raleigh Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, PO Box 33726, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27636.

Written comments and information on the Saint Francis’ satyr butterfly may be e-mailed to dale_suiter@fws.gov, faxed to 919/856-4556, or sent via regular mail to Dale Suiter, Raleigh Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, PO Box 33726, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27636.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.  Visit the Service’s websites at http://www.fws.gov or http://www.fws.gov/southeast