50 CFR 17 - ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Translocation of Southern Sea Otters (final SEIS). The final SEIS evaluates options for continuing, revising, or terminating the southern sea otter translocation program, which was initiated in 1987. The purpose of the program was to achieve a primary recovery action for the southern sea otter: to create an established population at San Nicolas Island sufficient to repopulate other areas of the range should a catastrophic event affect the mainland population. The document describes the proposed action and alternatives under consideration and discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of each of the alternatives.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate critical habitat for the Cumberland darter ( Etheostoma susanae ), rush darter ( Etheostoma phytophilum ), yellowcheek darter ( Etheostoma moorei ), Chucky madtom ( Noturus crypticus ), and laurel dace ( Chrosomus saylori ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In total, approximately 86 river kilometers (rkm) (54 river miles (rmi)) are being designated as critical habitat for the Cumberland darter, 44 rkm (27 rmi) and 12 hectares (ha) (29 acres (ac)) for the rush darter, 164 rkm (102 rmi) for the yellowcheek darter, 32 rkm (20 rmi) for the Chucky madtom, and 42 rkm (26 rmi) for the laurel dace. The effect of this regulation is to conserve the five species' habitat under the Endangered Species Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determine endangered species status for the Alabama pearlshell ( Margaritifera marrianae ), round ebonyshell ( Fusconaia rotulata ), southern kidneyshell ( Ptychobranchus jonesi ), and Choctaw bean ( Villosa choctawensis ), and threatened species status for the tapered pigtoe ( Fusconaia burkei ), narrow pigtoe ( Fusconaia escambia ), southern sandshell ( Hamiota australis ), and fuzzy pigtoe ( Pleurobema strodeanum ), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act); and designate critical habitat for the eight mussel species. The effect of this regulation is to conserve these eight mussel species and their habitat under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the coquí llanero ( Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi ), and designate critical habitat. In total, we are designating approximately 615 acres (249 hectares) of a freshwater wetland in Sabana Seca Ward, Municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, as critical habitat. The effect of this regulation is to conserve the coquí llanero and its habitat under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), list 23 species on the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also designate 42,804 acres (17,322 hectares) as critical habitat. This designation includes critical habitat for these 23 species, 2 plant species that are already listed as endangered, and revised critical habitat for 99 plant species that are already listed as endangered or threatened. In this final rule we are also recognizing taxonomic revision of the scientific names of nine plant species and revising the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants accordingly. This final rule will implement the Federal protections provided by the Act.

The best scientific and commercial data available indicate that gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) in Wyoming are recovered and are no longer in need of protection as part of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Therefore, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), remove the gray wolf in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Wyoming's gray wolf population is stable, threats are sufficiently minimized, and a post-delisting monitoring and management framework has been developed. Therefore, this final rule returns management for this species to the appropriate State, Tribal, or Federal agencies; management in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges will continue to be guided by existing authorizing and management legislation and regulations. Finally, this action makes obsolete and removes the Yellowstone Experimental Population Area established in 1994 to facilitate reintroductions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine that Arctostaphylos franciscana (Franciscan manzanita) meets the definition of an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for this species. We are simultaneously publishing a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for Arctostaphylos franciscana in a separate Federal Register notice.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are designating critical habitat for the endangered Ipomopsis polyantha (Pagosa skyrocket) and the threatened Penstemon debilis (Parachute beardtongue) and Phacelia submutica (DeBeque phacelia) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). The purpose of this regulation is to conserve these three plant species and their habitats under the Act.

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service/USFWS), revise our special regulations for the conservation of the Utah prairie dog. We are revising our special regulations to provide limits to the allowable take, including limits to where permitted take can occur—agricultural lands, properties within 0.8 kilometers (km) (0.5 miles (mi)) of conservation lands, and areas where Utah prairie dogs cause serious human safety hazards or disturb the sanctity of significant human cultural or human burial sites; the amount of take that can be permitted; methods of take that can be permitted; and seasonal limitations on direct lethal take. We are also allowing entities other than the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to permit take. We are also issuing new incidental take exemptions for otherwise legal activities associated with standard agricultural practices. All other provisions of the special rule not relating to these amendments remain unchanged.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hereby list the British Columbia distinct population segment (DPS) of the Queen Charlotte goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for this subspecies in British Columbia, Canada, on Vancouver Island and the surrounding smaller islands, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the coastal mainland and adjacent islands west of the crest of the Coast Mountains. Because the British Columbia DPS is entirely outside the United States, we are not designating critical habitat.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determine endangered status for the Chupadera springsnail and designate critical habitat for the species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The effect of this rule is to conserve the Chupadera springsnail and its habitat under the Endangered Species Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate revised critical habitat for the Pacific Coast distinct population segment (DPS) (Pacific Coast WSP) of the western snowy plover ( Charadrius nivosus nivosus, formerly C. alexandrinus nivosus ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 24,527 acres (9,926 hectares) of critical habitat for the Pacific Coast WSP in Washington, Oregon, and California, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. This revised final designation constitutes an increase of approximately 12,377 ac (5,009 ha) from the 2005 designation of critical habitat for the Pacific Coast WSP. A taxonomic name change has occurred and been accepted for the snowy plover. Throughout the remainder of this document, we will use the currently recognized name for the subspecies, Charadrius nivosus nivosus, to which the listed entity (Pacific Coast WSP) belongs for references to the Pacific Coast WSP.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog under the Endangered Species Act. In previous publications, we used the common name “Mississippi gopher frog” for this species. We are taking this action to fulfill our obligations under the Act. Land in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, and Forrest, Harrison, Jackson, and Perry Counties, Mississippi, is being designated under a court approved settlement agreement to finalize critical habitat for the species. The effect of this regulation is to conserve the habitat upon which dusky gopher frog depends.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the revised taxonomy of Equus asinus (African wild ass) 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 this species. We revise the scientific name of this species as follows: Equus africanus (formerly E. asinus ).

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Morelet's crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii ) throughout its range from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife due to recovery. This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the species' status has improved to the point that the Morelet's crocodile is not likely to become threatened within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. After the effective date of this final rule, the Morelet's crocodile will remain protected under the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reclassifying the wood bison ( Bison bison athabascae ) from endangered to threatened. This action is based on a review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the primary threat that led to population decline, unregulated hunting, is no longer a threat and that recovery actions have led to a substantial increase in the number of herds that have a stable or increasing trend in population size. Critical habitat has not been designated because free-ranging wood bison only occur in Canada and we do not designate critical habitat in foreign countries.

We (FWS and NMFS; also jointly referred to as the Services) are revising regulations related to publishing textual descriptions of proposed and final critical habitat boundaries in the Federal Register for codification in the Code of Federal Regulations. In the interest of making the process of designating critical habitat more user-friendly for affected parties, the public as a whole, and the Services, as well as more efficient and cost effective, we are going to maintain the publication of maps of proposed and final critical habitat designations, but are making optional the inclusion of any textual description of the boundaries of the designation in the Federal Register for codification in the Code of Federal Regulations. The boundaries of critical habitat as mapped or otherwise described in the Regulation Promulgation section of a rulemaking that is published in the Federal Register will be the official delineation of the designation. The coordinates and/or plot points from which the maps are generated will be included in the administrative record for the designation, and will be available to the public on the Internet site of the Service promulgating the designation, at www.regulations.gov, and at the lead field office of the Service responsible for the designation. We will also continue our practice of providing the public with additional tools and supporting information, such as interactive maps and additional descriptions, on the Internet site of the Service promulgating the designation and at the lead field office responsible for the designation (and we may also include such information in the preamble and/or at www.regulations.gov ) to assist the public in evaluating the coverage of the critical habitat designation. We have undertaken this effort as part of the Services' response to Executive Order 13563 (Jan. 18, 2011) directing Federal agencies to review their existing regulations and, inter alia, to modify or streamline them in accordance with what they learned.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status for the Three Forks springsnail ( Pyrgulopsis trivialis ) and threatened status for the San Bernardino springsnail ( Pyrgulopsis bernardina ); and designate critical habitat for both species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 17.2 acres (6.9 hectares) are designated as critical habitat for Three Forks springsnail in Apache County, Arizona, and approximately 2.0 acres (0.8 hectares) for San Bernardino springsnail in Cochise County, Arizona. This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for these species.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are listing the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri), as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We have determined that designation of critical habitat for the Miami blue butterfly is not prudent at this time. We also are listing the cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius theonus), ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus antibubastus), and nickerbean blue butterfly (Cyclargus ammon) as threatened due to similarity of appearance to the Miami blue in coastal south and central Florida, and establishing a special rule under section 4(d) of the Act for these three species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will reestablish the American burying beetle, a federally listed endangered insect, into its historical habitat in Wah'kon-tah Prairie in southwestern Missouri. We will reestablish the American burying beetle under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and will classify that reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) within St. Clair, Cedar, Bates, and Vernon Counties, Missouri. This rule provides a plan for establishing the NEP and provides for allowable legal incidental taking of the American burying beetle within the defined NEP area.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog ( Lithobates chiricahuensis ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, we are designating approximately 10,346 acres (4,187 hectares) as critical habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog in Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona; and Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Sierra, and Socorro Counties, New Mexico. In addition, because of a taxonomic revision of the Chiricahua leopard frog, we reassessed the status of and threats to the currently described species Lithobates chiricahuensis and are listing the currently described species as threatened.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, establish a manatee refuge in Citrus County, Florida, in the waters of Kings Bay, including its tributaries and connected waters. This action is based on our determination that there is substantial evidence showing that certain waterborne activities would result in the taking of one or more manatees and that certain waterborne activities must be restricted to prevent the taking of one or more manatees in Kings Bay. In making this rule final, we considered the biological needs of the manatee, the level of take at these sites, and the likelihood of additional take of manatees due to human activity at these sites. This final rule is modified from the proposed rule to ensure that the provisions do not compromise human safety and to clarify certain aspects. The modifications are not considered significant as they are within the scope of the proposed rule. To avoid creation of a hazard to human safety, watercraft may be operated at 25 miles per hour during daylight hours in a portion of the manatee refuge from June 1 through August 15. The portion of the rule prohibiting use of mooring and floatlines that can entangle manatees has been removed. Language regarding prohibitions on waterborne activities in Three Sisters Spring has been revised to improve clarity. We also announce the availability of a final environmental assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for this action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) and sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus), two freshwater mussels. This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for these species throughout their ranges, including sheepnose in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and spectaclecase in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. We determined that critical habitat for the spectaclecase and sheepnose is prudent, but not determinable at this time.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recognize the recent change to the taxonomy of the currently endangered plant taxon, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, in which the subspecies was split into two distinct full species, Monardella viminea (willowy monardella) and Monardella stoneana (Jennifer's monardella). Because the original subspecies, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we reviewed and updated the threats analysis that we completed for the taxon in 1998, when it was listed as a subspecies. We also reviewed the status of the new species, Monardella stoneana. We retain the listing status of Monardella viminea as endangered, and we remove protections afforded by the Act from those individuals now recognized as the separate species, Monardella stoneana, because the new species does not meet the definition of endangered or threatened under the Act. We also revise designated critical habitat for Monardella viminea. In total, approximately 122 acres (50 hectares) in San Diego County, California, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. We are not designating critical habitat for Monardella stoneana because this species does not warrant listing under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), change the status of spikedace ( Meda fulgida ) and loach minnow ( Tiaroga cobitis ) from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). With this rule we are also revising the designated critical habitats for both species. These changes fulfill our obligations under a settlement agreement.

On November 18, 2011, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Court) issued an order in regard to Misc. No. 08-764 (EGS) MDL Docket No. 1993 IN RE: POLAR BEAR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LISTING AND § 4(d) RULE LITIGATION, vacating and remanding to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the December 16, 2008, final special rule for the polar bear (73 FR 76249). The Court further ordered that in its place the interim final special rule for the polar bear published on May 15, 2008 (73 FR 28306), shall remain in effect until superseded by the new special rule for the polar bear to be published in the Federal Register . This rule complies with that order and provides final notice of the reinstatement of the May 15, 2008, interim final special rule for the polar bear.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are revising the regulations that implement the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), by removing the exclusion of U.S. captive-bred live wildlife and sport-hunted trophies of three endangered antelopes—scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle—from the prohibition of certain activities, such as take and export, under the Act. This change to the regulations is in response to a court order that found that the rule for these three species violated section 10(c) of the Act. These three antelope species remain listed as endangered under the Act, and a person will need to qualify for an exemption or obtain an authorization under the current statutory and regulatory requirements to conduct any prohibited activities.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the African lion ( Panthera leo leo ) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this subspecies may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a review of the status of the subspecies to determine if listing the African lion is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding this subspecies. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), announce the initiation of a status review of the Preble's meadow jumping mouse ( Zapus hudsonius preblei ) (Preble's) throughout its range. We conduct status reviews to determine whether a species should be listed as endangered or threatened under the Act. Following this status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on two petitions to delist Preble's. Because a status review also is required for the 5-year review of listed species under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act, we are electing to prepare these reviews simultaneously. At the conclusion of these simultaneous reviews, we will issue the 12-month finding on the petitions, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act, and make the requisite determination under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the Act based on the results of the 5-year review. Through this notice, we encourage all interested parties to provide us information regarding the Preble's. We also announce the availability of new information relevant to our consideration of the status of the Preble's.

In this Candidate Notice of Review (CNOR), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), present an updated list of plant and animal species native to the United States that we regard as candidates for or have proposed for addition to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Identification of candidate species can assist environmental planning efforts by providing advance notice of potential listings, allowing landowners and resource managers to alleviate threats and thereby possibly remove the need to list species as endangered or threatened. Even if we subsequently list a candidate species, the early notice provided here could result in more options for species management and recovery by prompting candidate conservation measures to alleviate threats to the species. The CNOR summarizes the status and threats that we evaluated in order to determine that species qualify as candidates and to assign a listing priority number (LPN) to each species or to determine that species should be removed from candidate status. Additional material that we relied on is available in the Species Assessment and Listing Priority Assignment Forms (species assessment forms) for each candidate species. Overall, this CNOR recognizes two new candidates, changes the LPN for nine candidates, and removes three species from candidate status. Combined with other decisions for individual species that were published separately from this CNOR in the past year, the current number of species that are candidates for listing is 192. This document also includes our findings on resubmitted petitions and describes our progress in revising the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists) during the period October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012. We request additional status information that may be available for the 192 candidate species identified in this CNOR.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Heller Cave springtail as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) and to designate critical habitat. Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this species may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a review of the status of the species to determine if listing the Heller Cave springtail is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding this species. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Translocation of Southern Sea Otters (final SEIS). The final SEIS evaluates options for continuing, revising, or terminating the southern sea otter translocation program, which was initiated in 1987. The purpose of the program was to achieve a primary recovery action for the southern sea otter: to create an established population at San Nicolas Island sufficient to repopulate other areas of the range should a catastrophic event affect the mainland population. The document describes the proposed action and alternatives under consideration and discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of each of the alternatives.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise designation of critical habitat for the Comal Springs dryopid beetle ( Stygoparnus comalensis ), Comal Springs riffle beetle ( Heterelmis comalensis ), and Peck's cave amphipod ( Stygobromus pecki ), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 169 acres (68 hectares) are being proposed for revised critical habitat. The proposed revision of critical habitat is located in Comal and Hays Counties, Texas.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list 15 species on the Hawaiian island of Hawaii as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to designate critical habitat for 1 of these species. For the remaining 14 species that we are proposing to list in this rule, we find that critical habitat is not determinable at this time. We also propose to designate critical habitat for two plant species that were listed as endangered species in 1986 and 1994. The proposed critical habitat designation totals 18,766 acres (ac) (7,597 hectares (ha)), and includes both occupied and unoccupied habitat. Approximately 55 percent of the area being proposed as critical habitat is already designated as critical habitat for 42 plants and the Blackburn's sphinx moth ( Manduca blackburni ). In addition, we propose a taxonomic change for one endangered plant species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determine endangered species status for the Alabama pearlshell ( Margaritifera marrianae ), round ebonyshell ( Fusconaia rotulata ), southern kidneyshell ( Ptychobranchus jonesi ), and Choctaw bean ( Villosa choctawensis ), and threatened species status for the tapered pigtoe ( Fusconaia burkei ), narrow pigtoe ( Fusconaia escambia ), southern sandshell ( Hamiota australis ), and fuzzy pigtoe ( Pleurobema strodeanum ), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act); and designate critical habitat for the eight mussel species. The effect of this regulation is to conserve these eight mussel species and their habitat under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on two petitions to list the Mexican gray wolf ( Canis lupus baileyi ) (Mexican wolf) as an endangered subspecies or Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Although not listed as a subspecies or DPS, the Mexican wolf is currently listed as endangered within the broader 1978 gray wolf listing, as revised, which listed the gray wolf in the lower 48 States and Mexico. Therefore, because all individuals that comprise the petitioned entity already receive the protections of the Act, we find that the petitioned action is not warranted at this time. However, we continue to review the appropriate conservation status of all gray wolves that comprise the 1978 gray wolf listing, as revised, and we may revise the current listing based on the outcome of that review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list as an endangered or threatened species Erigeron lemmonii (Lemmon fleabane). After a review of the best available scientific information we find that listing the Lemmon fleabane as an endangered or threatened species is no longer warranted, and therefore we are removing this species from the candidate list. We propose to list Echinomastus erectocentrus var. acunensis (acuña cactus) and Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae (Fickeisen plains cactus) as an endangered species, and we propose to designate critical habitat for both cactus species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If finalized, the effect of these regulations would be to add acuña cactus and Fickeisen plains cactus to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and to designate critical habitat for these species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”), announce 90-day findings on two petitions to remove the U.S. captive-bred and U.S. captive populations of three antelope species, the scimitar-horned oryx ( Oryx dammah ), dama gazelle ( Gazella dama ), and addax ( Addax nasomaculatus ), from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife as determined under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act or ESA). Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial information indicating that delisting the U.S. captive animals or U.S. captive-bred members of these species may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a review of the status of the U.S. captive members of these species to determine if delisting the U.S. captive specimens is warranted. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on these two petitions, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Jemez Mountains salamander as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act); and propose to designate critical habitat for the species. In total, approximately 90,789 acres (36,741 hectares) are being proposed for designation as critical habitat in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico.

The best scientific and commercial data available indicate that gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) in Wyoming are recovered and are no longer in need of protection as part of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Therefore, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), remove the gray wolf in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Wyoming's gray wolf population is stable, threats are sufficiently minimized, and a post-delisting monitoring and management framework has been developed. Therefore, this final rule returns management for this species to the appropriate State, Tribal, or Federal agencies; management in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges will continue to be guided by existing authorizing and management legislation and regulations. Finally, this action makes obsolete and removes the Yellowstone Experimental Population Area established in 1994 to facilitate reintroductions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Platte River caddisfly ( Ironoquia plattensis ) as an endangered or threatened species and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. After review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the Platte River caddisfly as an endangered or threatened species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to the Platte River caddisfly or its habitat at any time.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Bay skipper ( Euphyes bayensis ) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and to designate critical habitat. After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the Bay skipper is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to the Bay skipper or its habitat at any time.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Austin blind salamander, Jollyville Plateau salamander, Georgetown salamander, and Salado salamander as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and propose to designate critical habitat for the species. In total, we propose to designate approximately 5,983 acres (2,440 hectares) as critical habitat for the four species. The proposed critical habitat is located in Travis, Williamson, and Bell Counties, Texas.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the jaguar ( Panthera onca ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, we propose to designate as critical habitat approximately 339,220 hectares (838,232 acres) in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise Counties, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to list as endangered the Gierisch mallow and propose critical habitat for the species under the Endangered Species Act. This action is being taken as the result of a court-approved settlement agreement. These are proposed regulations, and if finalized, the effect of these regulations will be to add the species to the List of Endangered or Threatened Plants and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to list as endangered and propose critical habitat for six west Texas aquatic invertebrate species under the Endangered Species Act. These actions are being taken as the result of a court-approved settlement agreement. These are proposed regulations, and if finalized the effect of these regulations will be to conserve the species and protect their habitat under the Endangered Species Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Bicknell's thrush ( Catharus bicknelli ) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to designate critical habitat. Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this species may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we will be initiating a review of the status of the species to determine if listing the Bicknell's thrush is warranted. To ensure that our status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding this species. Based on the results of our status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are designating critical habitat for the endangered Ipomopsis polyantha (Pagosa skyrocket) and the threatened Penstemon debilis (Parachute beardtongue) and Phacelia submutica (DeBeque phacelia) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). The purpose of this regulation is to conserve these three plant species and their habitats under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list Graptopetalum bartramii (Bartram stonecrop) and Pectis imberbis (beardless chinch weed) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to designate critical habitat. Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing Bartram stonecrop and beardless chinch weed may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we will initiate a review of the status of these species to determine if listing Bartram stonecrop or beardless chinch weed, or both, is warranted. To ensure that our status review is comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these species. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service/USFWS), revise our special regulations for the conservation of the Utah prairie dog. We are revising our special regulations to provide limits to the allowable take, including limits to where permitted take can occur—agricultural lands, properties within 0.8 kilometers (km) (0.5 miles (mi)) of conservation lands, and areas where Utah prairie dogs cause serious human safety hazards or disturb the sanctity of significant human cultural or human burial sites; the amount of take that can be permitted; methods of take that can be permitted; and seasonal limitations on direct lethal take. We are also allowing entities other than the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to permit take. We are also issuing new incidental take exemptions for otherwise legal activities associated with standard agricultural practices. All other provisions of the special rule not relating to these amendments remain unchanged.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hereby list the British Columbia distinct population segment (DPS) of the Queen Charlotte goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for this subspecies in British Columbia, Canada, on Vancouver Island and the surrounding smaller islands, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the coastal mainland and adjacent islands west of the crest of the Coast Mountains. Because the British Columbia DPS is entirely outside the United States, we are not designating critical habitat.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list six Nevada sand dune beetle species as endangered or threatened and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In our 90-day finding on this petition (76 FR 47123, August 4, 2011), we determined that the petition presented substantial information indicating that listing may be warranted for four of the six species: Crescent Dunes aegialian scarab ( Aegialia crescenta ), Crescent Dunes serican scarab ( Serica ammomenisco ), large aegialian scarab ( Aegialia magnifica ), and Giuliani's dune scarab ( Pseudocotalpa giulianii ). We also determined that the petition did not present substantial information indicating that listing the other two species, Hardy's aegialian scarab ( Aegialia hardyi ) and Sand Mountain serican scarab ( Serica psammobunus ), may be warranted. We therefore initiated status reviews on only the Crescent Dunes aegialian scarab, Crescent Dunes serican scarab, large aegialian scarab, and Giuliani's dune scarab. After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing these four beetle species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to these four beetle species or their habitat at any time.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that we are further revising our proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew ( Sorex ornatus relictus ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In 2009, we proposed to revise our critical habitat designation to consist of 4,649 acres (1,881 hectares) of land in five units in Kern County. That acreage has been recalculated, with use of current Geographic Information Systems technology, as 4,657 acres (1,885 hectares). In this revised proposal, we propose to add 525 acres (212 hectares) as critical habitat in the general areas of Kings and Kern Counties, California, including new units near Lemoore, Kings County, and near Semitropic, Kern County, California. In total, we are now proposing to designate approximately 5,182 acres (2,098 hectares) as critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew. We are reopening the comment period to allow interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposal to revise the designation of critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew as proposed to be further revised in this document.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), of seven animal and plant species. We conduct these reviews to ensure that our classification of each species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants as threatened or endangered is accurate. A 5-year review assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting the public to send us any information that has become available since the most recent status reviews on each of these species. Based on review results, we will determine whether we should change the listing status of any of these species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata , as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to designate critical habitat in U.S. waters and territories in the South Atlantic and Caribbean region. Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing of the black-capped petrel may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a review of the status of the species to determine if listing the black-capped petrel is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding this species. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog under the Endangered Species Act. In previous publications, we used the common name “Mississippi gopher frog” for this species. We are taking this action to fulfill our obligations under the Act. Land in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, and Forrest, Harrison, Jackson, and Perry Counties, Mississippi, is being designated under a court approved settlement agreement to finalize critical habitat for the species. The effect of this regulation is to conserve the habitat upon which dusky gopher frog depends.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list 38 species on the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Maui as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are also reaffirming the listing of two endemic Hawaiian plants currently listed as endangered. We propose to designate critical habitat for 39 of these 40 plant and animal species. Critical habitat is not determinable for the plant Cyanea mauiensis. In this document, we also propose to designate critical habitat for 11 previously listed plant and animal species that do not have designated critical habitat, and propose to revise critical habitat for 85 plant species that are already listed as endangered or threatened. The proposed critical habitat designation totals 271,062 acres (ac) (109,695 hectares (ha)) on the islands of Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Kahoolawe (collectively called Maui Nui), and includes both occupied and unoccupied habitat. Approximately 47 percent of the area being proposed as critical habitat is already designated as critical habitat for the 85 plant species or other species. We also propose to delist the plant Gahnia lanaiensis, due to new information that this species is synonymous with G. lacera, a widespread species from New Zealand. In addition, we propose name changes or corrections for 11 endangered plants and 2 endangered birds, and taxonomic revisions for 2 endangered plant species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to delist the Inyo California towhee ( Pipilo crissalis eremophilus ), and to reclassify from endangered to threatened the arroyo toad ( Anaxyrus californicus ), Indian Knob mountainbalm ( Eriodictyon altissimum ), Lane Mountain milk-vetch ( Astragalus jaegerianus ), Modoc sucker ( Catostomus microps ), and Santa Cruz cypress ( Cupressus abramsiana ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating status reviews of these taxa to determine if the respective actions of delisting and reclassifying are warranted. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act also requires a status review of listed species at least once every 5 years. The status reviews we are initiating will also fulfill the requirements of section 4(c)(2) of the Act. To ensure that these status reviews are comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these species and subspecies. Based on these status reviews, we will issue 12-month findings for each of the species in the petition, which will address whether the petitioned actions are warranted under section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl ( Strix occidentalis caurina ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Also, a draft environmental assessment of this proposed action will be made available to the public on June 4, 2012.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on our November 30, 2011, proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule, the associated draft economic analysis, and the amended required determinations section. We will also hold a public informational session and hearing (see DATES and ADDRESSES ).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening of the public comment period on our October 12, 2011, proposed designation of critical habitat for the Cumberland darter (Etheostoma susanae), rush darter (Etheostoma phytophilum), yellowcheek darter (Etheostoma moorei), chucky madtom (Noturus crypticus), and laurel dace (Chrosomus saylori) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for these five fishes and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the revised proposed rule, the associated DEA, and the amended required determinations section. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. We will also hold a public hearing (see DATES and ADDRESSES ).

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Morelet's crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii ) throughout its range from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife due to recovery. This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the species' status has improved to the point that the Morelet's crocodile is not likely to become threatened within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. After the effective date of this final rule, the Morelet's crocodile will remain protected under the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to list Umtanum desert buckwheat ( Eriogonum codium ) and White Bluffs bladderpod ( Physaria douglasii subsp. tuplashensis ) as threatened, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are also proposing to designate critical habitat for both species under the Act. In total, approximately 344 acres (139 hectares) are being proposed for designation as critical habitat for Eriogonum codium in Benton County, Washington, and approximately 2,861 acres (1,158 hectares) are being proposed for designation as critical habitat for Physaria douglasii subsp. tuplashensis in Franklin County, Washington. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation and a required determinations section of the proposal.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), extend the deadline for submission of public comments to help us identify potential changes to our regulations that implement parts of the Endangered Species Act that would create incentives for landowners and others to take voluntary conservation actions to benefit species that may be likely to become threatened or endangered species. In particular, we seek comment on whether and how the Service can assure those who take such voluntary actions that the benefits of their actions will be recognized as offsetting the adverse effects of activities carried out after listing by that landowner or others. The practice of recognizing these actions, sometimes referred to as “advance mitigation” or “prelisting mitigation,” is intended to encourage early conservation efforts that could reduce or eliminate the need to list species as endangered or threatened. If you have previously submitted comments, please do not resubmit them, because we have already incorporated them into the public record and will fully consider them as we decide how we may propose changes to our regulations or policies.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recently published a proposal to revise the designated critical habitat for the northern spotted owl ( Strix occidentalis caurina ), and announced the opening of a public comment period on the proposed revised rule through June 6, 2012. We now extend the public comment period to July 6, 2012. We are extending the public comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed revised rule and the soon-to-be-released draft economic analysis and draft environmental assessment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. We also announce a public hearing and public information meetings on our proposed revised rule and associated documents.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reclassifying the wood bison ( Bison bison athabascae ) from endangered to threatened. This action is based on a review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the primary threat that led to population decline, unregulated hunting, is no longer a threat and that recovery actions have led to a substantial increase in the number of herds that have a stable or increasing trend in population size. Critical habitat has not been designated because free-ranging wood bison only occur in Canada and we do not designate critical habitat in foreign countries.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year reviews for 25 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We conduct these reviews to ensure that our classification of species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants as threatened or endangered is accurate. A 5-year review assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting any information that has become available since our last 5-year review of each of these species. Based on review results, we will determine whether we should change the listing status of any of these species. In this notice, we also announce 5-year reviews that were completed for 28 species in California and Nevada between March 17, 2011, and February 29, 2012.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the regulations at 50 CFR part 17, which implement the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), to create a special rule under authority of section 4(d) of the ESA that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ). The Secretary has the discretion to prohibit by regulation with respect to the polar bear any act prohibited by section 9(a)(1) of the ESA.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are listing the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri), as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We have determined that designation of critical habitat for the Miami blue butterfly is not prudent at this time. We also are listing the cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius theonus), ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus antibubastus), and nickerbean blue butterfly (Cyclargus ammon) as threatened due to similarity of appearance to the Miami blue in coastal south and central Florida, and establishing a special rule under section 4(d) of the Act for these three species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population segment (Bay Delta DPS) of longfin smelt as endangered or threatened and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the longfin smelt rangewide is not warranted at this time, but that listing the Bay-Delta DPS of longfin smelt is warranted. Currently, however, listing the Bay-Delta DPS of longfin smelt is precluded by higher priority actions to amend the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Upon publication of this 12-month finding, we will add the Bay-Delta DPS of longfin smelt to our candidate species list. We will develop a proposed rule to list the Bay-Delta DPS of longfin smelt as our priorities allow. We will make any determinations on critical habitat during the development of the proposed listing rule. During any interim period, we will address the status of the candidate taxon through our annual Candidate Notice of Review (CNOR).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will reestablish the American burying beetle, a federally listed endangered insect, into its historical habitat in Wah'kon-tah Prairie in southwestern Missouri. We will reestablish the American burying beetle under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and will classify that reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) within St. Clair, Cedar, Bates, and Vernon Counties, Missouri. This rule provides a plan for establishing the NEP and provides for allowable legal incidental taking of the American burying beetle within the defined NEP area.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on our November 30, 2011, proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are reopening the public comment period to allow all interested parties another opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. We will also hold a public informational session and hearing (see DATES and ADDRESSES ).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog ( Lithobates chiricahuensis ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, we are designating approximately 10,346 acres (4,187 hectares) as critical habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog in Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona; and Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Sierra, and Socorro Counties, New Mexico. In addition, because of a taxonomic revision of the Chiricahua leopard frog, we reassessed the status of and threats to the currently described species Lithobates chiricahuensis and are listing the currently described species as threatened.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, establish a manatee refuge in Citrus County, Florida, in the waters of Kings Bay, including its tributaries and connected waters. This action is based on our determination that there is substantial evidence showing that certain waterborne activities would result in the taking of one or more manatees and that certain waterborne activities must be restricted to prevent the taking of one or more manatees in Kings Bay. In making this rule final, we considered the biological needs of the manatee, the level of take at these sites, and the likelihood of additional take of manatees due to human activity at these sites. This final rule is modified from the proposed rule to ensure that the provisions do not compromise human safety and to clarify certain aspects. The modifications are not considered significant as they are within the scope of the proposed rule. To avoid creation of a hazard to human safety, watercraft may be operated at 25 miles per hour during daylight hours in a portion of the manatee refuge from June 1 through August 15. The portion of the rule prohibiting use of mooring and floatlines that can entangle manatees has been removed. Language regarding prohibitions on waterborne activities in Three Sisters Spring has been revised to improve clarity. We also announce the availability of a final environmental assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for this action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are considering proposals to amend the regulations that implement parts of the Endangered Species Act. By this notice, we are inviting public comment to help us identify potential changes to our regulations that would create incentives for landowners and others to take voluntary conservation actions to benefit species that may be likely to become threatened or endangered species. In particular, we seek comment on whether and how the Service can assure those who take such voluntary actions that the benefits of such voluntary conservation actions will be recognized as offsetting the adverse effects of activities carried out after listing by that landowner or others. This practice sometimes referred to as “advance mitigation” or “pre-listing mitigation,” is intended to encourage early conservation efforts that could reduce or eliminate the need to list species as endangered or threatened.

On March 8, 2012, we, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service), published a proposed rule to revise the regulations that implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) by incorporating certain provisions adopted at the fourteenth and fifteenth meetings of the Conference of the Parties (CoP14 and CoP15) to CITES and clarifying and updating certain other provisions. Inadvertently, we made some errors in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections concerning the information collection aspects of the proposal. With this technical correction, we correct those errors.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) and sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus), two freshwater mussels. This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for these species throughout their ranges, including sheepnose in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and spectaclecase in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. We determined that critical habitat for the spectaclecase and sheepnose is prudent, but not determinable at this time.