Sorex Longirostris Fisheri) (1928) Subsequently Reduced S
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56128 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 203 / Wednesday, October 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules Dated: October 8, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Biologist, at the above address W. Michael McCabe, Hunt, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 1200 Sixth (telephone 804/693±6694, extension Regional Administrator, Region III. Avenue, Mail Stop WCM±122, Seattle, 127; facsimile 804/693±9032). [FR Doc. 98±28113 Filed 10±20±98; 8:45 am] WA, 98101, phone (206) 553±0256. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BILLING CODE 6560±50±P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For Background additional information see the immediate final rule published in the The Dismal Swamp southeastern ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION rules section of this Federal Register. shrew is a small, long-tailed shrew with AGENCY Dated: October 6, 1998. a brown back, slightly paler underparts, buffy feet, and a relatively short, broad Chuck Clarke, 40 CFR Part 271 nose (Handley 1979a). It weighs 3 to 5 Regional Administrator, Region 10. [FRL±6176±6] grams and measures up to 10 [FR Doc. 98±27703 Filed 10±20±98; 8:45 am] centimeters in length. The species was Idaho: Final Authorization of State BILLING CODE 6560±50±P first described as Sorex fisheri by C.H. Hazardous Waste Management Merriam (Merriam 1895). Merriam's Program Revisions description was based on four DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR specimens trapped near Lake AGENCY: Environmental Protection Drummond, Virginia by A.K. Fisher of Agency (EPA). Fish and Wildlife Service the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ACTION: Proposed rule. Bureau of Biological Surveys. Rhoads 50 CFR Part 17 and Young (1897) captured a specimen SUMMARY: The EPA proposes to grant RIN 1018±AF00 in Chapanoke, Perquimans County, final authorization to the hazardous North Carolina, that seemed waste program revisions submitted by Endangered and Threatened Wildlife intermediate between S. fisheri and the the State of Idaho. In the final rules and Plants; Proposed Rule To Delist southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris section of this Federal Register, EPA is the Dismal Swamp Southeastern Bachman) (Handley 1979b). Jackson authorizing the State's program Shrew (Sorex longirostris fisheri) (1928) subsequently reduced S. fisheri revisions as an immediate final rule to a subspecies of S. longirostris. Three AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, because EPA views this action as subspecies of southeastern shrew are Interior. noncontroversial and anticipates no now recognizedÐSorex longirostris adverse comments. A detailed rationale ACTION: Proposed rule. eionis, which occurs in the northern for the authorization is set forth in the two-thirds of peninsular Florida (Jones immediate final rule. If no adverse SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to remove the et al. 1991); S. l. fisheri, which occurs written comment is received on this in southeastern Virginia and eastern action, the immediate final rule will Dismal Swamp southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris fisheri Merriam) from North Carolina; and S. l. longirostris, become effective and no further activity which occurs in the rest of the range will occur in relation to this proposal. the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The Dismal Swamp that extends through eastern Louisiana, If EPA receives adverse written eastern Oklahoma, and Missouri, then comment, EPA will withdraw the southeastern shrew was listed as a threatened species in 1986 under the eastward through central Illinois and immediate final rule before its effective Indiana, southern Ohio, and Maryland. date by publishing a withdrawal in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). New data indicate that Jones et al. (1991) examined the Federal Register. EPA will then respond taxonomic status of these three to public comments in a later final rule this species is more widely distributed than previously believed, is fairly subspecies and verified substantial size based on this proposal. EPA may not differences among them. The authors provide further opportunity for abundant within its range, occurs in a wide variety of habitats, and is found that S. l. eionis was significantly comment. Any parties interested in larger in four cranial measurements commenting on this action should do so genetically secure. The Service concludes that the data supporting the when compared with the other two at this time. subspecies; S. l. fisheri was significantly DATES: Written comments must be original classification were incomplete and that the new data indicate removing large in one cranial and one external received on or before November 20, measurement; and S. l. longirostris had 1998. the Dismal Swamp southeastern shrew from the List of Endangered and a relatively short palate and rostrum, ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to Threatened Wildlife is warranted. narrow skull, and short foot and tail. Jeff Hunt, U.S. EPA, Region 10, 1200 This study confirmed the subspecific Sixth Avenue, Mail stop WCM±122, DATES: Comments from all interested status of S. l. fisheri. Seattle, WA 98101, phone, (206) 553± parties must be received by December Apart from a litter of five young found 0256. Copies of the materials submitted 21, 1998. Public hearing requests must in a nest in the Dismal Swamp in 1905, by Idaho are available during normal be received by December 7, 1998. little is known about reproduction or business hours at the following ADDRESSES: Comments and materials other life history features of Sorex locations: EPA Region 10 Library, 1200 concerning this proposal should be sent longirostris fisheri (Handley 1979b). Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, to the Virginia Field Office, U.S. Fish However, more is known about the life phone (206) 553±1289 and the Idaho and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 99, 6669 history of other Sorex species, and this Department of Health and Welfare, Short Lane, Gloucester, Virginia 23061. information may apply to S. l. fisheri. Division of Environmental Quality, The complete file for this rule is Sorex longirostris reproduces from Planning and Evaluation Division, 1410 available for inspection by appointment, March through October, and it is likely N. Hilton, Boise, Idaho 83706, phone, during normal business hours at the that two litters are born each year, with (208) 373±0502 (Refer to Docket above address. one to six young produced per litter numbers: 0105±9401, 0105±9502, 0105± FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (Webster et al. 1985). Nests are shallow 9601; contact is Pam Smolczynski). Cynthia A. Schulz, Fish and Wildlife depressions lined with dried leaves and Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 203 / Wednesday, October 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules 56129 grasses and are usually associated with 1902. Prior to 1980, only 19 specimens fisheri be listed as threatened primarily rotting logs (Webster et al. 1985). Young of S. l. fisheri were known. ``In addition because of the potential for contact and shrews grow rapidly and are almost to Young's (Rhoads and Young 1989) interbreeding with S. l. longirostris. ``If adult size when they leave the nest Chapanoke specimen in the Academy of widespread, this interbreeding can (Jackson 1928). Sorex longirostris forage Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and result in an alteration of the gene pools on spiders, crickets, butterfly and moth one in the American Museum of Natural of both subspecies in the zone of larvae, slugs, snails, beetles, centipedes, History that (W. J.) Daniel (Jr.) collected contact, and the integrity of both and vegetation (Webster et al. 1985, at Lake Drummond in 1905, the subspecies may be lost in the extreme'' Whitaker and Mumford 1972). Little National Museum has 16 from Lake (Rose 1983). information is available about the daily Drummond collected in 1895 and 1902 Additional study of Sorex was activity patterns of S. longirostris. They by Fisher, T. S. Palmer, (W. L.) Ralph, conducted from October 1986 through forage intermittently throughout the day and Daniel, and one I collected near June 1989, focusing within the Refuge and night in all seasons, seem to be Wallaceton (at the eastern edge of the but also including outlying areas of the most active after rains and during Dismal Swamp in Virginia) in 1953'' historical Dismal Swamp (Padgett 1991). periods of high humidity, and do much (Handley 1979b). In 1980, 15 S. Particular emphasis was placed on of their foraging in the leaf litter or in longirostris were collected in pitfall determining whether the nominate tunnels in the upper layers of the soil traps in Suffolk, Virginia from the subspecies might be expanding into the (Jackson 1928). northwest section of the Great Dismal remaining Dismal Swamp proper and The Dismal Swamp, the type locality Swamp National Wildlife Refuge interbreeding with Sorex longirostris for Sorex longirostris fisheri, is a (Refuge) (Rose 1981) that is located in fisheri. The results of Padgett's (1991) forested wetland with a mosaic of North Carolina and Virginia. Based on study indicated that S. l. fisheri was habitat types located in southeastern their large size, the specimens were restricted to the historic Dismal Swamp Virginia and adjacent North Carolina. classified as S. l. fisheri. and that there was no strong evidence Within the Dismal Swamp, S. l. fisheri that S. l. longirostris was using From December 1980 through July has been found in a variety of habitat roadways to enter the interior of the 1982, 37 pitfall grids were established in types including recent clearcuts, Refuge. Between 1989 and 1991, Erdle Currituck and Gates counties, North regenerating forests, young pine and Pagels (1991) collected shrews to Carolina and the Cities of Chesapeake, plantations, grassy and brushy further delineate the distributions of S. Suffolk, and Virginia Beach and Isle of roadsides, young forests with shrubs l. fisheri and S. l. longirostris in and saplings, and mature pine and Wight and Surry counties, Virginia Virginia. Sampling was conducted in deciduous forests (Padgett 1991, Rose (Rose 1983). The results of this trapping much of the historic Dismal Swamp east 1983). Sorex longirostris fisheri has also were 24 specimens from 10 populations of the Refuge and north of the Virginia- been collected in utility line rights-of- classified as Sorex longirostris fisheri, North Carolina State line.