Endangered Status for 49 Species from the Hawaiian Islands; Proposed Rule
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Vol. 80 Wednesday, No. 189 September 30, 2015 Part II Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for 49 Species From the Hawaiian Islands; Proposed Rule VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:11 Sep 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\30SEP2.SGM 30SEP2 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2 58820 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR www.regulations.gov. This generally • Inadequate existing regulatory means that we will post any personal mechanisms to prevent the introduction Fish and Wildlife Service information you provide us (see Public and spread of nonnative plants and Comments, below, for more animals. 50 CFR Part 17 information). • Stochastic events such as [Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2015–0125; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: landslides, flooding, drought, and 4500030113] Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish hurricanes. • Human activities such as RIN 1018–BB07 and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96850; by recreational use of anchialine pools, dumping of nonnative fish and trash Endangered and Threatened Wildlife telephone at 808–792–9400; or by into anchialine pools, and manmade and Plants; Endangered Status for 49 facsimile at 808–792–9581. Persons who structures and artificial lighting. Species From the Hawaiian Islands use a telecommunications device for the • deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Vulnerability to extinction due to AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Information Relay Service (FIRS) at small numbers of individuals and Interior. 800–877–8339. occurrences and lack of regeneration. • Competition with nonnative plants ACTION: Proposed rule. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION and nonnative invertebrates. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Executive Summary The effects of climate change are Wildlife Service (Service), propose to likely to exacerbate the impacts of these Why we need to publish a rule. Under list 10 animal species, including the threats, and may become a threat in the the Act, if a species is determined to be band-rumped storm-petrel future. an endangered or threatened species (Oceanodroma castro), the orangeblack We will seek peer review. We will seek throughout all or a significant portion of Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion comments from independent specialists its range, we are required to promptly xanthomelas), the anchialine pool to ensure that our designation is based publish a proposal in the Federal shrimp (Procaris hawaiana), and seven on scientifically sound data, Register and make a determination on yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus anthracinus, assumptions, and analyses. We will our proposal within 1 year. Listing a H. assimulans, H. facilis, H. hilaris, H. invite these peer reviewers to comment species as an endangered or threatened kuakea, H. longiceps, and H. mana), and on our listing proposal. Because we will species can only be completed by 39 plant species from the Hawaiian consider all comments and information issuing a rule. Islands as endangered species under the This rulemaking proposes to list of we receive during the comment period, Endangered Species Act (Act). If we the 49 species from the Hawaiian our final determinations may differ from finalize this rule as proposed, it would Islands as endangered species. These this proposal. extend the Act’s protections to these species are candidate species for which Information Requested species. we have on file sufficient information DATES: We will accept comments on biological vulnerability and threats Public Comments received or postmarked on or before to support preparation of a listing We intend that any final action November 30, 2015. Comments proposal, but for which development of resulting from this proposed rule will be submitted electronically using the a proposed listing rule had been based on the best scientific and Federal eRulemaking Portal (see precluded by other higher priority commercial data available and be as ADDRESSES, below) must be received by listing activities. This proposed rule accurate and as effective as possible. 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing reassesses all available information Therefore, we request comments or date. We must receive requests for regarding status of and threats to the 49 information from the public, including public hearings, in writing, at the species. land owners and land managers, other address shown in FOR FURTHER The basis for our action. Under the concerned governmental agencies, the INFORMATION CONTACT by November 16, Act, we can determine that a species is scientific community, industry, or any 2015. an endangered or threatened species other interested parties, concerning this ADDRESSES: You may submit comments based on any of five factors: (A) The proposed rule. We particularly seek by one of the following methods: present or threatened destruction, comments concerning: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal modification, or curtailment of its (1) The biology, range, and population eRulemaking Portal: http:// habitat or range; (B) overutilization for trends of these species, including: www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, commercial, recreational, scientific, or (a) Biological or ecological enter FWS–R1–ES–2015–0125, which is educational purposes; (C) disease or requirements, including habitat the docket number for this rulemaking. predation; (D) the inadequacy of requirements for feeding, breeding, and Then, in the Search panel on the left existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) sheltering; side of the screen, under the Document other natural or manmade factors (b) Genetics and taxonomy; Type heading, click on the Proposed affecting its continued existence. These (c) Historical and current range, Rules link to locate this document. You 49 species are experiencing population- including distribution patterns; may submit a comment by clicking on level impacts as the result of the (d) Historical and current population ‘‘Comment Now!’’ following current and ongoing threats: levels, and current and projected trends; (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail • Habitat loss and degradation due to and or hand-delivery to: Public Comments urbanization; nonnative, feral ungulates (e) Past and ongoing conservation Processing, Attn: FWS–R1–ES–2015– (hoofed mammals, e.g., pigs, goats, deer, measures for these species, their 0125, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, black-tailed deer, mouflon, cattle); habitats, or both. MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls nonnative plants; wildfire; and water (2) Factors that may affect the Church, VA 22041–3803. extraction. continued existence of these species, We request that you send comments • Predation or herbivory by which may include habitat modification only by the methods described above. nonnative, feral ungulates; rats; slugs; or destruction, overutilization, disease, We will post all comments on http:// ants; and wasps. predation, the inadequacy of existing VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:11 Sep 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\30SEP2.SGM 30SEP2 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Proposed Rules 58821 regulatory mechanisms, or other natural Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER Cyperus neokunthianus (NCN), or manmade factors. INFORMATION CONTACT). Cyrtandra hematos (haiwale), Deparia kaalaana (NCN), Dryopteris glabra var. (3) Biological, commercial trade, or Public Hearing other relevant data concerning any pusilla (hohiu), Exocarpos menziesii threats (or lack thereof) to these species Section 4(b)(5) of the Act provides for (heau), Festuca hawaiiensis (NCN), and existing regulations that may be one or more public hearings on this Gardenia remyi (nanu), Huperzia addressing those threats. proposal, if requested. Requests must be stemmermanniae (NCN), Hypolepis (4) Empirical data or other scientific received within 45 days after the date of hawaiiensis var. mauiensis (olua), information describing the specific publication of this proposed rule in the Joinvillea ascendens ssp. ascendens impacts of climate change on the Federal Register (see DATES, above). (ohe), Kadua (previously Hedyotis) habitat, life history, and/or ecology of Such requests must be sent to the fluviatilis (kamapuaa, pilo), Kadua these species, for example, the species’ address shown in the FOR FURTHER haupuensis (NCN), Labordia lorenciana biological response, or likely response, INFORMATION CONTACT section. We will (NCN), Lepidium orbiculare (anaunau), to changes in habitat resulting from schedule public hearings on this Microlepia strigosa var. mauiensis climate-change related changes in proposal, if any are requested, and (NCN), Myrsine fosbergii (kolea), ambient temperature, precipitation, announce the dates, times, and places of Nothocestrum latifolium (aiea), drought, storm severity, or sea level. those hearings, as well as how to obtain Ochrosia haleakalae (holei), (5) Additional information concerning reasonable accommodations, in the Phyllostegia brevidens (NCN), the historical and current status, range, Federal Register and local newspapers Phyllostegia helleri (NCN), Phyllostegia distribution, and population size of at least 15 days before the hearing. stachyoides (NCN), Portulaca villosa these species, including the locations of Peer Review (ihi), Pritchardia bakeri (Baker’s loulu), any additional populations of these Pseudognaphalium sandwicensium var. In accordance with our joint