Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Partial 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List 206 Species in the Midwest and Western United States as Threatened or Endangered With Critical Habitat, 6122-6128 [E9-2358]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 23 (Thursday, February 5, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6122-6128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2358]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[FWS-R2-ES-2008-0131; MO 9221050083-B2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Partial 90-Day 
Finding on a Petition To List 206 Species in the Midwest and Western 
United States as Threatened or Endangered With Critical Habitat

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 
90-day finding on 165 species from a petition to list 206 species in 
the mountain-prairie region of the United States as threatened or 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). 
We find that, for these 165 species, the petition does not present 
substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that 
listing may be warranted. Therefore, for these 165 species, we will not 
initiate a further status review in response to this petition; however, 
we are making no determination at this time on whether substantial 
information has been presented on the remaining 39 species included in 
the petition. A finding (or findings) will be made on the remaining 39 
species at a later date. We ask the public to submit to us any new 
information that becomes available concerning the status of these 165 
species, or threats to them or their habitat, at any time. This 
information will help us monitor and encourage the conservation of 
these species. An additional 2 species of the 206 were reviewed in a 
concurrent 90-day finding and, therefore, were not considered in this 
finding (see Petition).

DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on February 5, 
2009. You may submit new information concerning this species for our 
consideration at any time.

ADDRESSES: This finding is available on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov. Supporting information we used in preparing this 
finding is available for public inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-
Prairie Regional Ecological Services Office, P.O. Box 25486, Denver 
Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80255. Please submit any new 
information, materials, comments, or questions concerning these species 
or this finding to the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Carlson, Listing Coordinator, 
Mountain-Prairie Regional Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES); 
telephone 303-236-4264. If you use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD), please call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 6123]]

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires 
that we make a finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or 
reclassify a species presents substantial scientific or commercial 
information indicating that a petitioned action may be warranted. We 
are to base this finding on information provided in the petition. To 
the maximum extent practicable, we are to make the finding within 90 
days of our receipt of the petition, and publish our notice of this 
finding promptly in the Federal Register.
    Our standard for ``substantial information,'' as defined in the 
Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 424.14(b), with regard to a 90-
day petition finding is ``that amount of information that would lead a 
reasonable person to believe that the measure proposed in the petition 
may be warranted.'' If we find that substantial information was 
presented, we are required to promptly commence a status review of the 
species.
    In making this finding, we based our decision on information the 
petitioner provided that we determined to be reliable after reviewing 
sources referenced in the petition and otherwise available in our 
files. We evaluated that information in accordance with 50 CFR 
424.14(b). Our process for making this 90-day finding under section 
4(b)(3)(A) of the Act is limited to a determination of whether the 
information in the petition meets the ``substantial information'' 
threshold.

Petition

    On July 30, 2007, we received a formal petition dated July 24, 
2007, from Forest Guardians (now WildEarth Guardians) requesting that 
the Service: (1) Consider all full species in our Mountain Prairie 
Region ranked as G1 or G1G2 by the organization NatureServe, except 
those that are currently listed, proposed for listing, or candidates 
for listing; and (2) list each species as either endangered or 
threatened. The petition incorporates all analysis, references, and 
documentation provided by NatureServe in its online database at https://
www.natureserve.org/ into the petition. The petition clearly identified 
itself as a petition and included the identification information, as 
required in 50 CFR 424.14(a). We sent a letter to the petitioners dated 
August 24, 2007, acknowledging receipt of the petition and stating 
that, based on preliminary review, we found no compelling evidence to 
support an emergency listing for any of the species covered by the 
petition. On June 18, 2008, we received a petition from WildEarth 
Guardians dated June 12, 2008, to emergency list 32 species under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Endangered Species Act. Of 
those 32 species, 11 were included in the July 24, 2007 petition for 
listing on a non-emergency basis. In a letter dated July 25, 2008, we 
stated that the information provided in both the 2007 and 2008 
petitions and in our files did not indicate that an emergency situation 
existed for any of the 11 species. The July 25, 2008 letter concludes 
our processing of the emergency aspect of the 2008 petition under the 
APA. The following discussion presents our evaluation of a portion of 
the species included in the July 24, 2007 and June 23, 2008 petitions, 
using information in the petition and our current understanding of the 
species.
    The 2007 petition included a list of 206 species. Two species, 
Cymopterus beckii and Camissonia gouldii, were included in a petition 
to list 475 species that we received on June 18, 2007. We reviewed the 
species files for Cymopterus beckii and Camissonia gouldii under the 
June 18, 2007 petition and made a 90-day finding on the two species on 
January 6, 2009 (74 FR 419); therefore, we reviewed only 204 actual 
species files for this 90-day finding. This finding addresses 165 of 
the 206 species for which we were petitioned. We will address the 
remaining 39 species in the future in one or more additional 90-day 
findings. Although we are not making a finding on the remaining 39 
species at this time, the lack of inclusion of those species in this 
finding does not imply that we are making or will make a finding that 
the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information 
indicating that listing may be warranted on any or all of the remaining 
species.
    Our priority for responding to a petition is a function of the 
resources that are available and competing demands for those resources. 
Thus, in any given fiscal year, multiple factors dictate whether it 
will be possible to undertake work on particular listing actions. The 
resources available for listing actions are determined through the 
annual Congressional appropriations process. The appropriation for the 
Listing Program is available to support work involving the following 
listing actions: Proposed and final listing rules; 90-day and 12-month 
findings on petitions to revise critical habitat and to add species to 
the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants or to change 
the status of a species from threatened to endangered; annual 
determinations on prior ``warranted but precluded'' petition findings 
as required under section 4(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Act; proposed and final 
rules designating critical habitat; and litigation-related, 
administrative, and program management functions (including preparing 
and allocating budgets, responding to Congressional and public 
inquiries, and conducting public outreach regarding listing and 
critical habitat).
    The work involved in preparing various listing documents can be 
extensive and may include, but is not limited to, gathering and 
assessing the best scientific and commercial data available and 
conducting analyses used as the basis for our determinations under 
section 4(a)(1) of the Act; writing and publishing documents; and 
obtaining, reviewing, and evaluating public comments and peer review 
comments on proposed rules, and incorporating relevant information into 
final rules. The number of listing actions that we can undertake in a 
given year also is influenced by the complexity of those listing 
actions.
    In Fiscal Year 1998 and for each fiscal year since then, Congress 
has placed a statutory cap on funds which we may be used for the 
Listing Program, equal to the amount expressly appropriated for that 
purpose in that fiscal year. This cap was designed to prevent funds 
appropriated for other functions under the Act (e.g., Recovery funds 
for removing species from the Lists), or for other Service programs, 
from being used for listing actions (see House Report 105-163, 105th 
Congress, 1st Session, July 1, 1997). Through the listing cap and the 
amount of funds needed to address court-mandated listing actions, 
Congress and the courts have in effect determined the amount of money 
available for other listing activities. Therefore, the funds in the 
listing cap, other than those needed to address court-mandated listing 
actions, set the limits on our ability to fully respond to this 
petition. When funds become available, we will continue our review of 
the remaining petitioned species that are not addressed in this finding 
and publish one or more findings for those species.

Species Information

    The petitioners presented two tables that collectively listed the 
206 species for consideration and requested that the Service 
incorporate all analysis, references and documentation provided by 
NatureServe in its online database into the petition. The information 
presented by NatureServe (https://www.natureserve.org/) is found in 
peer-reviewed professional journal articles

[[Page 6124]]

and is considered to be a reputable source of scientific information. 
We judge this source to be reliable with regard to the information it 
presents.
    We accessed the NatureServe database on August 10, 2007. We saved 
hardcopies of each species file and used this information, including 
references cited within these files, during our review. Therefore, all 
information we used from the species files in NatureServe was current 
to that date. All petitioned species were ranked by NatureServe as G1 
(critically imperiled) or G1G2 (between critically imperiled and 
imperiled).
    We reviewed all references cited in the NatureServe database 
species files that were available to us. For some species in 
NatureServe, there is a ``Local Programs'' link to the Web sites of the 
State programs that contribute information to NatureServe. We found 
this ``Local Programs'' link to have additional information for very 
few of the 206 species. We reviewed information in references cited in 
NatureServe and information readily available in our files, on the 
Internet, or in local libraries that was directly relevant to the 
petition. Following review of the available information, we separated 
the 206 species into one of four categories based on the level of 
information. The 165 species included in this finding are listed in 
Table 1; they fit into four distinct information level categories.

Category A

    The first category, titled Category A in Table 1, has only minimal 
information about each species, and in some cases no more information 
than the name of the species. An example of a species in this category 
that had minimal information is a tiger moth with no common or species 
name (Arctia sp. 1). The NatureServe file for this species only states 
that it is found in Colorado. The file provides no references. The 
magnitude and type of information provided for other species that we 
placed in this category was similar in nature, or was taxonomic without 
much locational information. Category A contains 90 species, of which 
50 are invertebrates and 40 are plants.
    Occasionally, generic information was presented in the NatureServe 
species files for a larger group of species, such as for the class or 
family the species belongs to, but not specific information on the 
individual species. The references were taxonomic in nature or simply 
checklists (lists of species, for example Robbins et al. 1991) of keys 
(which provide anatomical characteristics for identification of 
species) and did not address threats to the species. An example of a 
species for which generic information was presented is a cave obligate 
harvestman (no common name) (Cryptobunus cavicolus). The NatureServe 
file for this species states the name of the species, that it is found 
in Montana, and has one reference listed that lists harvestmen recently 
discovered in North American lava tubes (Briggs 1974). The file 
contains no other information specific to the species. The file 
provides descriptions of members of the family Triaenonychidae, but 
provides no information specific to C. cavicolus.

Category B

    The information we reviewed for the species in Category B (see 
Table 1) contained basic information on the range of the species, based 
on some level of survey effort. Habitat was frequently mentioned as 
well as other aspects of the species' biology, such as food habitats. 
Population size or abundance, if addressed, was rarely quantified, and 
the database instead used descriptors such as large, small, or 
numerous. The available information we reviewed did not address 
specific threats to the species. Category B contains 25 species, of 
which 10 are invertebrates and 15 are plants.
    An example of a species for which Category B information was 
presented is a caddisfly (no common name) (Allomyia hector). The 
NatureServe file for this species provides a general description of 
caddisflies, and two references, which are a Trichoptera World 
Checklist (Clemson University Department of Entomology 2002) and an 
article about the origins of Canadian adult Rhyacophilidae and 
Limnephilidae (Nimmo 1971). Neither NatureServe nor the references 
address threats to A. hector. The NatureServe file for this species 
cites Giersch and Hauer (1999), and states the species was recently 
found in source areas of snowmelt driven streams of Logan and Kootenai 
passes in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Category C

    The information we reviewed for the species in Category C (see 
Table 1) described one or more threats for a general area, but did not 
link the threats to the species or the habitat occupied by the species. 
Information for species in this category was sometimes provided on 
distribution, habitat, population size, or other aspects of the 
species' biology. Category C contains 47 species, of which 4 are 
vertebrates, 10 are invertebrates, and 33 are plants.
    An example of a species for which Category C information was 
presented is the Arapahoe snowfly (Capnia arapahoe), which is 
restricted to two small tributaries of the Cache La Poudre River in 
Colorado. The NatureServe file states that a small lake has been 
constructed in the headwaters of one tributary, and recreational use 
occurs along the length of the other tributary; however, these actions 
are not linked to the species and effects of potential threats are not 
described in a way that indicates they affect the species' habitat. One 
reference was cited in NatureServe (Stark 1996) that is a list of North 
American stoneflies.

Category D

    The information we reviewed for the species in Category D (see 
Table 1) cited one or more threats and generally linked them to the 
species or its habitat. However, we have no documentation to support 
significant impacts from the threats. These species are addressed in 
the Threats Analysis section. Category D contains three species, one 
invertebrate and two plants.
    This finding addresses the 165 petitioned species that are listed 
in Table 1. Of the 165 species, 4 are vertebrates, 71 are 
invertebrates, and 90 are plants.

                              Table 1--List of 165 Species Included in This Finding
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Category           Scientific name             Common name               Range                Group
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................  Ameletus edmundsi.......  A Mayfly................  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Aquilegia grahamii......  Graham's Columbine......  UT................  Plant.
A................  Aquilegia loriae........  ........................  UT................  Plant.
A................  Arctia sp. 1............  Arctiidae Arctia........  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Aschisma kansanum.......  (Moss)..................  KS................  Plant.
A................  Blancosoma scaturgo.....  A Cave Obligate           CO................  Invertebrate.
                                              Millipede.
A................  Brachycercus              A Mayfly................  CO, UT............  Invertebrate.
                    tuberculatus.

[[Page 6125]]

 
A................  Caecidotea metcalfi.....  A Cave Obligate Isopod..  KS................  Invertebrate.
A................  Caecidotea tridentate...  ........................  IL, KS............  Invertebrate.
A................  Camissonia bairdii......  Baird's Camissonia......  UT................  Plant.
A................  Campylium cardotii......  (Moss)..................  CAN:QC USA:MT.....  Plant.
A................  Chaetarthria utahensis..  Utah Chaetarthrian Water  UT................  Invertebrate.
                                              Scavenger Beetle.
A................  Chiloscyphus gemmiparus.  (Liverwort).............  AK, CA, OR, UT....  Plant.
A................  Cirsium scapanolepis....  Mountainslope Thistle...  CO................  Plant.
A................  Cryptobunus cavicolus...  A Cave Obligate           MT................  Invertebrate.
                                              Harvestman.
A................  Didymodon                 (Moss)..................  CO................  Plant.
                    anserinocapitatus.
A................  Draba brachystylis......  Wasatch Draba...........  NV, UT............  Plant.
A................  Draba inexpectata.......  Uinta Mountains draba...  UT................  Plant.
A................  Draba ramulosa..........  Tushar Mountain Whitlow-  UT................  Plant.
                                              grass.
A................  Ephemerella apopsis.....  A Mayfly................  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Ericameria lignumviridis  Greenwood's Heath-        UT................  Plant.
                                              goldenrod.
A................  Erigeron abajoensis.....  Abajo Daisy.............  UT................  Plant.
A................  Erigeron awapensis......  Awapa Daisy.............  UT................  Plant.
A................  Erigeron huberi.........  ........................  UT................  Plant.
A................  Erigeron zothecinus.....  Alcove Daisy............  UT................  Plant.
A................  Eriogonum hylophilum....  Gate Canyon Wild          UT................  Plant.
                                              Buckwheat.
A................  Eriogonum mitophyllum...  Lost Creek wild           UT................  Plant.
                                              buckwheat.
A................  Eriogonum phoeniceum....  ........................  NV, UT............  Plant.
A................  Hesperonemastoma          A Cave Obligate           UT................  Invertebrate.
                    packardi.                 Harvestmann.
A................  Hygrotus diversipes.....  Narrow-foot Hygrotus      WY................  Invertebrate.
                                              Diving Beetl.
A................  Lepidium huberi.........  Huber's Pepperwort......  UT................  Plant.
A................  Lepidium integrifolium..  Thickleaf Pepperwort....  CO, UT, WY........  Plant.
A................  Leptophlebia konza......  Konza Prairie Mayfly....  KS................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus missoulae....   Spur-throat Grasshopper  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus sp. 1........  ........................  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus sp. 40.......  ........................  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus sp. 41.......  ........................  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus sp. 42.......  ........................  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus sp. 47.......  ........................  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Melanoplus sp. 49.......  ........................  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Mentzelia goodrichii....  Goodrich's Blazingstar..  UT................  Plant.
A................  Micarea ternaria........  (Lichen)................  MT................  Plant.
A................  Neotrichia downsi.......  A Caddisfly.............  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Oenothera murdockii.....  ........................  UT................  Plant.
A................  Ogaridiscus subrupicola.  Southern Tightcoil......  ID, OR, UT........  Invertebrate.
A................  Oncopodura cruciata.....  A Springtail............  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Oreohelix hendersoni....  Pallid Mountainsnail....  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Oreohelix howardi.......  Mill Creek Mountainsnail  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Oreohelix parawanensis..  Brian Head Mountainsnail  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Ozobryum ogalalense.....  (Moss)..................  KS, NE............  Plant.
A................  Packera castoreus.......  Beaver Mountain           UT................  Plant.
                                              Groundsel.
A................  Packera malmstenii......  Podunk Groundsel........  UT................  Plant.
A................  Paraleptophlebia          A Prongill Mayfly.......  AR, KS............  Invertebrate.
                    calcarica.
A................  Phacelia argylensis.....  Argyle Canyon Phacelia..  UT................  Plant.
A................  Phacelia indecora.......  Drab Phacelia...........  NN, UT............  Plant.
A................  Pheidole elecebra.......  An Ant..................  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Physaria grahamii.......  Graham's Twinpod........  UT................  Plant.
A................  Physaria repanda........  Repand Twinpod..........  UT................  Plant.
A................  Physaria stylosa........  Duchesne River Twinpod..  UT................  Plant.
A................  Planorbella oregonensis.  Lamb Rams-horn..........  OR, UT............  Invertebrate.
A................  Polydesmus cavicola.....  A Millipede.............  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Potentilla macounii.....  Macoun's Cinquefoil.....  CAN:AB USA:MT.....  Plant.
A................  Proctacanthus sp. 1.....  Robber Fly From Colorado  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Pyrgulopsis chamberlini.  Smooth Glenwood Pyrg....  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Pyrgulopsis inopinata...  Carinate Glenwood Pyrg..  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Pyrgulopsis nonaria.....  Ninemile Pyrg...........  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Pyrgulopsis plicata.....  Black Canyon Pyrg.......  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Ranunculus coloradensis.  Colorado Buttercup......  CO................  Plant.
A................  Riccia ozarkiana........  (Liverwort).............  AR, KS, MO........  Plant.
A................  Senecio musiniensis.....  Musinea Ragwort.........  UT................  Plant.
A................  Senecio spribillei......  ........................  MT................  Plant.
A................  Speodesmus aquiliensis..  A Cave Obligate           CO................  Invertebrate.
                                              Millipede.
A................  Sphaeralcea janeae......  Jane's Globemallow......  UT................  Plant.
A................  Sphalloplana kansensis..  Kansas Planarian          KS................  Invertebrate.
                                              (flatworm).
A................  Stagnicola elrodiana....  Longmouth Pondsnail.....  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus coloradensis  A Cave Obligate Amphipod  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus fontinalis..  Spring Amphipod.........  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus holsingeri..  An Amphipod.............  CO................  Invertebrate.

[[Page 6126]]

 
A................  Stygobromus montanensis.  A Cave Obligate Amphipod  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus obscurus....  A Cave Obligate Amphipod  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus puteanus....  A Cave Obligate Amphipod  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus simplex.....  Simple Amphipod.........  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus tritus......  A Cave Obligate Amphipod  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus utahensis...  Utah Amphipod...........  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Stygobromus wardi.......  Ward's Amphipod.........  CO................  Invertebrate.
A................  Suwallia salish.........  A Stonefly..............  MT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Sweltsa cristata........  A Stonefly..............  UT................  Invertebrate.
A................  Verrucaria kootenaica...  (Lichen)................  MT................  Plant.
A................  Vertigo hannai..........  Hanna's Vertigo.........  CAN:ON USA:IL, KS.  Invertebrate.
A................  Webbhelix chadwicki.....  Kaw Whitelip............  KS, NE............  Plant.
B................  Allomyia hector.........  A Caddisfly.............  CAN:AB USA:MT.....  Invertebrate.
B................  Amblyderus werneri......  Great Sand Dunes          CO................  Invertebrate.
                                              Anthicid Beetle.
B................  Cryptomastix sanburni...  Kingston Oregonian......  ID, MT............  Invertebrate.
B................  Cryptantha compacta.....  Compact Cat's-eye.......  UT................  Plant.
B................  Cryptantha johnstonii...  Johnston Catseye........  UT................  Plant.
B................  Draba kassii............  Kass's Rockcress........  UT................  Plant.
B................  Erigeron wilkenii.......  Wilken's Fleabane.......  CO................  Plant.
B................  Hackelia gracilenta.....  Colorado Stickseed......  CO................  Plant.
B................  Helisoma newberryi......  Great Basin Rams-horn...  CA, WY, ID          Invertebrate.
                                                                        (Extirpated), NV,
                                                                        OR, UT
                                                                        (Extirpated).
B................  Heterocampa rufinans....  A Notodontid Moth.......  CO................  Invertebrate.
B................  Hymenoclea sandersonii..  Sanderson's Cheesebush..  UT................  Plant.
B................  Hymenoxys lapidicola....  Rock Hymenoxys..........  UT................  Plant.
B................  Mentzelia shultziorum...  Shultz Stickleaf........  UT................  Plant.
B................  Oreohelix alpine........  Alpine Mountainsnail....  MT................  Invertebrate.
B................  Oreohelix pygmaea.......  Pygmy Mountainsnail.....  WY................  Invertebrate.
B................  Penstemon franklinii....  Ben Franklin's            UT................  Plant.
                                              Beardtongue.
B................  Penstemon navajoa.......  Navajo Beardtongue......  NN, UT............  Plant.
B................  Physella spelunca.......  Cave Physa..............  WY................  Invertebrate.
B................  Physella zionis.........  Wet-rock Physa..........  UT................  Invertebrate.
B................  Potentilla cottamii.....  Cottam's Potentilla.....  NV, UT............  Plant.
B................  Primula domensis........  House Range Primrose....  UT................  Plant.
B................  Pyrgulopsis fusca.......  Otter Creek Pyrg........  UT................  Invertebrate.
B................  Sclerocactus blainei....  Blaine's Pincushion.....  NV, UT............  Plant.
B................  Sclerocactus contortus..  Canyonland Fishhook       UT................  Plant.
                                              Cactus.
B................  Talinum thompsonii......  Thompson's Talinum......  UT................  Plant.
C................  Allium passeyi..........  Passey's Onion..........  UT................  Plant.
C................  Arabis falcatoria.......  Grouse Creek Rockcress..  NV, UT............  Plant.
C................  Astragalus avonensis....  ........................  UT................  Plant.
C................  Astragalus loanus.......  Glenwood Milk-vetch.....  UT................  Plant.
C................  Capnia Arapahoe.........  A Stonefly..............  CO................  Invertebrate.
C................  Cottus extensus.........  Bear Lake Sculpin.......  ID, UT............  Vertebrate.
C................  Cryptantha gypsophila...  Gypsum Valley Cateye....  CO................  Plant.
C................  Cryptantha ochroleuca...  Yellow-white Catseye....  UT................  Plant.
C................  Cuscuta plattensis......  Wyoming Dodder..........  WY................  Plant.
C................  Cymopterus minimus......  Cedar Breaks Biscuitroot  UT................  Plant.
C................  Descurainia torulosa....  Wyoming Tansymustard....  WY................  Plant.
C................  Eriogonum cronquistii...  Cronquist's Wild          UT................  Plant.
                                              Buckwheat.
C................  Eriogonum smithii.......  Smith's Wild Buckwheat..  UT................  Plant.
C................  Gilia sedifolia.........  Stonecrop Gily-flower...  CO................  Plant.
C................  Hackelia ibapensis......  Deep Creek Stickseed....  UT................  Plant.
C................  Lesquerella humilis.....  Few-seeded Bladderpod or  MT................  Plant.
                                              Bitterroot Bladderpod.
C................  Lesquerella lesicii.....  Pryor Mountains           MT................  Plant.
                                              Bladderpod or Lesica's
                                              Bladderpod.
C................  Lygodesmia entrada......  Entrada Skeletonplant...  UT................  Plant.
C................  Microcylloepus browni...  Brown's Microcylloepus    CAN:MB USA:MT.....  Invertebrate.
                                              Riffle Beetle.
C................  Mimulus gemmiparus......  Weber's Monkeyflower....  CO................  Plant.
C................  Oreohelix elrodi........  Carinate Mountainsnail..  CAN:MB USA:MT.....  Invertebrate.
C................  Oreohelix eurekensis....  Eureka Mountainsnail....  UT................  Invertebrate.
C................  Oreoxis humilis.........  Pikes Peak Spring-        CO................  Plant.
                                              parsley.
C................  Oreoxis trotteri........  Trotter's Oreoxis.......  UT................  Plant.
C................  Oreohelix sp. 5.........  Brunson Mountainsnail...  MT................  Invertebrate.
C................  Oreohelix sp. 6.........  Kintla Lake               MT................  Invertebrate.
                                              Mountainsnail.
C................  Oreohelix sp. 7.........  Kitchen Creek             MT................  Invertebrate.
                                              Mountainsnail.
C................  Oreohelix sp. 11........  Subcarinate               MT................  Invertebrate.
                                              Mountainsnail.
C................  Perityle specuicola.....  Alcove Rockdaisy........  NN, UT............  Plant.
C................  Physaria dornii.........  Dorn's Twinpod..........  WY................  Plant.
C................  Physaria pulvinata......  Cushion Bladderpod......  CO................  Plant.

[[Page 6127]]

 
C................  Potentilla angelliae....  Angell Cinquefoil.......  UT................  Plant.
C................  Prosopium abyssicola....  Bear Lake Whitefish.....  ID, UT............  Vertebrate.
C................  Prosopium gemmifer......  Bonneville Cisco........  ID, NV (Exotic),    Vertebrate.
                                                                        UT.
C................  Prosopium spilonotus....  Bonneville Whitefish....  ID, UT............  Vertebrate.
C................  Pyrgulopsis bedfordensis  A Freshwater Snail......  MT................  Invertebrate.
C................  Stagnicola elrodi.......  Flathead Pondsnail......  MT................  Invertebrate.
C................  Thelesperma caespitosum.  Green River Greenthread.  UT, WY............  Plant.
C................  Thelesperma pubescens...  Uinta Greenthread.......  UT, WY............  Plant.
C................  Townsendia microcephala.  Cedar Mountain Easter-    WY................  Plant.
                                              daisy.
C................  Trifolium barnebyi......  Barneby's Clover........  WY................  Plant.
C................  Viola clauseniana.......  Clausen's Violet........  UT................  Plant.
C................  Viola frank-smithii.....  Frank Smith's Violet....  UT................  Plant.
C................  Viola lithion...........  Rock Violet.............  NV, UT............  Plant.
C................  Xanthoparmelia            (Lichen)................  CAN:AB USA:CO, ID.  Plant.
                    idahoensis.
C................  Xanthoparmelia            (Lichen)................  CO, WY............  Plant.
                    neowyomingica.
C................  Xylorhiza cronquistii...  Cronquist's Woody-aster.  UT................  Plant.
D................  Eriogonum ammophilum....  Ibex Wild Buckwheat.....  UT................  Plant.
D................  Optioservus phaeus......  Scott Optioservus Riffle  KS................  Invertebrate.
                                              Beetle.
D................  Penstemon pinorum.......  Pinyon Penstemon........  UT................  Plant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Threats Analysis

    Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533) and its implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR part 424 set forth the procedures for adding 
species to the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
Plants. A species, subspecies, or distinct population segment of 
vertebrate taxa may be determined to be endangered or threatened due to 
one or more of the five factors described in section 4(a)(1) of the 
Act: (A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overutilization for 
commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) 
disease or predation; (D) inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; 
or (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued 
existence.
    In making this 90-day finding, we evaluated whether information on 
threats to the 165 species, as presented in the petition and other 
readily available information at the time of the petition review, is 
substantial, thereby indicating that the petitioned action may be 
warranted. Our evaluation of this information is presented below.

A. Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or Curtailment of 
the Species' Habitat or Range

    The petition, including all available references and the 
NatureServe species files, does not present substantial information 
that the present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of the species' habitat or range is a threat to 162 of the 
165 species. For the one invertebrate and two plants in Category D 
(Table 1), information related to habitat impacts at one or more 
occupied sites is presented.
    The Scott Optioservus riffle beetle (Optioservus phaeus) occurs in 
possibly one site in State Park in Kansas. Total population size is 
estimated at 2,000 to 4,000. The species is thought to be stable, 
according to NatureServe. The threat cited in NatureServe is reduced 
spring flows due to dewatering of the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation 
purposes. NatureServe indicates that this is a potential threat of 
unknown degree. No other references substantiated or quantified this 
alleged threat, and we find that substantial information was not 
presented to indicate that the species is threatened by dewatering.
    Eriogonum ammophilum (Ibex wild buckwheat) is known from 15 element 
occurrences in Utah, according to NatureServe. Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) reports (Armstrong, no date) indicate that off-road 
vehicle (ORV) use and grazing are not significant threats to the 
species. No substantial information was presented in NatureServe, cited 
references, or our files indicating that the species is threatened by 
ORV use or grazing. Therefore, we find the petition and supporting 
information does not present substantial scientific or commercial 
information to indicate E. ammophilum is threatened by the present or 
threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or 
range.
    Penstemon pinorum (Pinyon penstemon) is known from 3 element 
occurrences in Utah containing approximately 50,000 individuals, 
according to NatureServe. Kass (1995) indicated that mining and 
firewood removal has impacted the habitat at one site. The U.S. Forest 
Service and BLM (1995) signed a conservation agreement for the species. 
No substantial information was presented in NatureServe, cited 
references, or our files indicating that the species is threatened by 
mining or firewood removal.
    We find the petition and supporting information does not present 
substantial scientific or commercial information to indicate the Scott 
Optioservus riffle beetle, Eriogonum ammophilum, or Penstemon pinorum 
are threatened by the present or threatened destruction, modification, 
or curtailment of its habitat or range.

B. Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or 
Educational Purposes

    The petition, including all available references and the 
NatureServe species files, does not include any information concerning 
threats to any of the 165 species from this factor. Therefore, we find 
that the petition does not present substantial information that 
overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes is a threat to any of the 165 species.

C. Disease or Predation

    The petition, including all available references and the 
NatureServe species files, does not include any information concerning 
threats to any of the 165 species from this factor. Therefore, we find 
that the petition does not present substantial information that disease 
or predation is a threat to any of the 165 species.

D. Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms

    The petition discusses the lack of protection under the Act for the 
petitioned species, stating that unless a

[[Page 6128]]

species is listed as threatened or endangered under the Act, it 
receives no protections from the statute. The petition provides no 
information addressing any other State or Federal regulations, and no 
information about the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms.
    The petitioner's claim that we could afford more protection to 
these petitioned species if they were listed under the Act does not 
provide substantial information that the existing regulatory mechanisms 
are inadequate. As the petitioner acknowledges, under 16 U.S.C. 
1533(b)(1)(A), we must reach our determination solely on the basis of 
the best scientific and commercial data available. The petition did not 
present any specific information related to other Federal, State, or 
local government regulatory mechanisms that may exist to provide 
regulatory protections for the 165 species or their respective 
habitats. Therefore, we conclude that the petition does not present 
substantial information that any of the 165 species may warrant listing 
due to inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms.

E. Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting the Species' Continued 
Existence

    While we recognize that many of the species contained within the 
NatureServe database have limited distribution or small population 
size, limited distribution and population size were not identified as 
threats faced by any of the 165 species in the petition, including all 
available references and the NatureServe species files and these two 
factors alone without elaboration may not be substantial information 
that may warrant listing under the Act. No other information that could 
be categorized under Factor E was presented in the petition. Therefore, 
we conclude that the petition does not present substantial information 
that other natural or manmade factors are a threat to any of the 165 
species.

Finding

    We have reviewed and evaluated the 5 listing factors with regard to 
165 of the 206 petitioned species, based on the information in the 
petition and the literature cited in the petition. We evaluated the 
information to determine whether the sources cited support the claims 
made in the petition. We also reviewed reliable information that was 
readily available to us. Based on this review and evaluation, we find 
that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial 
information that listing these 165 species as threatened or endangered 
under the Act may be warranted. Although we will not commence a status 
review in response to these species included in the petition, we will 
continue to accept information and materials regarding any of the 165 
species at our Mountain-Prairie Region Ecological Services Office (see 
ADDRESSES). Further, as previously indicated, we will address the 
remaining 39 species in future findings.

References Cited

    A complete list of references cited is available on the Internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov and upon request from the Mountain-Prairie 
Region Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES).

Author

    The primary authors of this document are the staff members of the 
Mountain-Prairie Region Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 9, 2009.
Kenneth Stansell,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2358 Filed 2-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P