Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for Yellow Lance, 14189-14198 [2018-06735]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14189-14198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06735]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2017-0017; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BB45


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species 
Status for Yellow Lance

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine 
threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA or Act), for yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata), a mussel 
species from Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The effect of this 
regulation will be to add this species to the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife.

DATES: This rule is effective May 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES: This final rule is available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2017-0017 and https://www.fws.gov/southeast/. Comments and materials we received, as well as 
supporting documentation we used in preparing this rule, are available 
for public inspection at https://www.regulations.gov. Comments, 
materials, and documentation that we considered in this rulemaking will 
be available by appointment, during normal business hours at: U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, 551F 
Pylon Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; 919-856-4520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Benjamin, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, 
551F Pylon Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 or telephone 919-856-4520. Persons 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Supporting Documents

    A species status assessment (SSA) team prepared an SSA report for 
the yellow lance. The SSA team was

[[Page 14190]]

composed of Service biologists, in consultation with other species 
experts. The SSA report represents a compilation of the best scientific 
and commercial data available concerning the status of the species, 
including the impacts of past, present, and future factors (both 
negative and beneficial) affecting the yellow lance. The SSA report 
underwent independent peer review by scientists with expertise in 
mussel biology, habitat management, and stressors (factors negatively 
affecting the species) to the species. The SSA report, proposed rule, 
and other materials relating to this rule can be found on the Southeast 
Region website at https://www.fws.gov/southeast/ and at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2017-0017.

Previous Federal Action

    Please refer to the proposed listing rule for the yellow lance (82 
FR 16559; April 5, 2017) for a detailed description of previous Federal 
actions concerning this species.

Background

    Please refer to the proposed listing rule for the yellow lance and 
the SSA Report for a full summary of species information. Both are 
available on the Southeast Region website at https://www.fws.gov/southeast/ and at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R4-
ES-2017-0017.

Summary of Changes From the Proposed Rule

    In preparing this final rule, we reviewed and fully considered 
comments from the public on the proposed rule (see below). No 
substantive changes were made to this final rule after consideration of 
the comments we received. The SSA report was updated (to version 1.3) 
based on comments and some additional information provided; many small, 
non-substantive clarifications and corrections were made throughout the 
SSA document, including ensuring consistency of colors on maps, 
providing details about data sources used, updating references in the 
description of threats section, and minor clarifications. However, the 
information we received in response to the proposed rule did not change 
our determination that the yellow lance is a threatened species.

Summary of Comments and Recommendations

    In the proposed rule published on April 5, 2017 (82 FR 16559), we 
requested that all interested parties submit written comments on the 
proposal by June 5, 2017. We also contacted appropriate Federal and 
State agencies, scientific experts and organizations, and other 
interested parties and invited them to comment on the proposal. We did 
not receive any requests for a public hearing. All substantive 
information provided during the comment period has either been 
incorporated directly into this final determination or addressed below.

Peer Reviewer Comments

    In accordance with our peer review policy published on July 1, 1994 
(59 FR 34270), and our August 22, 2016, memorandum updating and 
clarifying the role of peer review actions under the Act, we solicited 
expert opinion from 13 knowledgeable individuals with scientific 
expertise that included familiarity with yellow lance and its habitat, 
biological needs, and threats. We received responses from seven of the 
peer reviewers.
    We reviewed all comments received from the peer reviewers for 
substantive issues and new information regarding the information 
contained in the SSA Report. The peer reviewers generally concurred 
with our methods and conclusions and provided additional information, 
clarifications, and suggestions to improve the final SSA Report. Peer 
reviewer comments are addressed in the following summary and were 
incorporated into the final SSA Report as appropriate.
    (1) Comment: One peer reviewer recommended that Natural Heritage 
Element Occurrences should have been used as metrics to delineate 
populations instead of river basins and hydrologic unit code 10 (HUC10) 
management units (MUs).
    Our Response: The use of river basins and MUs as metrics was 
suggested by the Yellow Lance Technical Team. This species expert 
group, which included Natural Heritage biologists, did not think the 
element occurrence was appropriate for this analysis, because element 
occurrences are too fine a scale and represent where individuals have 
been documented rather than capture the extent of the suitable habitat. 
The river basin level by itself is too coarse of a scale at which to 
estimate the condition of factors influencing resiliency, so 
populations were further delineated using MUs. MUs were defined as one 
or more HUC10 watersheds that species experts identified as most 
appropriate for assessing population-level resiliency, because it 
better captures the extent of suitable habitat for areas where yellow 
lance are found.
    (2) Comment: One peer reviewer suggested we use data from flow 
gauges to measure water availability for the time period identified.
    Our Response: Gauge data are not consistently available for all 
locations in the analysis. Drought maps were used to give an overall 
(rangewide) impression about climate-related influences on the 
population.
    (3) Comment: One peer reviewer wanted more information on how the 
Active River Areas (ARAs) were delineated.
    Our Response: An ARA is a pre-defined/delineated shapefile made 
available by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The ARA framework is a 
spatially explicit characterization? of rivers that includes both the 
channels and the riparian lands necessary to accommodate the physical 
and ecological processes associated with the river system. The ARA 
includes material contribution areas, meander belts, floodplains, 
terraces, and riparian wetlands. For more information, see: https://www.conservationgateway.org/ConservationByGeography/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/edc/Documents/ED_freshwater_ARA_NE2008.pdf.
    (4) Comment: One peer reviewer stated that we should have completed 
a PECE analysis on the conservation management actions.
    Our Response: The Policy for the Evaluation of Conservation Efforts 
(PECE) is a policy that provides guidance on how to evaluate 
conservation efforts that have not yet been implemented or have not yet 
demonstrated effectiveness. The management actions described in the SSA 
Report do not fall under these criteria because they are past and 
present conservation management actions.
    (5) Comment: One peer reviewer noted that not all watersheds are at 
equal risk of development.
    Our Response: We understand that development of watersheds varies 
across the range of the species. To capture this variation, we used the 
SLEUTH BAU model of urban growth in the Southeast U.S., which looks at 
patterns of past development and projects similar spatial pattern of 
development into the future. We believe this model constitutes the best 
available information concerning the future development projections 
within the range of the yellow lance.

Comments From States

    (6) Comment: The North Carolina Wildlife Commission and other 
commenters requested that the Service

[[Page 14191]]

implement a rule under section 4(d) of the Act in order to provide for 
species conservation and other activities resulting in incidental take.
    Our Response: We have not proposed a section 4(d) rule at this 
time, but we plan to propose a section 4(d) rule in the future to 
tailor the take prohibitions of the Act to those necessary and 
advisable to provide for the conservation of the yellow lance.

Public Comments

    (7) Comment: Several commenters stated that the Service did not 
acknowledge the benefits of high rates of compliance with forestry Best 
Management Practices (BMPs), and instead focused on the relatively rare 
instances of failure to use BMPs. While the Service correctly 
acknowledges that silvicultural activities performed according to BMPs 
``can retain adequate conditions for aquatic ecosystems,'' the 
remainder of the Service's discussion regarding BMPs focuses on those 
rare circumstances when BMPs are not implemented.
    Our Response: We included forest cover within the ARA as one of the 
main contributions to the habitat element of instream substrate, thus 
indicating that well-managed forests are important contributors to 
maintaining habitat occupied by the species. The SSA Report notes that 
BMPs were not always common practice, but that those instances of 
noncompliance today are rare (SSA, p. 52). In Chapter 4, the SSA Report 
describes the many factors that contribute to the viability of the 
species, and the instances of failure to use BMPs could impact those 
factors and thus contribute to species decline, especially if those 
noncompliance areas are within the few known locations where the 
species persists. If BMPs associated with forestry practices are not 
followed, stream temperatures can increase, sedimentation can lower 
water quality, and associated roads can lead to increased sedimentation 
(references provided in SSA, pp. 50-51). So while improper 
implementation is rare, it can have drastic negative effects on 
sensitive aquatic species like freshwater mussels. The intent of 
Section 4.5 of the SSA Report was to discuss those circumstances when 
BMPs are not used and how that could affect the species' viability.
    (8) Comment: One commenter stated that not implementing a BMP does 
not equate to a water quality risk and, therefore, also does not equate 
to noncompliance with State of North Carolina Forest Practice 
Guidelines Related to Water Quality standards (FPG). The commenter 
noted that the text written by the Service (``Many forestry activities 
are not required to obtain a CWA [Clean Water Act] 404 permit, as 
silviculture activities (such as harvesting for the production of fiber 
and forest products) are exempted'') lead the reader to believe that 
this exemption allows forestry activities to create a water quality 
problem without consequence.
    Our Response: The statement from the SSA quoted in the comment 
above was not intended to indicate that there was no recourse for such 
action, but rather to indicate that many activities are exempted from 
permits. We clarified the language in the report. While we understand 
that not every BMP relates to water quality protections, many of them 
do contribute to water quality and habitat quality. As indicated in 
Table 4-3 of the SSA (p. 52), the BMP with one of the lowest 
implementation rates is one designed to reduce the impacts of stream 
crossings. Lack of adherence to or compliance with stream crossing BMPs 
creates a water quality risk, because improperly constructed culverts 
at stream crossings act as barriers to host fish (and, therefore, the 
yellow lance). This scenario leads to loss of access to quality 
habitat, as well as fragmented habitat and a loss of connectivity 
between populations of the yellow lance. This situation can limit both 
genetic exchange and recolonization opportunities.
    (9) Comment: One commenter stated that references not from the 
southeastern United States should be removed.
    Our Response: In accordance with section 4 of the Act, we are 
required to make listing decisions on the basis of the best scientific 
and commercial data available. Further, our Policy on Information 
Standards under the Act (published in the Federal Register on July 1, 
1994 (59 FR 34271)), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the 
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 
(Pub. L. 106-554; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality 
Guidelines (www.fws.gov/informationquality/), provide criteria and 
guidance, and establish procedures to ensure that our decisions are 
based on the best scientific data available. We determined that 
references from outside the southeastern United States are valid 
sources of information relevant to the listing decision. The 
information provided in those references is important to consider 
because it informs how stream temperature is affected after 
deforestation, and how biota in the stream are subsequently impacted. 
Use of these sources conforms with our information standards because it 
is recent, relevant work that relates to the point being made regarding 
stream temperatures, that removal of vegetation alongside streams 
increases water temperature in the stream.
    (10) Comment: One commenter stated that the proposed rule and SSA 
Report do not meet the information standards of the Interagency Policy 
on Information Standards adopted by the Service. Both documents 
evaluate a subset of the available data, fail to perform an in-depth 
analysis of the data that is evaluated, define populations 
inaccurately, present inaccurate analyses and conclusions, and provide 
a limited view of the potential future scenarios relative to the 
viability of the species. Under the ESA and associated Federal policies 
and guidelines, the rule and SSA Report do not provide sufficient 
scientific and technical information to support decision-making 
relative to the proposed listing of the yellow lance.
    Our Response: The commenter did not provide any contradictory 
science or available data that we did not consider. We used an 
integrated and conservation-focused analytical approach, the Species 
Status Assessment Framework, to assess the species' biological status 
for the purpose of informing decisions and activities under the Act. As 
discussed under Comment 9 above, our information quality standards 
require our biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and with 
the use of the best scientific and commercial data available, to use 
primary and original sources of information as the basis for 
determinations to list a species under the Act. The most comprehensive, 
current data sets from all known State agency (including museum) 
databases were used, and references to current data usage are in the 
text of the SSA (pp. 12 and 22). We used both the peer-reviewed SLEUTH 
urbanization model and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 
(IPCC) model to analyze a wide range of possible future scenarios, and 
our methods and analyses underwent peer review by independent species 
experts.
    This final rule and the final SSA report rely on published 
articles, unpublished research, expert habitat modeling, comprehensive 
digital data, and the expert opinion of subject biologists to determine 
the listing status for the yellow lance. Additional information was 
added throughout the SSA to detail data sources used for analysis. The 
most comprehensive, current data sets from all known State agency 
(including museum) databases

[[Page 14192]]

were used, and references to current data usage are in the text of the 
SSA (pp. 12 and 22). Survey summaries and detailed maps are provided in 
Appendix B. Also, in accordance with the Service's peer review policy 
(59 FR 34270, July 1, 1994), we solicited peer review from 
knowledgeable individuals with scientific expertise that included 
familiarity with the species, the geographic region in which the 
species occurs, and conservation biology principles. Additionally, we 
requested comments or information from other concerned governmental 
agencies, the scientific community, industry, and any other interested 
parties concerning the proposed rule. Comments and information we 
received helped inform this final rule.
    (11) Comment: One commenter stated that the analysis weighed the 
species assessment towards factors that may restrict future expansion 
of the species' distribution rather than factors that pose a direct 
threat to the survival of existing or future mussels.
    Our Response: It is appropriate for us to consider factors that 
would restrict future expansions, especially for a species that is 
currently reduced from its historical range. Chapter 4 of the SSA 
Report describes how stressors pose a threat or benefit to the survival 
of existing mussels, some (i.e., barriers), but not all, may restrict 
future expansion of the species.
    (12) Comment: One commenter stated that the proposed rule and the 
SSA Report present conflicting statements regarding stressors that 
affect the species. The first paragraph of Section 5.1 states that the 
main drivers for change in the future condition analysis is human 
population growth and increased urbanization. However, the summary 
Section 4.9 of the SSA Report and the Risk Factors for the Yellow Lance 
in the Federal Register document state that ``the largest threats to 
the future viability of the species relate to habitat degradation from 
stressors influencing water quality, water quantity, instream habitat, 
and habitat connectivity.''
    Our Response: The statements do not conflict with each other. Both 
human population growth and changes in land use (specifically in 
development land use patterns), including increased urbanization, are 
stressors that result in habitat degradation (which influences water 
quality, water quantity, instream habitat, and habitat connectivity) as 
described in section 4.1 of the SSA Report.
    (13) Comment: The future condition analysis in the SSA should 
consider additional factors influencing viability, not only the impacts 
of urbanization.
    Our Response: We considered six factors influencing viability of 
the yellow lance as part of the future condition analysis. Habitat 
conditions, water quality, water quantity, species condition, and 
climate were also considered. The descriptions can be found in Table 
5.1 of the SSA.
    (14) Comment: The future conditions evaluation fails to consider 
the net positive impact of current and future National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater programs, Department of 
Transportation (DOT) design standards, agricultural practices, land 
controls, riparian buffers and land conservation areas, and applicable 
water quality criteria to protect designated uses of waters.
    Our Response: The current condition analysis includes evaluation of 
all current practices and land uses that may impact yellow lance 
(positive and negative), as indicated in the data used, including 
range-wide water quality and land use data (i.e., agricultural 
practices, buffers, and water quality classifications were all included 
in the analyses). See SSA Report pages/sections 23-29. Positive and 
negative effects of these actions are incorporated in the analysis and 
carried through when modeling potential future conditions. Any 
practices above and beyond what is currently in practice would need to 
be analyzed as future efforts. According to our Policy for the 
Evaluation of Conservation Efforts (68 FR 15100, March 28, 2003), we 
only consider future efforts that are formalized and sufficiently 
certain to be implemented and effective.
    (15) Comment: One commenter stated that the proposed rule and the 
SSA Report incorrectly claim that excessive surface water use for 
agricultural irrigation has an adverse impact on the amount of water 
available for downstream sensitive areas during low-flow months. 
According to the commenter, agricultural irrigation in North Carolina 
is not excessive.
    Our Response: The SSA Report states: ``If the water withdrawal is 
excessive (usually over 10,000 gal/day) or done illegally (without 
permit if needed, or during dry time of year, or in areas where 
sensitive aquatic species occur without consultation), this may cause 
impacts to the amount of water available to downstream sensitive areas 
during low flow months, resulting in dewatering of channels and 
stranding of mussels.'' [emphasis added]. Both surface and ground water 
withdrawals can affect base flows in streams during dry times of year. 
In response to the comment, we amended the SSA Report to clarify this 
point.
    (16) Comment: One commenter recommended that, along with the 
proposed listing, the Service identify recovery criteria, including the 
development of conservation strategies and incidental take permit 
mechanisms, prior to the listing becoming effective.
    Our Response: Recovery criteria (and conservation strategies) are 
developed as part of the recovery planning process, which occurs after 
the species has been listed under the Act. The Service intends to 
develop and make available for public review a recovery outline within 
30 days of publication of this final rule. Once the final listing is 
effective, project proponents can apply for incidental take permits 
pursuant to section 10 of the Act (refer to page 30 below). A habitat 
conservation plan or ``HCP'' must accompany an application for an 
incidental take permit. The habitat conservation plan associated with 
the permit ensures that the effects of the authorized incidental take 
are adequately minimized and mitigated.
    (17) Comment: One commenter expressed concern that endangered 
species listings would interfere with the Environmental Protection 
Agency's established Framework for Water Quality Standards Development. 
The commenter stated that environmental stressors and habitat 
components that are developed may unnecessarily and inappropriately 
conflict with water quality standards (WQS).
    Our Response: We are required by section 4 of the Act to make a 
listing decision based solely on the best scientific and commercial 
data available. However, since a primary goal of the Clean Water Act is 
to protect the health of waters of the United States for all designated 
uses, including the protection of aquatic life, and since a primary 
goal of the Act is to provide for the conservation of species that are 
endangered or threatened, including the conservation of the ecosystems 
on which they depend, listed aquatic species and the river systems on 
which they depend are protected under both laws. There should be no 
conflict between the protections of the two statutes.
    (18) Comment: One commenter opined that the SSA Report incorrectly 
concludes that pollutants harmful to the yellow lance impair water 
quality throughout the species' current range, and that the Service has 
not coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the 
State to determine whether they actually do.

[[Page 14193]]

    Our Response: The SSA Report (p. 44) explains that water quality 
criteria do not currently exist for many of the parameters for which 
freshwater mussels have been demonstrated to be sensitive. For 
instance, even after EPA revised the criteria for ammonia, after 
incorporating the toxicity data for sensitive freshwater mollusks, the 
States have yet to update their WQS through processes such as the 
Triennial Review. Since WQS for pollutants have not been promulgated by 
the States within the range of the yellow lance, those pollutants are 
still deemed to be potentially harmful to the survival and reproduction 
of the species.
    (19) Comment: One commenter expressed concern that portions of the 
species' range in the proposal may be based on data that are both 
outdated and possibly incorrectly identify the yellow lance as present 
in those drainages.
    Our Response: All survey records from Virginia were reviewed by 
both the State malacologist and the Natural Heritage Program biologist 
to verify correct identity of species in all survey locations. Current 
occupancy was described as those areas with detections in the past 10 
years (2005-2015, based on when data were analyzed). Survey data older 
than 15 years was included to indicate trends over time, but not 
analyzed as part of the Current Conditions (see Figure 3-2 on p. 12 of 
the SSA Report).

Summary of Biological Status and Threats

    Please refer to Chapter 4 of the SSA Report for a more detailed 
discussion of the factors affecting the yellow lance (see ADDRESSES). 
Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533), and its implementing regulations 
in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 424, set 
forth the procedures for adding species to the Federal Lists of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Under section 4(a)(1) of 
the Act, we may list a species based on (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) the inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors 
affecting its continued existence. Our assessment evaluated the 
biological status of the species and threats affecting its continued 
existence. It was based upon the best available scientific and 
commercial data and the expert opinion of the SSA team members.

Current Condition of Yellow Lance

    To evaluate the current and future viability of the yellow lance, 
we assessed a range of conditions to allow us to consider the species' 
resiliency, representation, and redundancy. The historical range of the 
yellow lance included streams and rivers in the Atlantic Slope 
drainages from the Patuxent River Basin south to the Neuse River Basin, 
with the documented historical distribution in 12 Management Units 
(MUs) within eight former populations. The yellow lance is presumed 
extirpated from 25 percent (3/12) of the historically occupied MUs. Of 
the remaining nine occupied MUs, 17 percent are estimated to have high 
resiliency, 8 percent moderate resiliency, and 67 percent low 
resiliency. At the population level, the overall condition of one of 
the eight populations (the Tar population) is estimated to have 
moderate resiliency, while the remaining six extant populations 
(Patuxent, Rappahannock, York, James, Chowan, and Neuse populations) 
are characterized by low resiliency. The Potomac population is presumed 
to be extirpated. An assessment of the habitat elements finds that 86 
percent of streams that remain part of the current species' range are 
estimated to be in low or very low condition.
    Once known to occupy streams in three physiographic regions 
(Mountain, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain), the species has lost 
occurrences in each physiographic region compared with historical 
occurrences, although it is still represented by at least one 
population in each region. We estimated that the yellow lance currently 
has reduced adaptive potential relative to historical potential due to 
decreased representation in seven river basins and three physiographic 
regions. The species retains most of its known river basin variability, 
but its distribution has been greatly reduced in the Rappahannock, 
York, Chowan, and Neuse River populations. In addition, compared to 
historical distribution, the species has declined by 70 percent in the 
Coastal Plain region and by approximately 50 percent in both the 
Piedmont and the Mountain regions. Latitudinal variability is also 
reduced, as much of the species' current distribution has contracted 
and is largely limited to the southern portions of its historical 
range, primarily in the Tar River Basin.
    While the overall range of the yellow lance has not changed 
significantly, the remaining occupied portions of the range have become 
constricted within each basin and the species is largely limited to the 
southern portions of its historical range. One population (the Tar 
population) was estimated to be moderately resilient, but all other 
extant populations exhibit low resiliency. Redundancy was estimated as 
the number of historically occupied MUs that remain currently occupied. 
The species retains redundancy (albeit in low condition) within the 
Rappahannock, Chowan, and Neuse River populations, and one population 
(Tar) has multiple moderate or highly resilient management units. 
Overall, the species has decreased redundancy across its range due to 
an estimated 57 percent reduction in occupancy compared to historical 
levels.
    The largest threats to the future viability of the yellow lance are 
habitat degradation from stressors influencing water quality, water 
quantity, instream habitat, and habitat connectivity. The stressors we 
identified that have led to the degradation of the yellow lance habitat 
include development, agricultural practices, forest management, 
barriers such as dams and impoundments, and invasive species. A brief 
summary of these primary stressors is presented below; for a full 
description of these stressors, refer to chapter 4 of the SSA report 
for the yellow lance.
    Development: Development refers to urbanization of the landscape, 
including (but not limited to) land conversion for urban and commercial 
use, infrastructure (roads, bridges, utilities), and urban water uses 
(water supply reservoirs, wastewater treatment, etc.). The effects of 
urbanization may include alterations to water quality, water quantity, 
and habitat (Factor A). Yellow lance adults require clear, flowing 
water with a temperature less than 35 degrees Celsius ([deg]C) (95 
degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F)) and a dissolved oxygen greater than 3 
milligrams per liter (mg/L). Juveniles require very specific 
interstitial chemistry to complete that life stage: Low salinity 
(similar to 0.9 parts per thousand (ppt)), low ammonia (similar to 0.7 
mg/L), low levels of copper and other contaminants, and dissolved 
oxygen greater than 1.3 mg/L.
    Impervious surfaces associated with development negatively affect 
water quality when pollutants that accumulate on impervious surfaces 
are washed directly into the streams during storm events. Storm water 
runoff affects water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, 
dissolved oxygen, and salinity, which in turn alters the water 
chemistry and could make it unsuitable for the yellow lance. 
Concentrations of contaminants, including nitrogen, phosphorus, 
chloride, insecticides,

[[Page 14194]]

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and personal care products, increase 
with urban development.
    Urban development can lead to increased variability in streamflow, 
typically increasing the amount of water entering a stream after a 
storm and decreasing the time it takes for the water to travel over the 
land before entering the stream. Stream habitat is altered either 
directly via channelization or clearing of riparian areas, or 
indirectly via high streamflows that reshape the channel and cause 
sediment erosion. Impervious surfaces associated with increased 
development cause rain water to accumulate and flow rapidly into storm 
drains, thereby becoming superheated, which can stress or kill these 
mussel species when the superheated water enters streams. Pollutants 
like gasoline, oil, and fertilizers are also washed directly into 
streams and can kill mussels and other aquatic organisms. The large 
volumes and velocity of water combined with the extra debris and 
sediment entering streams following a storm can stress, displace, or 
kill the yellow lance, and the host fish species upon which it depends.
    A further risk of urbanization is the accompanying road development 
that often results in improperly constructed culverts at stream 
crossings. These culverts act as barriers, either as flow through the 
culvert varies significantly from the rest of the stream, or if the 
culvert ends up being perched above the stream bed, and host fish (and, 
therefore, the yellow lance) cannot pass through them. This scenario 
leads to loss of access to quality habitat, as well as fragmented 
habitat and a loss of connectivity between populations of the yellow 
lance. This situation can limit both genetic exchange and 
recolonization opportunities.
    Significant portions of all of the river basins within the range of 
the yellow lance are affected by development, from 7 percent in the Tar 
River basin to 25 percent in the Patuxent River basin (based on the 
2011 National Land Cover Data). The Neuse River basin in North Carolina 
contains one-sixth of the entire State's population, indicating heavy 
development pressure on the watershed. The Nottoway MU (in the Chowan 
population) contains 155 impaired stream miles, 4 major discharges, 32 
minor discharges, and over 3,000 road crossings, affecting the quality 
of the habitat for the yellow lance. The Potomac River basin is 
currently made up of 12.7 percent impervious surfaces, changing natural 
streamflow, reducing appropriate stream habitat, and decreasing water 
quality throughout the population. For complete data on all of the 
populations, refer to appendix D of the SSA report.
    Agricultural Practices: The main impacts to the yellow lance from 
agricultural practices are from nutrient pollution and water pumping 
for irrigation (Factor A). Fertilizers and animal manure, which are 
both rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, are the primary sources of 
nutrient pollution from agricultural sources. Excess nutrients impact 
water quality when it rains or when water and soil containing nitrogen 
and phosphorus wash into nearby waters or leach into the water table/
ground waters causing algal blooms. These algal blooms can harm 
freshwater mussels by suffocating host fish and decreasing available 
oxygen in the water column.
    It is common practice to pump water for irrigation from adjacent 
streams or rivers into a reservoir pond, or to spray the stream or 
river water directly onto crops. If the water withdrawal is excessive 
or done illegally, it reduces the amount of water available to 
downstream sensitive areas during low-flow months, resulting in 
dewatering of channels and stranding of mussels, leading to desiccation 
and death. In the Rappahannock River basin, for example, the upper 
watershed supports largely agricultural land uses. Sedimentation is a 
problem in the upper watershed, as stormwater runoff from the major 
tributaries (Rapidan and Hazel rivers) leaves the Rappahannock River 
muddy even after minor storm events. According to the 2011 National 
Land Cover Data, all of the watersheds within the range of the yellow 
lance are affected by agricultural land uses, most with 20 percent or 
more of the watershed having been converted for agricultural use.
    Forest Management: Silviculture activities when performed according 
to strict forest practices guidelines (FPGs) or best management 
practices (BMPs) can retain adequate conditions for aquatic ecosystems; 
however, when FPGs/BMPs are not followed, silviculture can contribute 
to the myriad of stressors facing aquatic systems in the Southeast. 
Both small- and large-scale forestry activities have a significant 
impact upon the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of 
adjacent small streams. The clearing of large areas of forested 
wetlands and riparian systems can eliminate shade provided by these 
canopies, exposing streams to more sunlight and increasing the in-
stream water temperature. The increase in stream temperature and light 
after deforestation alters the macroinvertebrate and other aquatic 
species richness and abundance composition in streams. As stated above, 
the yellow lance is sensitive to changes in temperature, and sustained 
temperature increases stress and possibly lead to mortality for the 
species.
    Forestry activities often include the construction of logging roads 
through the riparian zone, which can directly degrade nearby stream 
environments (Aust et al. 2011, p. 123). Roads can cause localized 
sedimentation, as well as sedimentation traveling downstream into more 
sensitive habitats. These effects lead to stress and mortality for the 
yellow lance, as discussed in ``Development,'' above. While BMPs are 
currently widely adhered to, they were not always common practice in 
the past. The average implementation rate of BMPs in the southeast 
states is at 92 percent. While improper implementation is rare, it can 
have drastic negative effects on sensitive aquatic species like 
freshwater mussels. One small area of riparian zone that is removed can 
cause sedimentation and habitat degradation for miles downstream.

Systematic Changes

    Climate Change (Factor E): Aquatic systems are encountering changes 
and shifts in seasonal patterns of precipitation and runoff as a result 
of climate change. While mussels have evolved in habitats that 
experience seasonal fluctuations in discharge, global weather patterns 
can have an impact on the normal regimes (e.g., El Ni[ntilde]o or La 
Ni[ntilde]a). Even during naturally occurring low-flow events, mussels 
become stressed either because they exert significant energy to move to 
deeper waters or they succumb to desiccation. Because low flows in late 
summer and early fall are stress-inducing, droughts during this time of 
year result in stress and, potentially, an increased rate of mortality. 
Droughts have impacted all river basins within the range of the yellow 
lance, from an ``abnormally dry'' ranking for North Carolina and 
Virginia in 2001 on the Southeast Drought Monitor scale to the highest 
ranking of ``exceptionally dry'' for the entire range of the yellow 
lance in 2002 and 2007. The 2015 drought data indicated the entire 
Southeast ranging from ``abnormally dry'' to ``moderate drought'' or 
``severe drought.'' These data are from the first week in September, 
indicating a very sensitive time for drought to be affecting the yellow 
lance. The Middle Neuse tributaries of the Neuse River basin had 
consecutive drought years from 2005 through 2012, indicating sustained

[[Page 14195]]

stress on the species over a long period of time. Sedentary freshwater 
mussels have limited refugia from disturbances such as droughts and 
floods, and they are completely dependent on specific water 
temperatures to complete their physiological requirements. Changes in 
water temperature lead to stress, increased mortality, and also 
increase the likelihood of extinction for the species. Increases in the 
frequency and strength of storm events alter stream habitat. Stream 
habitat is altered either directly via channelization or clearing of 
riparian areas, or indirectly via high streamflows that reshape the 
channel and cause sediment erosion. The large volumes and velocity of 
water, combined with the extra debris and sediment entering streams 
following a storm, stress, displace, or kill yellow lance and the host 
fish species on which it depends.
    Invasive Species: In many areas across the States of Maryland, 
Virginia, and North Carolina, aquatic invasive species are invading 
aquatic communities and altering biodiversity by competing with native 
species for food, light, or breeding and nesting areas. For example, 
the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) alters benthic substrates, competes 
with native species for limited resources, and causes ammonia spikes in 
surrounding water when they die off en masse. The Asian clam is 
ubiquitous across the southeastern United States and is present in 
watersheds across the range of the yellow lance. The flathead catfish 
(Pylodictis olivaris) is an apex predator known to feed on almost 
anything, including other fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, and to 
impact host fish communities, reducing the amount of fish available as 
hosts for the mussels to complete their glochidia life stage. 
Introductions of flathead catfish into rivers in North Carolina have 
led to steep declines in numbers of native fish. The flathead catfish 
has been documented in the Potomac, James, Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse 
river systems.
    Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), an aquatic plant, alters stream 
habitat, decreases flows, and contributes to sediment buildup in 
streams. High sedimentation can cause suffocation, reduce stream flow, 
and make it difficult for mussels' interactions with host fish 
necessary for development. Hydrilla occurs in several watersheds where 
the yellow lance occurs, including recent documentation from the Tar 
River. The dense growth is altering the flow in this system and causing 
sediment buildup, which can cause suffocation in filter-feeding 
mussels. While data are lacking on hydrilla currently having 
population-level effects on the yellow lance, the spread of this 
invasive plant is expected to increase in the future.
    Barriers: Extinction/extirpation of North American freshwater 
mussels can be traced to impoundment and inundation of riffle habitats 
(shallow water with rapid currents running over gravel or rocks) in all 
major river basins of the central and eastern United States (Factor A). 
Upstream of dams, the change from flowing to impounded waters, 
increased depths, increased buildup of sediments, decreased dissolved 
oxygen, and the drastic alteration in resident fish populations can 
threaten the survival of mussels and their overall reproductive 
success. Downstream of dams, fluctuations in flow regimes, minimal 
releases and scouring flows, seasonal dissolved oxygen depletion, 
reduced or increased water temperatures, and changes in fish 
assemblages can also threaten the survival and reproduction of many 
mussel species. Because the yellow lance uses smaller host fish (e.g., 
darters and minnows), it is even more susceptible to impacts from 
habitat fragmentation due to increasing distance between suitable 
habitat patches and a low likelihood of host fish swimming over that 
distance. Even improperly constructed culverts at stream crossings can 
act as significant barriers and have some similar effects as dams on 
stream systems. Fluctuating flows through the culvert can vary 
significantly from the rest of the stream, preventing fish passage and 
scouring downstream habitats. If a culvert ends up being perched above 
the stream bed, aquatic organisms cannot pass through it. These 
barriers not only fragment habitats along a stream course, they also 
contribute to genetic isolation of the yellow lance. All 12 of the MUs 
containing yellow lance populations have been impacted by dams, with as 
few as 3 dams in the Fishing Creek subbasin to more than 100 dams in 
the York basin (Service 2016, appendix D). The Middle Neuse contains 
237 dams and more than 5,000 stream crossings, so connectivity there 
has been severely affected by barriers.

Synergistic Effects

    In addition to the impacts on the yellow lance individually, it is 
likely that several of the above summarized risk factors are acting 
synergistically or additively on the species. The combined impact of 
multiple stressors is likely more harmful than a single stressor acting 
alone. For example, the Meherrin River MU contains four stream reaches 
with 34 miles of impaired streams. The stream reaches have low benthic-
macroinvertebrate scores, low dissolved oxygen, low pH, and contain 
Escherichia coli (also known as E. coli). There are 16 non-major and 2 
major discharges within this MU, along with 7 dams, 676 road crossings, 
and droughts recorded for 4 consecutive years in 2007-2010. The 
combination of all of these stressors on the sensitive aquatic species 
in this habitat has impacted yellow lance such that no individuals have 
been recorded here since 1994.
    To forecast the biological conditions of the yellow lance into the 
future, we devised a range of plausible future scenarios by eliciting 
expert information on the primary stressors anticipated to affect the 
species into the future: habitat loss and degradation due to 
urbanization and the effects of climate change. These scenarios were 
based, in part, on the results of urbanization (Terando et al. 2014) 
and climate models (IPCC, 2013) that predict changes in habitat used by 
the yellow lance. The models that were used to forecast urbanization 
into the future projected out 50 years, and climate change models 
included that timeframe as well. The range of plausible future 
scenarios of yellow lance habitat conditions and population factors 
suggest possible extirpation in as many as five of seven currently 
extant populations. Even the most optimistic model predicted that only 
two populations will remain extant in 50 years, and those populations 
are expected to be characterized by low occupancy and abundance. For a 
more-detailed discussion of our evaluation of the biological status of 
the yellow lance and the factors that may affect its continued 
existence, please see the SSA Report (Service, 2017 entire) and the 
proposed rule (82 FR 16559, April 4, 2017).

Determination

    Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533), and its implementing 
regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 
part 424, set forth the procedures for adding species to the Federal 
Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Under section 
4(a)(1) of the Act, we may list a species based on (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) the inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors 
affecting its continued existence.

[[Page 14196]]

    We have carefully assessed the best scientific and commercial 
information available regarding the past, present, and future threats 
to the yellow lance. The yellow lance is presumed extirpated from 25 
percent (3) of the historically occupied MUs, with most populations 
characterized by low resiliency. Most of the streams that remain part 
of the current species' range are estimated to be in low or very low 
condition with decreased occupancy of yellow lance.
    The yellow lance faces threats from declines in water quality, loss 
of stream flow, riparian and instream fragmentation, and deterioration 
of instream habitats (Factor A). These threats, which are expected to 
be exacerbated by continued urbanization (Factor A) and effects of 
climate change (Factor E), will impact the future viability of the 
yellow lance. We did not find that the yellow lance was impacted by 
overutilization (Factor B), or disease or predation (Factor C). While 
there are regulatory mechanisms in place that may benefit the yellow 
lance, the existing regulatory mechanisms did not reduce the impact of 
the stressors to the point that the species is not threatened by 
extinction (Factor D).
    The Act defines an endangered species as any species that is ``in 
danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its 
range'' and a threatened species as any species ``that is likely to 
become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range 
within the foreseeable future.'' We considered whether the yellow lance 
meets either of these definitions, and we find that the yellow lance 
meets the definition of a threatened species. Our analysis of the 
species' current and future conditions, as well as the conservation 
efforts discussed above, show that habitat modification and destruction 
(Factor A) and other natural and manmade factors (Factor E) will 
continue to impact the resiliency, representation, and redundancy for 
the yellow lance so that it is likely to become in danger of extinction 
throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the 
foreseeable future.
    We considered whether the yellow lance is currently in danger of 
extinction and determined that endangered status is not appropriate. 
The current conditions as assessed in the yellow lance SSA report show 
multiple resilient populations over a majority of the species' 
historical range. The yellow lance still exhibits representation across 
all three physiographic regions, and extant populations remain from the 
Patuxent River south to the Neuse River. While habitat modification and 
destruction (Factor A), invasive species (Factor E), and effects of 
climate change (Factor E) are currently acting on the species and many 
of those threats are expected to continue into the future, we did not 
find that the species is currently in danger of extinction throughout 
all of its range. According to our assessment of plausible future 
scenarios, the species is likely to become an endangered species in the 
foreseeable future throughout all of its range.
    Under the Act and our implementing regulations, a species warrants 
listing if it is endangered or threatened throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range. Because we have determined that the 
yellow lance is threatened throughout all of its range, no portion of 
its range can be ``significant'' for purposes of the definitions of 
``endangered species'' and ``threatened species.'' See the Final Policy 
on Interpretation of the Phrase ``Significant Portion of Its Range'' in 
the Endangered Species Act's Definitions of ``Endangered Species'' and 
``Threatened Species'' (79 FR 37577; July 1, 2014).
    Therefore, on the basis of the best available scientific and 
commercial information, we are listing the yellow lance as threatened 
in accordance with sections 3(6) and 4(a)(1) of the Act.

Available Conservation Measures

    Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or 
threatened species under the Act include recognition, recovery actions, 
requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain 
practices. Recognition through listing results in public awareness and 
conservation by Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, private 
organizations, and individuals. The Act encourages cooperation with the 
States and requires that recovery actions be carried out for all listed 
species. The protection required by Federal agencies and the 
prohibitions against certain activities are discussed, in part, below.

Recovery Actions

    The primary purpose of the Act is the conservation of endangered 
and threatened species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The 
ultimate goal of such conservation efforts is the recovery of these 
listed species, so that they no longer need the protective measures of 
the Act. Subsection 4(f) of the Act requires the Service to develop and 
implement recovery plans for the conservation of endangered and 
threatened species. The recovery planning process involves the 
identification of actions that are necessary to halt or reverse the 
species' decline by addressing the threats to its survival and 
recovery. The goal of this process is to restore listed species to a 
point where they are secure, self-sustaining, and functioning 
components of their ecosystems.
    Recovery planning includes the development of a recovery outline 
shortly after a species is listed and preparation of a draft and final 
recovery plan. The recovery outline guides the immediate implementation 
of urgent recovery actions and describes the process to be used to 
develop a recovery plan. Revisions of the plan may be done to address 
continuing or new threats to the species, as new substantive 
information becomes available. The recovery plan identifies site-
specific management actions that set a trigger for review of the five 
factors that control whether a species remains endangered or may be 
downlisted or delisted and methods for monitoring recovery progress. 
Recovery plans also establish a framework for agencies to coordinate 
their recovery efforts and provide estimates of the cost of 
implementing recovery tasks. Recovery teams (composed of species 
experts, Federal and State agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and 
stakeholders) are often established to develop recovery plans. When 
completed, the recovery outline, draft recovery plan, and the final 
recovery plan will be available on our website (https://www.fws.gov/endangered) or from our Raleigh field office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Implementation of recovery actions generally requires the 
participation of a broad range of partners, including other Federal 
agencies, States, Tribal, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, 
and private landowners. Examples of recovery actions include habitat 
restoration (e.g., restoration of native vegetation), research, captive 
propagation and reintroduction, and outreach and education. The 
recovery of many listed species cannot be accomplished solely on 
Federal lands because their range may occur primarily or solely on non-
Federal lands. To achieve recovery of these species requires 
cooperative conservation efforts on private, State, and Tribal lands.
    Following publication of this final listing rule, funding for 
recovery actions will be available from a variety of sources, including 
Federal budgets, State programs, and cost-share grants for non-Federal 
landowners, the academic community, and nongovernmental organizations. 
In addition, pursuant to section 6 of the Act, the States of Maryland, 
Virginia, and North Carolina

[[Page 14197]]

will be eligible for Federal funds to implement management actions that 
promote the protection or recovery of the yellow lance. Information on 
our grant programs that are available to aid species recovery can be 
found at: https://www.fws.gov/grants.
    Please let us know if you are interested in participating in 
recovery efforts for the yellow lance. Additionally, we invite you to 
submit any new information on this species whenever it becomes 
available and any information you may have for recovery planning 
purposes (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Critical Habitat

    Section 7(a) of the Act requires Federal agencies to evaluate their 
actions with respect to any species that is listed as an endangered or 
threatened species and with respect to its critical habitat, if any is 
designated. Regulations implementing this interagency cooperation 
provision of the Act are codified at 50 CFR part 402. Section 7(a)(2) 
of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities they 
authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or destroy 
or adversely modify its critical habitat. If a Federal action may 
affect a listed species or its critical habitat, the responsible 
Federal agency must enter into consultation with the Service.
    Federal agency actions within the species' habitat that may require 
conference or consultation or both as described in the preceding 
paragraph include management and any other landscape-altering 
activities on Federal lands administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service; issuance of 
section 404 Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) permits by the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and construction and maintenance of roads 
or highways by the Federal Highway Administration.
    A careful assessment of the economic impacts that may occur due to 
a critical habitat designation is still ongoing, and we are in the 
process of working with the States and other partners in acquiring the 
complex information needed to perform that assessment. A proposed rule 
to designate critical habitat will be published in the near future.

Regulatory Provisions

    Under section 4(d) of the Act, the Service has discretion to issue 
regulations that we find necessary and advisable to provide for the 
conservation of threatened species. The Act and its implementing 
regulations set forth a series of general prohibitions and exceptions 
that apply to threatened wildlife. The prohibitions of section 9(a)(1) 
of the Act, as applied to threatened wildlife and codified at 50 CFR 
17.31, make it illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of 
the United States to take (which includes harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect; or to attempt any of 
these) threatened wildlife within the United States or on the high 
seas. In addition, it is unlawful to import; export; deliver, receive, 
carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce in the 
course of commercial activity; or sell or offer for sale in interstate 
or foreign commerce any listed species. It is also illegal to possess, 
sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship any such wildlife that has 
been taken illegally.
    We may issue permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities 
involving threatened wildlife under certain circumstances. Regulations 
governing permits are codified at 50 CFR 17.32. With regard to 
threatened wildlife, a permit may be issued for the following purposes: 
for scientific purposes, to enhance the propagation or survival of the 
species, and for incidental take in connection with otherwise lawful 
activities. There are also certain statutory exemptions from the 
prohibitions, which are found in sections 9 and 10 of the Act.
    It is our policy, as published in the Federal Register on July 1, 
1994 (59 FR 34272), to identify to the maximum extent practicable at 
the time a species is listed, those activities that would or would not 
constitute a violation of section 9 of the Act. The intent of this 
policy is to increase public awareness of the effect of a final listing 
on proposed and ongoing activities within the range of a listed 
species. Activities that the Service believes could potentially harm 
the yellow lance and result in ``take'' include, but are not limited 
to:
    (1) Unauthorized handling or collecting of the species;
    (2) Destruction or alteration of the species' habitat by discharge 
of fill material, dredging, snagging, impounding, channelization, or 
modification of stream channels or banks;
    (3) Destruction of riparian habitat directly adjacent to stream 
channels that causes significant increases in sedimentation and 
destruction of natural stream banks or channels;
    (4) Discharge of pollutants into a stream or into areas 
hydrologically connected to a stream occupied by the species;
    (5) Diversion or alteration of surface or ground water flow; and
    (6) Pesticide/herbicide applications in violation of label 
restrictions.
    Questions regarding whether specific activities would constitute a 
violation of section 9 of the Act should be directed to the Raleigh 
Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Required Determinations

National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)

    We have determined that environmental assessments and environmental 
impact statements, as defined under the authority of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), need not be prepared in connection 
with listing a species as an endangered or threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act. We published a notice outlining our reasons for 
this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 
49244).

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994 
(Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments; 59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments), and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with recognized Federal 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with 
Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian Tribal Rights, 
Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act), 
we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work directly with 
tribes in developing programs for healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge 
that tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as Federal 
public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to make 
information available to tribes. There are no tribal lands affected by 
this listing determination.

References Cited

    A complete list of references cited in the SSA Report that informed 
this rulemaking is available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2017-0017 and upon request 
from the Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

[[Page 14198]]

Authors

    The primary authors of this final rule are the staff members of the 
Fish and Wildlife Service's Species Assessment Team and the Raleigh 
Ecological Services Field Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245; 
unless otherwise noted.


0
2. Amend Sec.  17.11 in paragraph (h) by adding an entry for ``Lance, 
yellow'' to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in 
alphabetical order under CLAMS to read as follows:


Sec.  17.11   Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Listing citations and
          Common name              Scientific name      Where listed          Status         applicable rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
             Clams
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Lance, yellow..................  Elliptio            Wherever found....               T   83 FR [Insert Federal
                                  lanceolata.                                              Register page where
                                                                                           the document begins];
                                                                                           4/3/2018.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

    Dated February 23, 2018.
James W. Kurth,
Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, exercising the 
authority of the Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-06735 Filed 4-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P