FWS plans review of species

BONNERS FERRY — The Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating five-year reviews of 69 species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, including Idaho’s Kootenai River white sturgeon

The reviews, announced Wednesday, include species from Idaho, Washington, Hawai’i, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

As part of the reviews, FWS is opening a 60-day public comment period for the submission of scientific and commercial information relevant to their listing status under the act. The public, government agencies, tribes, industry and the scientific and conservation communities are asked to submit information by June 7.  However, the agency accepts new information about any listed species at any time.

The species to be reviewed include two mammals, a fish, 12 insects, and 54 plants. In the Pacific Northwest, in addition to the Kootenai River white sturgeon,  this includes the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit and northern Idaho ground squirrel.  The remaining 66 species are found in Hawai’i, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Periodic status reviews of all listed species are required by the Endangered Species Act at least once every five years to determine whether a species’ classification as threatened or endangered is still appropriate.  If the best scientific and commercial data produced since the time of listing are not consistent with the current classification of any species, the Service will recommend a change in the species’ federal classification. 

A species could be recommended for reclassification from endangered to threatened (downlisting), from threatened to endangered (uplisting), or for removal from the federal list of threatened and endangered species (delisting).

Any recommended change in classification would be subject to a separate rule-making process that includes opportunities for public review and comment. If no change in classification is recommended, the species would remain under its current listing status.

Information that is considered in a status review includes:

• Species biology, including but not limited to, population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics and genetics;

• Habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount, distribution and suitability;

• Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the species;

• Threat status and trends; and

• Other new information, data or corrections including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the list, and improved analytical methods.

For more information on the status reviews please see today’s Federal Register http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ 

A list of all completed and currently active five-year reviews addressing species for which the Pacific Region has lead responsibility is available at: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/5year.html

To ensure consideration in our reviews, we are requesting submission of new information no later than June 7.

For the Kootenai River white sturgeon and northern Idaho ground squirrel, submit information to: State Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, ID 83709.  Information can also be submitted by e-mail to: FW1SRBOcomment@fws.gov.

Species-specific questions for Kootenai River white sturgeon should be directed to Jason Flory at (509) 893-8003. Species-specific questions on the northern Idaho ground squirrel, should be directed to Kendra Womack, (208) 685-6951.