Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-Year Review of Nine Northeastern Species

Resumo

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating 5-year reviews under the Endangered Species Act (Act), as amended, for nine northeastern species. We will review the following species, all listed as endangered under the Act: Maryland darter, Virginia fringed mountain snail, Virginia big-eared bat, Hay's Spring amphipod, Lee County Cave isopod, and Shenandoah salamander. We will also review the following threatened species: Knieskern's beaked-rush, small whorled pogonia, and Virginia sneezeweed. We conduct these reviews to ensure that our classification of each species on the lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants is accurate. A 5-year review assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the previous 5-year review for each species. Based on review results, we will determine whether we should change the listing status of any of these species.