The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) published a Direct Final Rule (“DFR”) in the February 17th Federal Register announcing the revised taxonomy of 16 wildlife species under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”). See 87 Fed. Reg. 8960.
The 16 wildlife species include southeastern mussels, snails, and a reptile.
One of the specie’s historical range included the State of Arkansas.
The Service characterizes the purpose of the DFR as notification to the public that it is revising the list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife List (“List”) in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations and/or other applicable regulations to:
. . . reflect the scientifically accepted taxonomy and nomenclature of 13 freshwater mussel species, 2 snail species, and 1 reptile species listed under Section 4 of the Act.
Such changes to the List and/or other applicable regulations are described as reflecting the most recently accepted scientific name in accordance with 50 C.F.R. 17.11(c).
The Service states it is publishing the DFR without a prior proposal because it considers this a noncontroversial action and in the best interest of the public.
The wildlife species whose historical range includes Arkansas had been listed as the Ouachita rock-pocketbook (Arkansia wheeler). The Service is specifying a corrected species name as Ouachita rock pocketbook (Arcidens wheeler).
This species had been designated as endangered under the ESA in 1991. See 56 Fed. Reg. 54950.
The Federal Register Notice, which includes a listing of all relevant species, can be downloaded here.
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