Peer Review of Scientific Information

5-year Status Reviews of 7 Mussel Species:

Fat Threeridge (Amblema neislerii),
Shinyrayed Pocketbook (Lampsilissubangulata),
Gulf Moccasinshell (Medionidus penicillatus),
Ochlockonee Moccasinshell (Medionidus simpsonianus),
Oval Pigtoe (Pleurobema pyriforme),
Chipola Slabshell (Elliptio chipolaensis),
Purple Bankclimber (Elliptoideus sloatianus)

About the Document

Title: Five-year Status Reviews of the Fat Threeridge, Shinyrayed Pocketbook, Gulf Moccasinshell, Ochlockonee Moccasinshell, Oval Pigtoe, Chipola Slabshell, Purple Bankclimber

Purpose: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is conducting a 5-year status review of the federally listed, endangered fat threeridge, shinyrayed pocketbook, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, oval pigtoe, and threatened Chipola slabshell and purple bankclimber under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).  The purpose of reviews conducted under this section of the Act is to ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12) is accurate.  A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review.  On the basis of such reviews, we determine whether or not any species should be removed from the List (delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered.  Delisting a species must be supported by the best scientific and commercial data available and only considered if such data substantiate that the species is neither endangered nor threatened for one or more of the following reasons: (1) the species is considered extinct; (2) the species is considered to be recovered; and/or (3) the original data available when the species was listed, or the interpretation of such data, were in error.  Any change in Federal classification would require a separate rulemaking process.

About the Peer Review Process

Type of Review:  Influential

Date of Peer Review: Peer review will occur between July 2007 and August 2007.

Estimated Dissemination Date of the Final 5-year Review Document: September 2007.

Process: The Service will conduct external peer review of this document through electronic letters sent to five independent scientific reviewers with expertise in freshwater mussel biology, population demography, conservation biology, and management.

The Service will make formal requests for peer review from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and two other recognized experts from the private sector.  Peer review of the scientific information used in our analysis of the status of these seven mussel species and the validity of the data will be requested, but peer reviewers will not be asked to provide recommendations on the legal status of these species.

The Service will use the information received from the peer review, as appropriate, in the conclusions and recommendations for the 5-year review of these species.

About Public Participation

Public comments on the 5 year review for the fat threeridge, shinyrayed pocketbook, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, oval pigtoe, Chipola slabshell and purple bankclimber were sought with a Federal Register announcement on September 27, 2006 (71 FR 56545), and the distribution by mail and press release of this announcement to interested parties.

The Service will post a notice on its website of the recommendation resulting from the 5-year review of the fat threeridge, shinyrayed pocketbook, Gulf moccasinshell, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, oval pigtoe, Chipola slabshell and purple bankclimber, including a summary of the results of the peer review process.  If this 5-year review results in a recommendation to change the status of any of these seven species, additional public review and comment will be sought within the proposed rulemaking process.

This peer review plan is made available on this website to allow the public to monitor our compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.

Contact

Karen Herrington, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Fisheries Resource Office, 850-769-0552 x 250.