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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 29, 2021 / Proposed Rules Evaluation of a Petition To List American Bumble Bee Species and Range American bumble bee Bombus pensylvanicus; Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; Canada Ontario; and Mexico.

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Petition History On February 1, 2021, we received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Bombus Pollinators Association of Law Students of Albany Law School, requesting that the American bumble bee be listed as an endangered species and critical habitat be designated for this species under the Act. The petition clearly identified itself as such and included the requisite identification information for the petitioner, required at 50 CFR 424.14c.
This finding addresses the petition.
Finding We reviewed the petition and sources cited in the petition. We considered the factors under the Acts section 4a1
and assessed the effect that the threats identified within the factorsas may be ameliorated or exacerbated by any existing regulatory mechanisms or conservation effortsmay have on the species now and in the foreseeable future. Based on our review of the petition and sources cited in the petition regarding pathogen spillover Factor C, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the American bumble bee as an endangered or threatened species may be warranted. The petitioners also present information suggesting the following may be threats to the American bumble bee: Habitat destruction from agricultural intensification, livestock grazing, and pesticide use; loss of genetic diversity;
climate change; and competition from nonnative honeybees. We will fully evaluate these potential threats during our status review, pursuant to the Acts requirement to review the best scientific and commercial information available when making our 12-month finding.
The basis for our finding on this petition and other information regarding our review of the petition can be found as an appendix at http

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www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWSR3ES20210063 under the Supporting Documents section.
Evaluation of a Petition To Downlist Florida Torreya Species and Range Florida torreya Torreya taxifolia;
northern Florida and Georgia.
Petition History On December 12, 2019, we received a petition dated September 9, 2018, from Connie Barlow, requesting that the Florida torreya be downlisted from endangered to threatened because the species does not meet the definition of an endangered species under the Act.
The petition clearly identified itself as such and included the requisite identification information for the petitioner, as specified at 50 CFR
424.14c. This finding addresses the petition.
Finding Based on our review of the petition and sources cited in the petition, we find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted for the Florida torreya. Based on the Services 2010 5year review, the species is considered extremely vulnerable due to its limited range, low population numbers, and rarity of habitat. The primary decline in species abundance is thought to have resulted from fungal pathogens during the 1950s and 1960s, and/or a combination of environmental stress and native pathogens, but studies have yet to provide an explanation.
We found that the petition does not present credible scientific and commercial information to support the claim that the destruction, modification, or curtailment of the Florida torreyas habitat or range have been ameliorated Factor A. Additionally, the petition does not provide substantial evidence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the historical range of the Florida torreya is larger than described at the time the species was listed. We acknowledge that the petition provides additional documentation on the effects of disease at localities outside of the Florida torreyas native range Factor C, including the locations and conditions of many northern outplantings, and provides new information regarding the species natural history and best propagation practices Factor E;
however, the petition does not present substantial information indicating that the primary threats to the species have been reduced or removed such that the
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species may be warranted for downlisting to threatened status.
Because the petition does not present substantial information indicating that downlisting the Florida torreya may be warranted, we are not initiating a status review of this species in response to this petition. However, we ask that the public submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, this species or its habitat at any time see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above.
The basis for our finding on this petition, and other information regarding our review of the petition, can be found as an appendix at http
www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWSR4ES20210064 under the Supporting Documents section.
Evaluation of a Petition To List Long Valley Speckled Dace Species and Range Long Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp.; historical range: Upper Owens River watershed, Mono County, California; current range:
Whitmore Hot Spring, Mono County, California. Long Valley speckled dace may be extirpated in the wild, and only found in an artificial pond in Inyo County, California, outside of their historical range.
Petition History On June 24, 2020, we received a petition, dated June 8, 2020, from the Center for Biological Diversity CBD, requesting that the Service take several actions regarding three speckled dace entities, including the Long Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp.. Only the request to list the Long Valley speckled dace as an endangered, separate subspecies of speckled dace R.
osculus was found to be a valid petition.
The CBD clearly identified their document as a petition and included the requisite identification information for the petitioner, required at 50 CFR
424.14c. This finding addresses the petition for the Long Valley speckled dace.
Finding We reviewed the petition, sources cited in the petition, and other readily available information. Based on our review of the petition and readily available information regarding geothermal energy development Factor A, surface water diversions Factor A, habitat alteration from recreational activities Factor A, livestock grazing Factor A, disease Factor C, regulatory
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