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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 85 / Wednesday, May 5, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
expected effect on the species now and in the foreseeable future.
The Act does not define the term foreseeable future, which appears in the statutory definition of threatened species. Our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.11d set forth a framework for evaluating the foreseeable future on a case-by-case basis. The term foreseeable future extends only so far into the future as the Service can reasonably determine that both the future threats and the species responses to those threats are likely. In other words, the foreseeable future is the period of time in which we can make reliable predictions. Reliable does not mean certain; it means sufficient to provide a reasonable degree of confidence in the prediction. Thus, a prediction is reliable if it is reasonable to depend on it when making decisions.
It is not always possible or necessary to define foreseeable future as a particular number of years. Analysis of the foreseeable future uses the best scientific and commercial data available and should consider the timeframes applicable to the relevant threats and to the species likely responses to those threats in view of its life-history characteristics. Data that are typically relevant to assessing the species biological response include speciesspecific factors such as lifespan, reproductive rates or productivity, certain behaviors, and other demographic factors.
In conducting our evaluation of the five factors provided in section 4a1 of the Act to determine whether the Samwel salamander Hydromantes samweli, Shasta salamander, H.
shastae, or Wintu salamander H.
wintu together referred to as the Shasta Complex salamanders meet the definition of endangered species or threatened species, we considered and thoroughly evaluated the best scientific and commercial information available regarding the past, present, and future threats for the three species.
We reviewed the petition, information available in our files, and other available published and unpublished information. Our evaluation included information from recognized experts as well as Federal and State government resource and land management agencies.
We developed a species status assessment SSA Service 2021a, entire for the Shasta Complex salamanders that contains more detailed biological information, species needs information, and information on the threats facing the three species and their habitat now and into the future. We also developed a species assessment form Service
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2021b, entire that contains our analysis of the listing factors and documents our determination that these species do not meet the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species. This supporting information can be found on the internet at http
www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWSR8ES20210009. The following is an informational summary of the finding for the Shasta Complex salamanders and information found in the SSA and species assessment form for the three species. Please see those documents for additional information.

2021b, entire, the SSA Service 2021a, entire, and this document as the Shasta Complex salamanders. The three salamanders are lungless web-footed salamanders that breathe through their skin and the mucous membrane in their mouth and throat. The three species are very similar except that the Shasta salamander has a longer third digit on the pes rear foot. The approximate length of the three species is approximately 2 to 2.5 inches 51 to 64
millimeters. The three species have short, strongly tapered, generally blunttipped tails and broad, flattened heads.

Previous Federal Actions On July 11, 2012, we received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to list 53 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the Shasta salamander Hydromantes shastae, as endangered or threatened under the Act Center for Biological Diversity 2012, entire. On September 18, 2015, we published in the Federal Register 80
FR 56423 our 90-day finding that the petition presented substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the Shasta salamander as endangered or threatened may be warranted based on impacts to the species habitat Factor A and other natural or humanmade factors Factor E. On April 23, 2018, the petitioners Center for Biological Diversity 2018, entire supplied us with a publication regarding a taxonomic split of the Shasta salamander into three separate species Samwel salamander Hydromantes samweli, Shasta salamander H. shastae, and Wintu salamander H. wintu Bingham et al.
2018, entire, and requested that we consider this information in our status review. On November 29, 2018, we received a complaint for not completing the 12-month finding. Per a court approved settlement agreement, we agreed to deliver a 12-month finding for the Shasta salamander to the Federal Register by April 30, 2021. This document complies with the settlement agreement.

Taxonomy and Genetic Information
Species Description The Shasta salamander was first described in 1953, as a single species Gorman and Camp 1953, entire. Since that time the scientific community has determined that the Shasta salamander is made up of three separate individual species Bingham et al. 2018, entire.
The three species are identified as the Samwel salamander Hydromantes samweli, Shasta salamander H.
shastae, and Wintu salamander H.
wintu. We refer to the three species in the species assessment form Service
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From 1953 to 2018, the Shasta salamander was recognized as a single species Gorman and Camp 1953, entire;
Gorman 1964, entire; Rovito 2010, entire. However, a high degree of variation in genetic structure and genetic divergence was found after both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA studies of the species were completed Wake et al. 1978, entire; Wake and Papenfuss 2005, entire; Bingham 2007, entire. As such, and as noted above, in 2018 the Shasta salamander was split into three separate species Bingham et al. 2018, entire. Based on this study, there are three divergent lineages made up of five genetic clades a group of organisms that evolved from a common ancestor Bingham et al. 2018, pp. 403, 407.
Hydromantes shastae and H. wintu make up two of the clades, with H.
samweli having three genetic clades Bingham et al. 2018, p. 408. This information has been published and the split of the Shasta salamander has been accepted by the scientific community.
After review of this information, we have determined that the three species are listable entities under the Act.
Habitat/Life History The three species are strictly terrestrial for their entire lives and must remain moist in order for individuals to absorb oxygen through their skin.
Consequently, the three salamanders are surface active only when it is moist and cool. Historically, the three species were thought to occur only in and around limestone rock outcrops or within limestone caves. In the last 25 years, the three species have been found in a broader range of habitats away from limestone, including other types of rock outcrops, and even habitats with no rock outcrop associations, such as areas with thick vegetative litter Lindstrand 2000, pp. 259261; Nauman and Olson 2004, pp. 3538; Lindstrand et al. 2012, pp. 236241.

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