17.85—Special rules—invertebrates.
(a) Seventeen mollusks in the Tennessee River.
The species in the following table comprise nonessential experimental populations (NEPs):
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Cumberland bean (pearlymussel) | Villosa trabalis |
| tubercled blossom (pearlymussel) | Epioblasma torulosa torulosa |
| turgid blossom (pearlymussel) | Epioblasma turgidula |
| yellow blossom (pearlymussel) | Epioblasma florentina florentina |
| catspaw (purple cat's paw pearlymussel) | Epioblasma obliquata obliquata |
| clubshell | Pleurobema clava |
| Cumberlandian combshell | Epioblasma brevidens |
| Alabama lampmussel | Lampsilis virescens |
| winged mapleleaf (mussel) | Quadrula fragosa |
| Cumberland monkeyface (pearlymussel) | Quadrula intermedia |
| oyster mussel | Epioblasma capsaeformis |
| birdwing pearlymussel | Lemiox rimosus |
| cracking pearlymussel | Hemistena lata |
| dromedary pearlymussel | Dromus dromas |
| fine-rayed pigtoe | Fusconaia cuneolus |
| shiny pigtoe | Fusconaia cor |
| Anthony's riversnail | Athearnia anthonyi |
(1) Where are these mollusks designated as nonessential experimental populations (NEPs)?
(i)
The NEP Area for these 17 mollusks is within the species' historic ranges, and is defined as follows: The free-flowing reach of the Tennessee River from the base of Wilson Dam downstream to the backwaters of Pickwick Reservoir (river mile (RM) 259.4 [414.0 km] to RM 246.0 [393.6 km] and includes the lower 5 RM (8 km) of all tributaries to this reach in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama.
(ii)
None of the identified species are known to exist in any of the tributaries to the free-flowing reach of the Tennessee River below Wilson Dam or from below the backwaters of Pickwick Reservoir, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama. In the future, if any of the 17 mollusks are found upstream of the lower 5 RM (8 km) of these tributaries or downstream into Pickwick Reservoir, we will presume the animals came from the reintroduced NEP, and we will amend this rule and enlarge the boundaries of the NEP Area to include the entire range of the expanded population.
(iii)
We do not intend to change the NEP designations to “essential experimental,” “threatened,” or “endangered” within the NEP Area. Additionally, we will not designate critical habitat for these NEPs, as provided by 16 U.S.C. 1539(j)(2)(C)(ii).
(2) What activities are not allowed in the NEP Area?
(i)
Except as expressly allowed in this rule, all the prohibitions of 17.31(a) and (b) apply to the mollusks identified in this special rule.
(ii)
Any manner of take not described under paragraph (a)(3) of this section will not be allowed in the NEP Area. We may refer the unauthorized take of these species to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
(iii)
You may not possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, ship, import, or export by any means whatsoever any of the identified 17 mollusks, or parts thereof, that are taken or possessed in violation of these regulations or in violation of the applicable State fish and wildlife laws or regulations or the Act.
(iv)
You may not attempt to commit, solicit another to commit, or cause to be committed any offense defined in this paragraph (a).
(3) What take is allowed in the NEP Area?
(i)
Take of these species that is accidental and incidental to an otherwise lawful activity such as fishing, boating, commercial navigation, trapping, wading, or mussel harvesting, is allowed.
(ii)
Any individual collecting or harvesting mussels must check their collection prior to leaving the immediate area and return any NEP mussels to the site where they were obtained.
(4) How will the effectiveness of these reintroductions be monitored?
We will prepare periodic progress reports and fully evaluate these reintroduction efforts after 5 and 10 years to determine whether to continue or terminate the reintroduction efforts.
(b) Sixteen mollusks in the French Broad and Holston Rivers.
The species in the following table comprise nonessential experimental populations (NEP):
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Cumberland bean (pearlymussel) | Villosa trabalis |
| Cumberlandian combshell | Epioblasma brevidens |
| fanshell | Cyprogenia stegaria |
| Appalachian monkeyface (pearlymussel) | Quadrula sparsa |
| Cumberland monkeyface (pearlymussel) | Quadrula intermedia |
| oyster mussel | Epioblasma capsaeformis |
| birdwing pearlymussel | Lemiox rimosus |
| cracking pearlymussel | Hemistena lata |
| dromedary pearlymussel | Dromus dromas |
| fine-rayed pigtoe | Fusconaia cuneolus |
| rough pigtoe | Pleurobema plenum |
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| shiny pigtoe | Fusconaia cor |
| orange-foot pimpleback (pearlymussel) | Plethobasus cooperianus |
| ring pink (mussel) | Obovaria retusa |
| white wartyback (pearlymussel) | Plethobasus cicatricosus |
| Anthony's riversnail | Athearnia anthonyi |
(1) Where are these mollusks designated as NEPs?
(i)
The NEP area for these mollusks is within the species' historical range and is defined as follows: The French Broad River, Knox and Sevier Counties, Tennessee, from the base of Douglas Dam (river mile (RM) 32.3 (51.7 kilometers (km)) downstream to the confluence with the Holston River; then up the Holston River, Knox, Grainger, and Jefferson Counties, Tennessee, to the base of Cherokee Dam (RM 52.3 (83.7 km)); and the lower 5 RM (8 km) of all tributaries that enter these river reaches. None of the species identified in paragraph (b) are known to exist in any of the tributaries to the free-flowing reaches of the French Broad River below Douglas Dam, Knox and Sevier Counties, Tennessee, or of the Holston River below the Cherokee Dam, Knox, Grainger, and Jefferson Counties, Tennessee. Based on their habitat requirements, we do not expect these species to become established outside this NEP area. However, if any individuals are found upstream or downstream or into tributaries outside the designated NEP area, we would presume that they came from the reintroduced populations. We would then amend paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section to enlarge the boundaries of the NEP area to include the entire range of the expanded population.
(ii)
Another NEP area for 10 of these mollusks (Cumberland bean, Cumberlandian combshell, Cumberland monkeyface, oyster mussel, birdwing pearlymussel, cracking pearlymussel, dromedary pearlymussel, fine-rayed pigtoe, shiny pigtoe, and Anthony's riversnail) is provided in paragraph (a) of this section.
(iii)
We do not intend to change the NEP designations to “essential experimental,” “threatened,” or “endangered” within the NEP area. Additionally, we will not designate critical habitat for these NEPs, as provided by 16 U.S.C. 1539(j)(2)(C)(ii).
(2) What activities are not allowed in the NEP area?
(i)
Except as expressly allowed in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, all the prohibitions of § 17.31(a) and (b) apply to the mollusks identified in paragraph (b) of this section.
(ii)
Any manner of take not described under paragraph (b)(3) of this section will not be allowed in the NEP area. We may refer the unauthorized take of these species to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
(iii)
You may not possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, ship, import, or export by any means whatsoever any of the identified mollusks, or parts thereof, that are taken or possessed in violation of paragraph (b)(2) of this section or in violation of the applicable State fish and wildlife laws or regulations or the Act.
(iv)
You may not attempt to commit, solicit another to commit, or cause to be committed any offense defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(3) What take is allowed in the NEP area?
Take of these species that is accidental and incidental to an otherwise legal activity, such as recreation (e.g., fishing, boating, wading, trapping, or swimming), forestry, agriculture, and other activities that are in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, is allowed.
(4) How will the effectiveness of these reintroductions be monitored?
We will prepare periodic progress reports and fully evaluate these reintroduction efforts after 5 and 10 years to determine whether to continue or terminate the reintroduction efforts.
(5)
Note: Map of the NEP area in Tennessee for the 16 mollusks listed in paragraph (b) of this section follows:
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[66 FR 32263, June 14, 2001, as amended at 72 FR 52459, Sept. 13, 2007]