PROPOSED RULES

TITLE 15A - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Notice is hereby given in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.2 that the Wildlife Resources Commission intends to amend the rules cited as 15A NCAC 10I .0103-.0105.

Link to agency website pursuant to G.S. 150B-19.1(c): www.ncwildlife.org

Proposed Effective Date: October 1, 2017

Public Hearing:

Date: April 18, 2017

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: WRC Headquarters, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606

Date: April 24, 2017

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Craven Community College, Orringer Auditorium, 800 College Court, New Bern, NC 28562

Date: April 25, 2017

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Western Piedmont Community College, Foothills Higher Education Center, 2128 S. Sterling St., Room 163, Morganton, NC 28655

Reason for Proposed Action: As part of its mission, WRC adopts and publishes an endangered species list, a threatened species list and a list of special concern species, as required by G.S. 113-333. Lists are amended from time-to-time, in response to public proposals or as the Commission deems necessary.

Comments may be submitted to: Carrie Ruhlman, Rule-making Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701; email regulations@ncwildlife.org

Comment period ends: May 15, 2017

Procedure for Subjecting a Proposed Rule to Legislative Review: If an objection is not resolved prior to the adoption of the rule, a person may also submit written objections to the Rules Review Commission after the adoption of the Rule. If the Rules Review Commission receives written and signed objections after the adoption of the Rule in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.3(b2) from 10 or more persons clearly requesting review by the legislature and the Rules Review Commission approves the rule, the rule will become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1). The Commission will receive written objections until 5:00 p.m. on the day following the day the Commission approves the rule. The Commission will receive those objections by mail, delivery service, hand delivery, or facsimile transmission. If you have any further questions concerning the submission of objections to the Commission, please call a Commission staff attorney at 919-431-3000.

Fiscal impact (check all that apply).

CHAPTER 10 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND WATER SAFETY

SUBCHAPTER 10I - ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES

SECTION .0100 - ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES

15A NCAC 10I .0103 ENDANGERED SPECIES LISTED

(a) The following species of resident wildlife shall be designated as federally-listed endangered species:

(1) Amphibians: None Listed At This Time.

None Listed At This Time.

(2) Birds:

(A) Bachman's warbler (Vermivora bachmanii);

(B) Ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis);

(C) Kirtland's warbler (Dendroica Setophaga kirtlandii);

(D) Piping plover (Charadrius melodus circumcinctus);

(E) Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis); and

(F) Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii dougalli); and dougallii).

(G) Wood stork (Mycteria americana).

(3) Crustacea: None Listed At This Time.

(4) Fish:

(A) Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas);

(B) Roanoke logperch (Percina rex);

(C) Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), when found in inland fishing waters as defined in G.S. 113-129(9a) and (9b); and

(D) Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), when found in inland fishing waters.

(5) Mammals:

(A) Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus);

(B) Eastern cougar (Puma concolor);

(C) Gray bat (Myotis grisescens);

(D) Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis);

(E) Manatee (Trichechus manatus), when found in inland fishing waters; and

(F) Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus).

(6) Mollusks:

(A) Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana);

(B) Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata);

(C) Dwarf wedge mussel wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon);

(D) James spinymussel (Pleurobema collina);

(E) Little-wing Littlewing pearlymussel (Pegias fabula);

(F) Tan riffleshell (Epioblasma florentina walkeri); and

(G) Tar River spinymussel (Elliptio steinstansana).

(7) Reptiles:

(A) Kemp's ridley seaturtle (Lepidochelys kempii);

(B) Atlantic hawksbill seaturtle (Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata); and

(C) Leatherback seaturtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

(b) The following species of resident wildlife shall be designated as state-listed endangered species:

(1) Amphibians: Green salamander (Aneides aeneus).

(A) Gopher frog (Rana [=Lithobates] capito);

(B) Ornate chorus frog (Pseudacris ornata); and

(C) River frog (Rana [=Lithobates] heckscheri).

(2) Birds:

(A) American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum); and

(B) Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii). bewickii);

(C) Common tern (Sterna hirundo);

(D) Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii); and

(E) Wayne's black-throated green warbler (Setophaga virens waynei).

(3) Crustacea: Bennett's Mill cave water slater (Caecidotea carolinensis).

(A) Bennett's Mill cave water slater (Caecidotea carolinensis).

(4) Fish:

(A) Blotchside logperch (Percina burtoni);

(B) Bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus);

(C) Dusky darter (Percina sciera);

(D) Orangefin madtom (Noturus gilberti);

(E) Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula);

(F) Robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum);

(G) Rustyside sucker (Thoburnia hamiltoni); and

(H) Sharpnose darter (Percina oxyrhyncus); and

(H)(I) Stonecat (Noturus flavus).

(5) Mammals: None Listed At This Time.

(6) Mollusks:

(A) Atlantic pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni);

(B) Barrel floater (Anodonta couperiana);

(C) Brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa);

(D) Carolina creekshell (Villosa vaughaniana);

(E) Fragile glyph (Glyphyalinia clingmani);

(F) Green floater (Lasmigona subviridis);

(G) Greenfield rams-horn (Helisoma eucosmium)

(H) Knotty elimia (Elimia christyi);

(I) Longsolid (Fusconaia subrotunda);

(I)(J) Magnificent rams-horn (Planorbella magnifica);

(J) Neuse spike (Elliptio judithae);

(K) Purple wartyback (Cyclonaias tuberculata);

(L) Savannah lilliput (Toxolasma pullus);

(M) Slippershell mussel (Alasmidonta viridis);

(N) Tennessee clubshell (Pleurobema oviforme);

(O) Tennessee heelsplitter (Lasmigona holstonia);

(P) Tennessee pigtoe (Fusconaia barnesiana);

(Q) Yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa); and

(R) Yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata).

(7) Reptiles:

(A) Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius); and

(B) Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus).

Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.2; 113-292; 113-333.

15A NCAC 10I .0104 THREATENED SPECIES LISTED

(a) The following species of resident wildlife shall be designated as federally-listed threatened species:

(1) Amphibians: None Listed At This Time.

(2) Birds:

(A) Piping plover (Charadrius melodus melodus); and

(B) Red Knot knot (calidris Calidris canutus rufa). rufa); and

(C) Wood stork (Mycteria americana).

(3) Crustacea: None Listed At This Time.

(4) Fish:

(A) Spotfin chub (Cyprinella monacha Erimonax monachus); and

(B) Waccamaw silverside (Menidia extensa).

(5) Mammals: Northern Long-eared Bat long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

(6) Mollusks: Noonday globe (Patera clarki nantahala).

(7) Reptiles:

(A) Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii);

(B) American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis);

(C) Green seaturtle (Chelonia mydas); and

(D) Loggerhead seaturtle (Caretta caretta).

(b) The following species of resident wildlife are designated as state-listed threatened species:

(1) Amphibians:

(A) Carolina gopher frog (Rana capito capito);

(B)(A) Eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum);

(B) Green salamander (Aneides aeneus);

(C) Junaluska salamander (Eurycea junaluska); and

(D) Mabee's salamander (Ambystoma mabeei); and

(D)(E) Wehrle's salamander (Plethodon wehrlei).

(2) Birds:

(A) Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus);

(B) Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia);

(B)(C) Gull-billed tern (Sterna Gelochelidon nilotica aranea); and

(C)(D) Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus).

(3) Crustacea: None Listed At This Time.

(4) Fish:

(A) American brook lamprey (Lampetra appendix);

(B) Banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae);

(C)(A) Bigeye jumprock (Scartomyzon ariommus Moxostoma ariommum);

(D) Blackbanded darter (Percina nigrofasciata);

(E)(B) Carolina madtom (Noturus furiosus);

(F)(C) Carolina pygmy sunfish (Elassoma boehlkei);

(G)(D) Carolina redhorse (Moxostoma sp.) (Pee Dee River and its tributaries and Cape Fear River and its tributaries);

(H)(E) Least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera);

(I)(F) Logperch (Percina caprodes);

(G) Mimic shiner (Notropis volucellus);

(J)(H) Rosyface chub (Hybopsis rubrifrons);

(K)(I) Sharphead darter (Etheostoma acuticeps);

(L)(J) Sicklefin redhorse (Moxostoma sp.) (Hiwassee River and its tributaries and Little Tennessee River and its tributaries);

(M)(K) Turquoise darter (Etheostoma inscriptum); and

(N)(L) Waccamaw darter (Etheostoma perlongum).

(5) Mammals:

(A) Eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana floridana);

(B) Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii rafinesquii); and

(C) Red wolf (Canis rufus).

(6) Mollusks:

(A) Alewife floater (Anodonta implicata);

(B) Big-tooth covert (Fumonelix jonesiana);

(C) Cape Fear threetooth (Triodopsis soelneri);

(D) Carolina fatmucket (Lampsilis radiata conspicua);

(E) Clingman covert (Fumonelix wheatleyi clingmanicus);

(F)(E) Eastern lampmussel (Lampsilis radiata radiata);

(G)(F) Eastern pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta);

(H)(G) Engraved covert (Fumonelix orestes);

(I)(H) Mountain creekshell (Villosa vanuxemensis);

(I) Notched rainbow (Villosa constricta);

(J) Rainbow (Villosa iris);

(J)(K) Roan supercoil (Paravitrea varidens);

(K) Roanoke slabshell (Elliptio roanokensis);

(L) Sculpted supercoil (Paravitrea ternaria);

(M) Seep mudalia (Leptoxis dilatata);

(N)(M) Smoky Mountain covert (Inflectarius ferrissi);

(O)(N) Squawfoot (Strophitus undulatus);

(P)(O) Tidewater mucket (Leptodea ochracea);

(Q)(P) Triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata);

(R)(Q) Waccamaw ambersnail (Catinella waccamawensis);

(S)(R) Waccamaw fatmucket (Lampsilis fullerkati); and

(T)(S) Waccamaw spike (Elliptio waccamawensis).

(7) Reptiles: None Listed At This Time.

(A) Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus); and

(B) Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus).

Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.2; 113-292; 113-333.

15A NCAC 10I .0105 SPECIAL CONCERN SPECIES LISTED

The following species of resident wildlife shall be designated as state-listed special concern species:

(1) Amphibians:

(a) Crevice salamander (Plethodon longicrus);

(b) Dwarf salamander (Eurycea quadridigitata);

(c) Dwarf black-bellied salamander (Desmognathus folkertsi);

(c)(d) Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis);

(d)(e) Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum);

(f) Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor);

(e)(g) Longtail salamander (Eurycea longicauda longicauda);

(f)(h) Mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum);

(g)(i) Mountain chorus frog (Pseudacris brachyphona);

(h)(j) Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus);

(i)(k) Neuse River waterdog (Necturus lewisi);

(j) River frog (Rana heckscheri);

(k)(l) Southern zigzag salamander (Plethodon ventralis); and

(l)(m) Weller's salamander (Plethodon welleri).

(2) Birds:

(a) American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus);

(b) Bachman's sparrow (Aimophila Peucaea aestivalis);

(c) Barn owl (Tyto alba);

(c)(d) Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus);

(d)(e) Black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis);

(e)(f) Black skimmer (Rynchops niger);

(f)(g) Brown creeper (Certhia americana nigrescens);

(g)(h) Cerulean warbler (Dendroica Setophaga cerulea);

(h) Common tern (Sterna hirundo);

(i) Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus);

(j) Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera);

(k) Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii);

(l)(k) Least bittern (Ixobrychus exilis);

(m)(l) Least tern (Sterna Sternula antillarum);

(n)(m) Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea);

(o)(n) Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus);

(p) Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi);

(q)(o) Painted bunting (Passerina ciris);

(r)(p) Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra);

(s)(q) Snowy egret (Egretta thula);

(t)(r) Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor);

(u)(s) Vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus); and

(v)(t) Wilson's plover (Charadrius wilsonia); and wilsonia).

(w) Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius appalachiensis).

(3) Crustacea:

(a) Broad River spiny crayfish (Cambarus spicatus);

(b) Carolina skistodiaptomus (Skistodiaptomus carolinensis);

(c) Carolina well diacyclops (Diacyclops jeannelli putei);

(d) Chowanoke crayfish (Orconectes virginiensis);

(e) Graceful clam shrimp (Lynceus gracilicornis);

(f) Greensboro burrowing crayfish (Cambarus catagius);

(g) Hiwassee headwaters crayfish (Cambarus parrishi);

(h) Little Tennessee River crayfish (Cambarus georgiae);

(i) North Carolina spiny crayfish (Orconectes carolinensis);

(j) Oconee stream crayfish (Cambarus chaugaensis); and

(k) Waccamaw crayfish (Procambarus braswelli).

(4) Fish:

(a) American brook lamprey (Lethenteron appendix);

(b) Banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae);

(c) Blackbanded darter (Percina nigrofasciata);

(a)(d) Bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei);

(b)(e) Blue Ridge sculpin (Cottus caeruleomentum);

(c)(f) Blueside darter (Etheostoma jessiae);

(d)(g) Broadtail madtom (Noturus sp.) (Lumber River and its tributaries and Cape Fear River and its tributaries);

(e)(h) Carolina darter (Etheostoma collis);

(f)(i) Cutlip minnow (Exoglossum maxillingua);

(g)(j) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) (French Broad River);

(h)(k) Highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer) (Cape Fear River and its tributaries);

(i)(l) Kanawha minnow (Phenacobius teretulus);

(j)(m) Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens);

(k)(n) Least killifish (Heterandria formosa);

(l)(o) Longhead darter (Percina macrocephala);

(m)(p) Mooneye (Hiodon tergisus);

(n)(q) Mountain madtom (Noturus eleutherus);

(r) Ohio lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium);

(o)(s) Olive darter (Percina squamata);

(p)(t) Pinewoods darter (Etheostoma mariae);

(q)(u) River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio);

(r) Riverweed darter (Etheostoma podostemone);

(s)(v) Sandhills chub (Semotilus lumbee);

(t) Sharpnose darter (Percina oxyrhynchus);

(u)(w) Smoky dace (Clinostomus sp.) (Little Tennessee River and tributaries);

(v)(x) Striped shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus);

(w)(y) Tennessee snubnose darter (Etheostoma simoterum);

(x)(z) Thinlip chub (Cyprinella zanema) (Lumber River and its tributaries and Cape Fear River and its tributaries);

(y)(aa) Waccamaw killifish (Fundulus waccamensis);

(z)(bb) Wounded darter (Etheostoma vulneratum); and

(aa)(cc) Yellowfin shiner (Notropis lutipinnis) (Savannah River and its tributaries); tributaries).

(5) Mammals:

(a) Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister);

(b) Buxton Woods white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus buxtoni);

(c) Coleman's oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus colemani);

(d) Eastern big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii macrotis);

(e) Eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii leibii);

(f) Florida yellow bat (Lasiurus intermedius floridanus);

(g) Pungo white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus easti);

(h) Southeastern bat (Myotis austroriparius);

(i) Southern rock shrew (Sorex dispar blitchi);

(j)(i) Southern rock vole (Microtus chrotorrhinus carolinensis); and

(k) Southern water shrew (Sorex palustris punctulatus); and

(l)(j) Star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata parva).

(6) Mollusks:

(a) Appalachian gloss (Zonitoides patuloides);

(b) Bidentate dome (Ventridens coelaxis);

(c) Black mantleslug (Pallifera hemphilli);

(d) Blackwater ancylid (Ferrissia hendersoni);

(e) Blue-foot lancetooth (Haplotrema kendeighi);

(f) Cape Fear spike (Elliptio marsupiobesa);

(g) Clingman covert (Fumonelix wheatleyi clingmanicus);

(g)(h) Dark glyph (Glyphyalinia junaluskana);

(h)(i) Dwarf proud globe (Patera clarki clarki);

(i)(j) Dwarf threetooth (Triodopsis fulciden);

(j)(k) Fringed coil (Helicodiscus fimbriatus);

(k)(l) Glossy supercoil (Paravitrea placentula);

(l)(m) Great Smoky slitmouth (Stenotrema depilatum);

(m)(n) High mountain supercoil (Paravitrea andrewsae);

(n)(o) Honey glyph (Glyphyalinia vanattai);

(o)(p) Lamellate supercoil (Paravitrea lamellidens);

(p)(q) Mirey Ridge supercoil (Paravitrea clappi);

(q) Notched rainbow (Villosa constricta);

(r) Open supercoil (Paravitrea umbilicaris);

(s) Pink glyph (Glyphyalinia pentadelphia);

(t) Pod lance (Elliptio folliculata);

(u) Queen crater (Appalachina chilhoweensis);

(v) Rainbow (Villosa iris);

(w)(v) Ramp Cove supercoil (Paravitrea lacteodens);

(w) Ridged lioplax (Lioplax subcarinata);

(x) Roanoke slabshell (Elliptio roanokensis);

(x)(y) Saw-tooth disc (Discus bryanti);

(z) Seep mudalia (Leptoxis dilatata);

(y)(aa) Spike (Elliptio dilatata);

(z)(bb) Spiral coil (Helicodiscus bonamicus);

(aa)(cc) Velvet covert (Inflectarius subpalliatus);

(bb)(dd) Waccamaw amnicola (Amnicola sp.);

(cc) Waccamaw lampmussel (Lampsilis crocata);

(dd)(ee) Waccamaw siltsnail (Cincinnatia sp.); and

(ee)(ff) Wavy-rayed lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola).

(7) Reptiles:

(a) Carolina pigmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius miliarius);

(b) Carolina swamp snake (Seminatrix pygaea paludis);

(b)(c) Carolina watersnake (Nerodia sipedon williamengelsi);

(d) Cumberland slider (Trachemys scripta troostii);

(c)(e) Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin);

(f) Eastern chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia reticularia);

(d)(g) Eastern smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis vernalis);

(e)(h) Eastern spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera spinifera);

(f)(i) Mimic glass lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus);

(g) Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus);

(h)(j) Outer Banks kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula sticticeps);

(i) Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus);

(j)(k) Stripeneck musk turtle (Sternotherus minor peltifer); and

(k)(l) Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.2; 113-292; 113-333.