Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of Nonessential Experimental Population Status for 16 Freshwater Mussels and 1 Freshwater Snail (Anthony's Riversnail) in the Free-Flowing Reach of the Tennessee River below the Wilson Dam, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, AL

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), plan to reintroduce 16 federally listed endangered mussels--Alabama lampmussel (Lampsilis virescens), birdwing pearlymussel (Conradilla caelata), clubshell (Pleurobema clava), cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata), Cumberland bean (pearlymussel) (Villosa trabalis), Cumberlandian combshell (Epioblasma brevidens), Cumberland monkeyface pearlymussel (Quadrula intermedia), dromedary pearlymussel (Dromus dromas), fine- rayed pigtoe (Fusconaia cuneolus), oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis), catspaw (purple cat's paw pearlymussel) (Epioblasma obliquata obliquata), shiny pigtoe (Fusconaia cor), tubercled blossom (pearlymussel) (Epioblasma torulosa torulosa), turgid blossom (pearlymussel) (Epioblasma turgidula), winged mapleleaf (mussel) (Quadrula fragosa), and yellow blossom (pearlymussel) (Epioblasma florentina florentina)--and 1 federally listed endangered aquatic snail, Anthony's riversnail (Athearnia anthonyi), into historical habitat in the free-flowing reach of the Tennessee River. The geographic boundaries of the nonessential experimental populations (NEPs) extend from the base of the Wilson Dam (River Mile 259.4 (414.0 kilometers)) to the backwaters of the Pickwick Reservoir (RM 246.0 (393.6 km)) and include the lower 5 RM (8 km) of all tributaries that enter the Wilson Dam tailwaters. These reintroduced populations will be classified as NEPs under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on the evaluation of species experts, none of these species are currently known to exist in this river reach or its tributaries. These reintroductions are recovery actions and are part of a series of reintroductions and other recovery actions that the Service, Federal and State agencies, and other partners are considering and conducting throughout the species' historical ranges. This rule provides a plan for establishing the NEPs and provides for limited allowable legal taking of the aforementione