[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16644]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 11, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding and
Commencement of a Status Review for a Petition To List the Plant
Lathyrus Grimesii (Grimes Vetchling)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of petition finding and status review.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-
day finding on a petition to list the plant Lathyrus grimesii (Grimes
vetchling) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
The petition was found to present substantial information indicating
the requested action may be warranted. The Service requests information
regarding the status of this species.
DATES: The finding announced in this notice was made on June 27, 1994.
Comments and information concerning this finding must be submitted by
August 10, 1994 to be considered in the 12-month finding for this
petition.
ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions concerning this
finding should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Nevada Field Office,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4600 Kietzke Lane, Building C, Room
125, Reno, Nevada 89502. The petition, finding, and supporting data are
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet J. Bair, Botanist, at the above
Nevada Field Office address (702/784-5227).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires
that the Service make a finding on whether a petition to list, delist,
or reclassify a species presents substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the requested action may be warranted. To
the maximum extent practicable, this finding is to be made within 90
days of the receipt of the petition, and the finding is to be published
promptly in the Federal Register. This finding is based on information
contained in the petition and otherwise available to the Service at the
time the finding is made. If the finding is that substantial
information was presented, the Service also is required to promptly
commence a review of the status of the species involved, if one has not
already been initiated under the Service's internal candidate
assessment process.
On May 19, 1993, the Service received a petition dated May 10,
1993, from Ms. Mary Pat Matheson, Director of the University of Utah's
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, to list Lathyrus grimesii as an
endangered species using the emergency provisions of the Act. The Red
Butte Arboretum is a Participating Institution of the Missouri Botanic
Garden's Center for Plant Conservation, a network of 20 botanical
gardens and arboreta dedicated to the conservation of rare and
endangered plants in the United States.
A member of the pea family (Fabaceae), L. grimesii is a prostrate
perennial herb. The distribution and habitat of the species are
limited. It is an endemic species, known only from the central portion
of the Independence Mountains of Elko County, Nevada. Lathyrus grimesii
is generally restricted to steep, barren slopes with stony-clay talus
substrates at high (7,000 to 8,000 foot) elevations. The species was
originally collected in vegetative condition in 1941, but was not
recognized as a previously undescribed species until it was collected
in reproductive condition in 1980. The technical description of
Lathyrus grimesii was published in 1989 (Cronquist et al. 1989).
At the time the petition was submitted, L. grimesii was known from
a 1-square mile area in the Dorsey Creek drainage of the Independence
Mountains. More recent information indicates that the species'
distribution is more extensive. Aerial surveys conducted in August 1993
resulted in new findings north of the Dorsey Creek drainage, in the
following drainages and tributaries: Deep Creek, Ott Creek, Sheep
Creek, Frost Creek, and Cap Winn Creek; and in the Bull Run Mountains,
located west of the Independence Mountains (John C. Parks, Independence
Mining Company, Elko, Nevada, in litt.). Lathyrus grimesii is located
on appropriate substrates scattered within an area of approximately 50
square miles to the north and northwest of the Dorsey Creek drainage,
and several isolated populations are located outside of this area.
The petition and accompanying documentation state that the species
is subject to impacts by proposed mineral exploration and potential
open pit heap leach gold mine development. Mine exploration roads have
been constructed through existing populations. With plants occurring on
steep, barren slopes at high elevations, disturbance due to further
mining exploration and potential development could produce long term
destabilization and erosion of slope habitat which would reduce or
eliminate populations of L. grimesii. The toxic effects of open pit
heap leach gold mine development also have the potential to further
reduce populations.
Lathyrus grimesii is not currently protected by any regulatory
mechanism, as it is not included on the U.S. Forest Service
``Sensitive'' or State of Nevada ``Critically Endangered'' species
lists. The available information suggests that the species' restricted
range and small population size increase the chance of extirpation
resulting from stochastic (i.e. random) or localized events such as
rock slides, erosion, disease, toxic effects of contaminant spills, or
predation.
The Service has reviewed the petition and other information
available in the Service's files. On the basis of the best scientific
and commercial information available, the Service finds that
substantial information has been presented indicating that listing of
Lathyrus grimesii may be warranted. This species was included as a
category 2 candidate for listing in the notice of review published in
the Federal Register on September 30, 1993 (58 FR 51144). Although a
status review of this species was initiated upon its inclusion in
category 2, the Service hereby announces its formal review of the
species' status pursuant to this 90-day petition finding. The Service
requests any additional data, comments, and suggestions from the
public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific
community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning the
status of L. grimesii. Of particular interest is information regarding
(1) The existence and status of additional populations, (2)
environmental factors determining distribution, (3) pollinators, (4)
toxic effects of cyanide on the species, and (5) genetic variability in
known populations.
References Cited
Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and
P.K.Holmgren. 1989. Intermountain Flora--Vascular Plants of the
Intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume Three, Part B--Fabales by R.C.
Barneby. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 279 pp.
Author
This notice was prepared by Janet J. Bair, Nevada Field Office (see
ADDRESSES section above).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
Dated: June 27, 1994.
Bruce Blanchard,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16644 Filed 7-8-94; 8:45 am]
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