98-8610. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Reclassification of Four Candidate Taxa: Pediocactus Paradinei (Kaibab Plains Cactus), Castilleja Elongata (Tall Paintbrush), Dalea Tentaculoides (Gentry's Indigobush), and Astragalus ...  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 16217-16218]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-8610]
    
    
    
    [[Page 16217]]
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Fish and Wildlife Service
    
    50 CFR Part 17
    
    
    Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
    Reclassification of Four Candidate Taxa: Pediocactus Paradinei (Kaibab 
    Plains Cactus), Castilleja Elongata (Tall Paintbrush), Dalea 
    Tentaculoides (Gentry's Indigobush), and Astragalus Oophorus var. 
    Clokeyanus (Clokey's Eggvetch)
    
    AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
    
    ACTION: Notice of candidate taxa reclassification.
    
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    SUMMARY: In this document, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
    provides the explanation for changes in the status of Pediocactus 
    paradinei (Kaibab plains cactus), Castilleja elongata (tall 
    paintbrush), Dalea tentaculoides (Gentry's indigobush), and Astragalus 
    oophorus var. clokeyanus (Clokey's eggvetch), plant taxa that are under 
    review for possible addition to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
    Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). 
    These taxa are being removed from candidate status at this time.
    
    ADDRESSES: Questions concerning this notice should be submitted to the 
    Chief, Division of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
    1849 C Street, N.W., Mail Stop 452 ARLSQ, Washington, D.C. 20240.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. LaVerne Smith, Chief, Division of 
    Endangered Species (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone: 703/358-2171).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        Candidate taxa are those taxa for which the Service has on file 
    sufficient information to support issuance of a proposed rule to list 
    under the Act. In addition to its annual review of all candidate taxa, 
    the Service has an on-going review process, particularly to update taxa 
    whose status may have changed markedly. This notice provides the 
    specific explanation for the reclassification of four plant taxa.
        It is important to note that candidate assessment is an ongoing 
    function and changes in status should be expected. Taxa that are 
    removed from the candidate list may be restored to candidate status if 
    additional information supporting such a change becomes available to 
    the Service. Requests for such information were issued by the Service 
    most recently in the plant and animal candidate notice of review 
    published in the Federal Register on September 19, 1997 (62 FR 49398).
    
    Findings
    
        Pediocactus paradinei (Kaibab plains cactus) occurs in pinyon-
    juniper woodlands and sagebrush valleys in Coconino County, Arizona. 
    The cactus is known from 36 sites across a 150 square mile (390 square 
    kilometer) area. The species was considered to be threatened by off-
    road vehicle use for recreation and fuelwood gathering, road 
    construction, recreational activities, livestock grazing, vegetation 
    manipulation, and collection. In October of 1996 the U.S. Forest 
    Service and the Bureau of Land Management developed a Conservation 
    Assessment and Strategy for management of the species. Implementation 
    of the strategy since that time has resulted in off-road vehicle use 
    and other recreational activities being restricted in certain areas; 
    road construction impacts being addressed in project proposals; 
    fuelwood harvesting being restricted or prohibited; livestock grazing 
    being eliminated in certain areas; vegetation manipulation of pinyon-
    juniper woodland being addressed through better management coordination 
    and research; and ongoing research to address management needs on an 
    ecosystem level. The available information currently indicates that the 
    degree of the threats to P. paradinei does not warrant issuance of a 
    proposed rule nor continuation of candidate status for this species.
        Castilleja elongata (tall paintbrush) is known from four 
    populations in Big Bend National Park in Texas, administered by the 
    National Park Service. Habitat loss from range management practices is 
    thought to have caused extirpation of C. elongata from historical 
    locations. The remaining four populations are considered threatened 
    primarily by trail construction and maintenance, trail erosion, natural 
    events, and genetic problems associated with small population size. 
    However, the taxonomy of C. elongata is now in question. The available 
    information concerning whether C. elongata should be classified as a 
    distinct species is conflicting. Several university scientists 
    considered experts on this group agree that more information is needed 
    before a determination can be made regarding the taxonomy of C. 
    elongata. The last published treatment of C. elongata incorporates the 
    species into C. integra, while publication of two other treatments 
    which maintain C. elongata as a species have been canceled. Based on 
    the available information, the Service cannot conclude at this time 
    that C. elongata meets the Act's definition of ``species.'' Research is 
    underway to clarify the taxonomic status of this plant. If information 
    becomes available indicating that C. elongata should be considered a 
    distinct taxon, the Service will reevaluate its status. The National 
    Park Service has advised the Service that it is committed to conserving 
    the populations of C. elongata by (1) not locating new trails or other 
    recreational amenities in habitat areas of the plant; (2) developing 
    policies and procedures to improve communication between resource 
    managers, trail crews, and other maintenance personnel to prevent 
    impacts to the plant from maintenance activities; (3) if necessary, 
    rerouting trails to decrease visitor access and actual or potential 
    impacts to the plant and its habitat, placing signs to encourage hikers 
    to stay on trails, and prohibiting tethering of horses and trail 
    animals; (4) improving visitor interpretation programs and staff and 
    volunteer training materials to increase awareness of the potential 
    adverse impacts of activities in fragile habitats; (5) conducting 
    studies to determine the need for prescribed fire in maintaining the 
    habitat for the plant, and until management needs are identified, 
    protecting all known populations of the plant from fire; and (6) 
    designing any revegetation or erosion control projects to avoid impacts 
    to the plant and its habitat. In addition, seeds of C. elongata are 
    being collected and transferred from known populations into seed banks 
    or cultivation refugia. Therefore, the Service is removing C. elongata 
    from candidate status.
        Prior to 1995, Dalea tentaculoides (Gentry's indigobush) was known 
    from a single site in the Sycamore Canyon drainage within the Coronado 
    National Forest in Arizona. The species was considered to be threatened 
    by erosion and sedimentation caused by the impacts of livestock grazing 
    in the upper watershed, grazing by cattle entering the U.S. from Mexico 
    through cut border fences, and natural events. Since 1995, two 
    additional populations have been discovered, one in southern Arizona, 
    and one in Mexico over 250 miles (402 kilometers) south of the U.S. 
    border. The Sycamore Canyon site is located within a designated 
    Wilderness Area and Research Natural Area. Although the upper watershed 
    is not within the Wilderness Area and Research Natural Area, it is 
    within designated critical habitat for the Sonoran chub (Gila 
    ditaenia), a
    
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    threatened species. Institution of improved livestock grazing practices 
    in the upper watershed through the section 7 consultation process for 
    the Sonoran chub has lessened the threat of impacts to D. tentaculoides 
    from erosion and sedimentation. There is no evidence that grazing by 
    cattle entering the U.S. from Mexico has reduced the size of the 
    Sycamore Canyon population. The discovery of two additional populations 
    has reduced the threat that a natural event which could extirpate a 
    population could cause extinction of the species. The available 
    information indicates that the degree of the threats to D. 
    tentaculoides does not warrant issuance of a proposed rule nor 
    continuation of candidate status for this species.
        Until 1995, Astragalus oophorus var. clokeyanus (Clokey's eggvetch) 
    was believed to occur at only 13 sites in the Spring Mountains in 
    Nevada. The taxon was considered to be threatened primarily by 
    recreational activities at the U.S. Forest Service's Spring Mountains 
    National Recreation Area, by military activities and feral horses at 
    the Nellis Air Force Range, and by military and energy projects at the 
    Department of Energy's Tonopah Test Range and Nevada Test Site. Since 
    1995, 15 additional populations have been discovered. Also, 
    conservation actions and policies to protect A. oophorus var. 
    clokeyanus on Forest Service, Air Force, and Department of Energy lands 
    are now in place and are being implemented. Based on this information, 
    continuation of candidate status for this taxon is not warranted.
    
    Author
    
        This notice was compiled from materials supplied by staff 
    biologists located in the Service's regional and field offices. The 
    materials were compiled by Martin J. Miller, Division of Endangered 
    Species (see ADDRESSES section).
    
    Authority
    
        The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
    1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    
        Dated: March 30, 1998.
    Jamie Rappaport Clark,
    Director, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    [FR Doc. 98-8610 Filed 3-31-98; 9:04 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
04/02/1998
Department:
Fish and Wildlife Service
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Notice of candidate taxa reclassification.
Document Number:
98-8610
Pages:
16217-16218 (2 pages)
PDF File:
98-8610.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 17