[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 112 (Monday, June 12, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30826-30827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14357]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding 
for a Petition To List the Plant Lathyrus grimesii (Grimes vetchling) 
as Endangered in Nevada

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of 12-month petition finding.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 12-month 
finding for a petition to list Lathyrus grimesii (Grimes vetchling) as 
an endangered species under the emergency provisions of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of all available 
scientific and commercial information concerning the status of the 
species, the Service finds that listing Lathyrus grimesii is not 
warranted.

DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on May 2, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions concerning this 
petition should be submitted to the Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Ecological Services Field Office, 4600 Kietzke Lane, Building 
C-125, Reno, Nevada 89502. The petition, findings, and supporting data 
are available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Bair, staff biologist, at the 
above address, or telephone 702-784-5227.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that, for any petition to 
revise the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants that 
contains substantial scientific or commercial information, a finding be 
made within 12 months of the date of receipt of the petition on whether 
the petitioned action is (a) not warranted, (b) warranted, or (c) 
warranted but precluded from immediate proposal by other pending 
proposals. Such 12-month findings are to be published in the Federal 
Register.
    On May 19, 1993, the Service received a petition dated May 10, 
1993, to emergency list the plant Lathyrus grimesii (Grimes vetchling) 
as an endangered species. The Service's finding that substantial 
information existed indicating the petitioned action may be warranted, 
was published in the Federal Register on July 11, 1994 (59 FR 35304). A 
status review was initiated at that time.
    Lathyrus grimesii, a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), is a 
perennial herb known only from the Independence Mountains and vicinity 
in Elko County, Nevada. At the time the petition was submitted to the 
Service, the total distribution of Lathyrus grimesii was believed to be 
restricted to three or four small populations located within an area 
smaller than 2 square kilometers (approximately 1 square mile) in the 
Dorsey Creek drainage of the Independence Mountains. All but one of 
these populations were located in the immediate vicinity of an area 
proposed for gold mine exploration.
    Based on these data, the petition and supporting information 
suggested all known populations of Lathyrus grimesii were likely to be 
affected by gold exploration or mine development. However, the Forest 
Service, in conjunction with other agencies and concerned entities, 
modified the project so as to avoid all direct and most indirect 
impacts to the Lathyrus grimesii populations. In December 1993 the 
Service was notified that minerals exploration in this area was not 
successful and no further exploration was planned.
    Data collected by Humboldt National Forest, Independence Mining 
Company, Inc., and Nevada Natural Heritage Program during the summers 
of 1993 and 1994 indicates that Lathyrus grimesii is more abundant than 
previously believed. Aerial and ground field surveys resulted in 
identification of 67 total populations of Lathyrus grimesii, located in 
nine separate drainages in the Independence Mountains. These 
populations collectively cover approximately 150 to 200 hectares (400 
to 500 acres), distributed over an area of about 130 square kilometers 
(50 square miles) (James Morefield, Nevada Natural Heritage Program, in 
litt. 1994). In addition, a separate population occurs on Wilson Peak 
in the neighboring Bull Run Mountains. Approximately 30 percent of the 
known populations occur on private lands, while approximately 70 
percent occur on lands under Forest Service management. A very small 
proportion of the known populations (approximately 1 percent) occur on 
lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the Bull Run 
Mountains.
    The existence of disseminated gold has resulted in mine claims 
throughout the Independence Mountains as well as exploration projects 
and mine development in several areas. The recently discovered 
populations of Lathyrus grimesii occur on lands with high mineral 
potential (Dean Morgan, Humboldt NF, Mountain City Ranger District, in 
litt. 1994). However, while mine claims have been established in this 
area, exploration has not occurred. The few roads into the area are 
located primarily on private inholdings. Any extensive exploration of 
this area will require building new roads or agreements with the 
private landowners for access. Humboldt National Forest has not 
received any new proposals for mine exploration, development, or 
associated activities in areas populated by Lathyrus grimesii.
    Livestock grazing is presently a dominant land use in the vicinity 
of the recently discovered populations. Grazing effects were noted as 
moderate to severe at some sites in 1994, and cattle were observed 
grazing on the dried stems of Lathyrus grimesii within one population 
(James Morefield, in litt. 1994). Grazing of green stems during 
flowering and fruiting has not been observed. Humboldt National Forest 
has notified ranchers of the presence of Lathyrus grimesii and advised 
them to minimize livestock movements through the populations (Jim 
Nelson, Humboldt NF, in litt., 1994).
    The petition indicated that Lathyrus grimesii qualified for 
listing, in part, because of the inadequacy of existing regulatory 
mechanisms. In April 1994, Lathyrus grimesii was added to the Forest 
Service's Intermountain Region's [[Page 30827]] list of sensitive 
plants. The Forest Service has authority to develop and implement 
management practices to insure sensitive species do not become 
threatened or endangered because of Forest Service actions. The Forest 
Service also has authority to require that new project proposals in or 
near Lathyrus grimesii populations on Forest Service lands contain 
mitigation measures to insure population stability. Since the petition 
was received by the Fish and Wildlife Service, Humboldt National Forest 
has initiated various conservation activities involving Lathyrus 
grimesii, including population monitoring and seed collection. They 
have also expressed willingness to develop and implement a conservation 
agreement and strategy for Lathyrus grimesii (Jim Nelson, in litt. 
1994). The species currently receives no protection by the State of 
Nevada, therefore, no regulatory mechanisms are in place to protect its 
populations or habitats on private lands. Major threats to populations 
located on private lands have not been identified.
    Prior to the discovery of new populations of Lathyrus grimesii, the 
limited distribution of the species in the Dorsey Creek drainage and 
its occurrence on steep, unstable slopes indicated the species was 
vulnerable to stochastic extinction through natural or human-induced 
catastrophic events such as landslides and erosion. Recent discoveries 
of the species in multiple drainages indicates that stochastic 
extinction is unlikely.
    The presence of exotic weeds within populations of Lathyrus 
grimesii may pose a threat to individual populations, but currently do 
not pose a threat to the continued existence of the species. The 
noxious Euphorbia esula (weed leafy spurge) was discovered in one 
Lathyrus grimesii population in the Deep Creek drainage, and Bromus 
tectorum (cheatgrass) was present in at least half of the populations 
surveyed in 1994. Presence of noxious weeds in these areas may be 
attributable to poor range condition.
    After review of all scientific and commercial information available 
on Lathyrus grimesii, the Service has determined that listing Lathyrus 
grimesii is not warranted at this time. This decision is based on 
information contained in the petition and otherwise available to the 
Service at the time the 12-month finding was made. The Service 
recognizes that additional information on biology, threats to 
populations and habitats, and future conservation actions is necessary 
to keep track of the species' status. Lathyrus grimesii is, thus, 
retained in category 2 candidate status until sufficient information 
becomes available to base a decision on whether to retain or delete the 
species from the list of candidates. If additional data become 
available in the future, the Service may reassess the need for listing.

    Author. The primary author of this document is Janet Bair (see 
ADDRESSES section above).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: May 2, 1995.

Mollie H. Beattie,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 95-14357 Filed 6-9-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M