[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38803-38804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19208]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AC21
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of
Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Puccinellia Parishii
(Parish's Alkali Grass)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service provides notice that the public
comment period is reopened for the proposal to list Puccinellia
parishii (Parish's alkali grass) as an endangered species pursuant to
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This small annual grass
occurs near desert springs, seeps, and seasonally wet areas in Apache,
Coconino, and Yavapai counties, Arizona; San Bernardino County,
California; and Catron, Cibola, Grant, Hidalgo, McKinley, Sandoval, and
San Juan counties, New Mexico.
DATES: This comment period closes on August 19, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to the Field
Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna Road, NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113.
Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection
during normal business hours, by appointment, at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie McDonald at the above address
or telephone (505) 346-2525.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Puccinellia parishii (Parish's alkali grass) was proposed for
designation as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on March 28, 1994
(59 FR 14378). A 60-day public comment period was provided on the
proposal. All interested parties were requested to submit factual
reports or information that might contribute to the accuracy and
effectiveness of any final action resulting from the proposal. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received one request for a public
hearing, and a notice announcing the public hearing and reopening the
comment period was published in the Federal Register on August 30, 1994
(59 FR 44700). The public hearing was held on September 15, 1994, in
Tuba City, Arizona.
Following the initial and reopened comment periods and public
hearing, the Service received additional information on the
distribution, abundance, habitat requirements, and threats for Parish's
alkali grass. This new information is summarized in the following
paragraphs.
Parish's alkali grass is now known from 29 sites as opposed to the
10 sites reported in the proposed rule. The known sites in New Mexico
have increased to 16 from the 1 that was reported in the proposed rule.
The new sites for New Mexico are in Catron (1), Cibola (1), Hidalgo
(1), McKinley (6), Sandoval (4), and San Juan (2) counties. The 1 site
reported in the proposed rule is in Grant County. The known sites in
Arizona have increased to 11 from the 7 that were reported in the
proposed rule. The new sites for Arizona are in Apache (3) and Yavapai
(1) Counties. The 7 sites reported in the proposed rule are in Coconino
County.
The known sites in California have decreased to 1 from the 2 that
were reported in the proposed rule. Dr. Andrew Sanders of the
University of California, Riverside identified the
[[Page 38804]]
plants from Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County as Puccinellia
simplex rather than P. parishii (C. Rutherford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, in litt. 1995). The other California site reported in the
proposed rule is in San Bernardino County.
Some of the newly discovered sites extend the overall range of the
species. In particular, discoveries in northwestern New Mexico extend
the species' range about 300 km (200 mi) eastward from previously known
sites in Arizona, and the discovery in west-central Arizona extends the
species' range about 240 km (150 mi) southwestward in that state. Many
of the new sites fill gaps in the known distribution making populations
much less disjunct from one another than previously believed.
Some newly discovered sites for Parish's alkali grass indicate the
species occupies a broader range of habitats than previously supposed.
In addition to sites near desert springs and seeps, some newly
discovered sites are in areas where the soils are subirrigated and wet
only during the winter and spring months. These sites are generally not
identified as springs on maps and are only noticeable because their
greener vegetation contrasts with the surrounding brown vegetation
during the spring months. One newly discovered site occurs at 2,240 m
(7,350 ft) in elevation, which is 410 m (1,350 ft) higher than any of
the sites in the proposed rule. These discoveries greatly increase the
number of potential sites where Parish's alkali grass might be found.
Some of the newly discovered sites indicate Parish's alkali grass
may withstand disturbance better than previously suspected. At several
sites, cattle have closely cropped the vegetation and severely trampled
the area. However, Parish's alkali grass persists at the sites. In one
instance, a highway right-of-way fence protects part of the site from
grazing. The protected area has a dense stand of sweet clover
(Melilotus sp.) and no Parish's alkali grass, but the grass is abundant
in the grazed area only a few meters away. Some disturbance likely
reduces competition and creates microsites for seedling establishment
for Parish's alkali grass, which is a short-statured annual plant.
No final decision has been made on whether to give Parish's alkali
grass protection under the Act or to withdraw the listing proposal. In
consideration of the length of time since the initial proposal and the
new information about the species, the Service is reopening the comment
period and seeking comments or suggestions from the public, other
concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or
any other interested party concerning the proposed rule. The Service is
seeking any other new information that may have been developed since
the proposal was published, and that may expand the current knowledge
of the status, distribution, or threats for Parish's alkali grass. The
new comment period closes on August 19, 1998. Any comments should be
sent to the Field Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field
Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Reference Cited
Sivinski, R. 1995. Parish's alkali grass, progress report. New
Mexico Forestry and Resources Conservation Division Section 6
Performance Report, Project E9, Segment 9. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Author: The primary author of this document is Charlie McDonald
(see ADDRESSES section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1532 et seq.).
Dated: July 9, 1998.
Frank Shoemaker,
Regional Director, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 98-19208 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am]
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