[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 25216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11746]
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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 Lesquerella stonensis (Stones River bladderpod)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of candidate taxa reclassification.
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SUMMARY: In this document, we explain the changes in the status of
Lesquerella stonensis (Stones River bladderpod), a plant that is under
review for possible addition to the List of Endangered and Threatened
Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We
are removing this species from candidate status at this time.
ADDRESSES: You may submit questions concerning this notice 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: Chief, Division of Endangered Species
(see ADDRESSES section) (telephone: 703/358-2171).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Candidate taxa are those taxa for which we have on file sufficient
information to support issuance of a proposed rule to list under the
Act. In addition to our annual review of all candidate taxa, we have 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 this species.
It is important to note that candidate assessment is an ongoing
function and changes in status should be expected. We may restore
species to candidate status that are removed from the candidate list if
additional information supporting such a change becomes available. We
most recently requested such information in the plant and animal
candidate notice of review published in the Federal Register on
September 19, 1997 (62 FR 49398).
Finding
Lesquerella stonensis Rollins (Stones River bladderpod), a small
winter annual plant, occurs in three populations found in the
floodplain of the Stones River, Rutherford County, Tennessee. The three
populations are divided among 20 sites located on U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers' (COE) lands, Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation's (TDEC) lands, and privately owned lands. Over half of
the known populations are on lands managed by the COE and the TDEC.
This species requires annual disturbance in order to complete its life
cycle. Historically, natural events such as flooding maintained its
habitat by removing perennial grasses and woody plants that quickly
invade the floodplain without regular natural or artificial
disturbance. Annual crop production is currently the primary means of
artificially maintaining L. stonensis' habitat, provided there is no
fall planting and herbicide use is limited.
The Smithsonian Institution's January 9, 1975, report to Congress
on those plants considered to be endangered, threatened, or extinct
(House Document No. 94-51) included Lesquerella stonensis. We first
designated Lesquerella stonensis as a candidate species in the December
15, 1980, Notice of Review (45 FR 82480). In designating this species a
candidate, we considered the encroachment of more competitive
vegetation and the loss of habitat through conversion of land to uses
other than cultivation of annual crops as the primary threats to the
species. In 1994, we entered into cooperative agreements with TDEC and
the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to determine the
management regimes needed to protect and to maintain healthy, viable
populations of Lesquerella stonensis. This information provided the
basis for the 1998 Cooperative Management Agreement (CMA) among the
Service, TWRA, TDEC, and COE for the conservation of L. stonensis.
Under the CMA, appropriate agricultural management techniques will
provide the disturbance required for the species. We believe that the
CMA secures into the foreseeable future the 14 sites where the species
occurs on public conservation lands. These populations are distributed
over the historic range of the species. The TDEC will continue to work
with the owners of the six privately owned sites to gain appropriate
management for these sites and to obtain long-term protection for them.
We conclude that habitat loss and modification are not likely to cause
L. stonensis to become endangered or to be in danger of extinction in
the foreseeable future over all or a significant portion of its range;
therefore, neither the issuance of a proposed rule nor continuation of
candidate status for this species is warranted.
Author
Staff biologists in our regional and field offices prepared the
evaluation summarized in this document by Scott Hicks, 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: April 14, 1999.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11746 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]
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