[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22076-22077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09019]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2013-0117; MO 92210-0-0008 B2]
RIN 1018-BA27


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status 
for Lepidium Papilliferum (Slickspot Peppergrass) Throughout Its Range

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reconsideration of final rule; reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
reopening of the public comment period on the reconsideration of our 
final rule listing Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) as a 
threatened species throughout its range under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (ESA or Act), published February 12, 2014. We published the 
reconsideration of the final rule in response to the Idaho District 
Court's remand because the Court asked us to reconsider the definition 
of the ``foreseeable future'' in regard to this particular species. We 
are seeking input on our interpretation of the foreseeable future as it 
pertains specifically to L. papilliferum. In addition, we also seek any 
new information regarding population status, trends, or threats that 
has become available since our last review of the status of the species 
in 2009. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested 
parties an additional opportunity to comment. Comments previously 
submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in 
preparation of our final determination.

DATES: We are reopening the comment period on the revised proposed rule 
published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2014 (79 FR 8416). In 
order to fully consider and incorporate public comment in the final 
determination, we request submission of comments by June 5, 2014. 
Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
(see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 
that date.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain copies of the 
reconsideration of final rule on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2013-0117, or by mail from 
the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    Comment submission: You may submit written comments by one of the 
following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for FWS-R1-ES-2013-0117, which is the 
docket number for this rulemaking. You may submit a comment by clicking 
on ``Comment Now!''
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2013-0117; Division of Policy and 
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see the Public Comments section below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Carrier, State Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. 
Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, ID 83709; telephone 208-378-5243; 
facsimile 208-378-5262. If you use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Comments

    We will accept written comments and information during this 
reopened comment period on our reconsideration of the final rule 
listing Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) as a threatened 
species throughout its range that was published in the Federal Register 
on February 12, 2014 (79 FR 8416). Any final action regarding the 
listing of L. papilliferum will be based on the best scientific and 
commercial data available and be as accurate and as effective as 
possible. Therefore, we request comments or information from other 
concerned governmental agencies, Native American tribes, the scientific 
community, industry, general public, and other interested parties 
concerning the reconsideration of the final listing rule and our 
interpretation of the foreseeable future as it applies specifically to 
L. papilliferum. We particularly seek comments regarding:
    (1) Our interpretation of the term ``foreseeable future'' and its 
application to our evaluation of the status of Lepidium papilliferum;
    (2) Our evaluation of new scientific information concerning the 
range, distribution, population size and trends, and threats to the 
species that has become available since publication of the 2009 final 
listing rule;
    (3) Our choice of the threshold of 80 to 90 percent loss of 
remaining unburned habitat as the point at which the species will be in 
danger of extinction;
    (4) Any additional scientific information concerning the range, 
distribution, population size and trends, or threats to the species 
that has become available since publication of the 2009 final listing 
rule that we have not already presented and considered; and
    (5) Current or planned activities in the subject area that were not 
analyzed in the 2009 final listing rule and their possible effect on 
this species.
    We will consider all comments and information received during the

[[Page 22077]]

comment period on this rulemaking during our preparation of a final 
determination. Comments previously submitted on the proposed listing of 
Lepidium papilliferum during any of the previous comment periods need 
not be resubmitted; they have already been incorporated into the public 
record and will be fully considered in the final decision.
    Please note that submissions merely stating support for or 
opposition to the action under consideration without providing 
supporting information, although noted, will not be considered in 
making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that 
determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or threatened 
species must be made ``solely on the basis of the best scientific and 
commercial data available.''
    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the 
methods described in ADDRESSES. If you submit information via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire submission--including any personal 
identifying information--will be posted on the Web site. If your 
submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying 
information, you may request at the top of your document that we 
withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy 
submissions on http://www.regulations.gov.
    Please include sufficient information with your comments to allow 
us to verify any scientific or commercial information you include. In 
making a final decision on this matter, we will take into consideration 
the comments and any additional information we receive. Comments and 
materials received, as well as some of the supporting documentation 
used in the preparation of a final decision, will be available for 
public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov. All information we use 
in making our decision is available by appointment, during normal 
business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, ID 83709; 
telephone 208-378-5243; facsimile 208-378-5262 (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Background

    On October 8, 2009 (74 FR 52014), we published a final rule listing 
the plant Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) as a threatened 
species throughout its range under the Act. On November 16, 2009, Idaho 
Governor C. L. ``Butch'' Otter, the Idaho Office of Species 
Conservation, Theodore Hoffman, Scott Nicholson, and L.G. Davison & 
Sons, Inc., filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the 
District of Columbia challenging the 2009 final listing rule under the 
Administrative Procedure Act and the Endangered Species Act. 
Subsequently, the issue was transferred to the U.S. District Court for 
the District Court of Idaho. On August 8, 2012, the Court vacated the 
final rule listing Lepidium papilliferum as a threatened species under 
the Act, with directions that the case be remanded to the Service for 
further consideration consistent with the Court's opinion. Otter v. 
Salazar, Case No. 1:11-cv-358-CWD (D. Idaho).
    The reconsideration of final rule that published on February 12, 
2014 (79 FR 8416), constitutes our response to the issue remanded by 
the Court. In that document, we presented our interpretation of the 
term ``foreseeable future'' as it applies specifically to Lepidium 
papilliferum. Further, in applying our interpretation of the 
foreseeable future to the status evaluation for L. papilliferum, we 
concluded that threatened status should be reinstated for the species 
throughout its range. We initially opened a 30-day comment period in 
association with our reconsideration of the final rule listing Lepidium 
papilliferum as a threatened species; that comment period ended on 
March 14, 2014 (79 FR 8416). On February 13, 2014, we received a 
request from the Idaho Governor's Office of Species Conservation to 
extend the comment period an additional 45 days. We are reopening the 
comment period to allow the public additional opportunity to provide 
input on our reconsideration of the final listing rule and our 
interpretation of the foreseeable future as it applies specifically to 
L. papilliferum.

Authority

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

    Dated: April 7, 2014.
Daniel M. Ashe,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-09019 Filed 4-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P