[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63454-63466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22167]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2016-0078; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BB64


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species 
Status for Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina (San Fernando Valley 
Spineflower)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to 
list Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina (San Fernando Valley 
spineflower), a plant species from southern California, as a threatened 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If 
we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's 
protections to this species. This document also serves as the 90-day 
and 12-month findings on two petitions to list C. parryi var. 
fernandina as an endangered species.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
November 14, 2016. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 
p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. We must receive requests for 
public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT by October 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R8-ES-2016-0078, 
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then click on the 
Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on the left 
side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the 
Proposed Rules link to locate this document. 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-R8-ES-2016-0078, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    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 Public Comments, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 
Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93001; telephone 805-644-1766; 
facsimile 805-644-3958. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Information Requested

Public Comments

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule 
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, or any 
other interested parties concerning this proposed rule. We particularly 
seek comments concerning:
    (1) Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina's biology, range, and 
population trends, including:
    (a) Biological or ecological requirements of the plant
    (b) Genetics and taxonomy;
    (c) Historical and current range, including distribution patterns;
    (d) Historical and current population levels, and current and 
projected trends; and
    (e) Past and ongoing conservation measures for the plant, its 
habitat, or both.
    (2) Factors that may affect the continued existence of the plant, 
which may include habitat modification or destruction, overutilization, 
disease, predation, the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, 
or other natural or manmade factors.
    (3) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning 
any threats (or lack thereof) to this plant and existing regulations 
that may be addressing those threats.
    (4) Additional information concerning the historical and current 
status, range, distribution, and population size of Chorizanthe parryi 
var. fernandina, including the locations of any additional populations 
of this plant.
    Please include sufficient information with your submission (such as 
scientific journal articles or other publications) to allow us to 
verify any scientific or commercial information you include. 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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 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 concerning this proposed 
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you 
send comments only by the methods described above 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.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be 
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Public Hearing

    Section 4(b)(5) of the Act provides for one or more public hearings 
on this proposal, if requested. Requests must be received by the date 
specified above in DATES. Such requests must be sent to the address 
shown above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. We will schedule public 
hearings on this proposal, if any are requested, and announce the 
dates, times, and places of those hearings, as well as how to obtain 
reasonable accommodations, in the Federal

[[Page 63455]]

Register and local newspapers at least 15 days before the hearing.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our joint policy on peer review published in the 
Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we are seeking the 
expert opinions of six appropriate and independent specialists 
regarding this proposed rule. A thorough review of information that we 
relied on in making this determination--including information on 
taxonomy, life history, ecology, population distribution and abundance, 
and potential threats--is presented in the San Fernando Valley 
Spineflower (Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina) Species Report 
(Species Report) available at http://regulations.gov under Docket No. 
FWS-R8-ES-2016-0078. A summary of this analysis is found in this 
proposed rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure that our listing 
determination is based on scientifically sound data, assumptions, and 
analyses. The peer reviewers have expertise in C. parryi var. 
fernandina's biology, habitat, physical or biological factors, or 
threats, and their review of the Species Report will inform our final 
determination. We invite comment from the peer reviewers during this 
public comment period.

Previous Federal Action

    We designated Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina as a candidate 
species for listing in the October 25, 1999, candidate notice of review 
(CNOR) (64 FR 57534) based on its discovery along the southern rim of 
Laskey Mesa and within the footprint of the proposed Ahmanson Ranch 
project site in southeastern Ventura County, California (Glenn Lukos 
and Associates (GLA) 2000, p. 1). Prior to its rediscovery in 1999, C. 
parryi var. fernandina was not seen for a period of 70 years (1929-
1999); it was last collected in 1929, near Castaic in Los Angeles 
County (Reveal and Hardham 1989, p. 149) and was presumed extinct by 
the botanical community. We gave C. parryi var. fernandina a listing 
priority number (LPN) of 3, which denotes a subspecies or variety 
facing an imminent threat of high magnitude and low recovery potential.
    On December 6, 1999, and January 27, 2000, we received petitions 
from the City of Calabasas and from the Santa Monica Mountains 
Conservancy (SMMC), respectively, to list the plant under the Act as an 
endangered species. In 2000, Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina was 
discovered near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California, on 
land owned by the Newhall Land and Farming Company (Newhall Land 
Company) within the footprint of the proposed Newhall Ranch development 
project. Because C. parryi var. fernandina was already a candidate, we 
did not conduct either a 90-day or 12-month finding for the species 
following receipt of the petitions. This document constitutes our 
proposed rule to list C. parryi var. fernandina as a threatened 
species, as well as both our 90-day and 12-month findings on the 
petitions to list C. parryi var. fernandina.
    In the May 4, 2004, CNOR (69 FR 24876), we changed the LPN for 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina from 3 to 6 because we determined 
that impacts associated with habitat destruction or modification at 
Laskey Mesa had decreased. The proposed development of Ahmanson Ranch 
at the Laskey Mesa site did not move forward as previously proposed. 
This site was purchased by the State of California in 2003, and became 
part of the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. An LPN of 6 
denotes a subspecies or variety facing a nonimminent threat of high 
magnitude and low recovery potential. C. parryi var. fernandina has 
been included, with an LPN of 6, in all subsequent CNORs (70 FR 24870, 
May 11, 2005; 71 FR 53756, September 12, 2006; 72 FR 69034, December 6, 
2007; 73 FR 75176, December 10, 2008; 74 FR 57804, November 9, 2009; 75 
FR 69222, November 10, 2010; 76 FR 66370, October 26, 2011; 77 FR 
69994, November 21, 2012; 78 FR 70104, November 22, 2013; 79 FR 72450, 
December 5, 2014; 80 FR 80584, December 24, 2015).
    Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina was one of many taxa included in 
our May 10, 2011, multiyear work plan filed as part of a proposed 
settlement agreement with Wild Earth Guardians and others in a 
consolidated case in the U.S. District Court for the District of 
Columbia challenging our failure to make listing determinations for 
candidate species (Endangered Species Act Section 4 Deadline 
Litigation, No. 10-377 (EGS), MDL Docket No. 2165 (``MDL Litigation''), 
Document 31-1 (D. DC May 10, 2011) (``MDL Settlement Agreement'')). On 
September 9, 2011, the court accepted our agreement with plaintiffs on 
a schedule to publish proposed rules or not-warranted findings for the 
251 species designated as candidates in 2010 (including C. parryi var. 
fernandina) no later than September 30, 2016.

Background

    A thorough review of the taxonomy, life history, ecology, 
population distribution and abundance, and land ownership of 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina is presented in the Species Report 
(Service 2016, pp. 7-20), available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2016-0078; a summary of 
this information is presented below. We used data specific to C. parryi 
var. fernandina when available.

Physical and Biological Characteristics

    Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina is a low-growing herbaceous 
annual plant in the Polygonaceae (buckwheat) family and is typical of 
many winter-spring native annuals that occur in the Mediterranean 
climate of California. Historical records show that C. parryi var. 
fernandina was found in washes and sandy areas, in the hills and on 
mesas, generally around the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and 
near Santa Ana in Orange County (Reveal 1989, p. 402; CDFG 2002, p. 
12). The probable vegetation in these areas is a type of alluvial scrub 
called Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub (Holland, 1986, p. 11; 
Sawyer et al. 2009, pp. 389-391). Currently, C. parryi var. fernandina 
is a plant of open habitats, predominately found within openings of 
sparsely vegetated scrub communities and grasslands, and in the 
transition zone between these two communities (Dudek 2010a, p. 21; 
Sapphos 2001, p. 5-13). C. parryi var. fernandina occurs primarily in 
areas of poorly developed soils, mostly in loam or silty clay loam with 
a much lower level of occurrence on sandy loams, and with shallow depth 
to bedrock and compacted soils. The conditions under which C. parryi 
var. fernandina persists are most likely due to decreased competition 
from native and nonnative plants, as it occurs in areas where other 
plants cannot become established (Sapphos 2001, p. 5-13; GLA 2000, p. 
18; Dudek 2010a, p. 23).
    Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina adapted a generalist pollination 
strategy. The presence of smaller pollinator species (i.e., native 
ants) and larger, more mobile pollinators (i.e., honeybees (Apis 
mellifera)) facilitates overall reproductive success (Jones et al. 
2009, p. 39). Seeds of C. parryi var. fernandina are small, possess no 
morphological modifications for wind or animal dispersal, and remain in 
the involucre even after the plant disarticulates (Sapphos 2001, p. 3-
5). Small mammals, along with native ants (e.g., harvester ants 
(Pogonomyrmex or Messor spp.)), may play a role in seed dispersal (CBI 
2000, p. 3). In addition, bioturbation (reworking of soils and 
sediments by animals or plants) and bare soil patches related to rodent 
activity have been associated with C.

[[Page 63456]]

parryi var. fernandina (GLA 2000, p. 18; CBI 2000, p. 7).
    The genetic characteristics of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina 
have not been investigated; however, Dr. Deborah Rodgers is currently 
conducting research of the plant's genetic structure (Dudek 2015, p. 2; 
Dudek 2016c, p. 9). As of January 2016, all field collection is 
complete and the study is ongoing (D. Rodgers 2016, pers. comm.).

Historical Abundance and Distribution

    Historically, Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina was known from no 
fewer than 10 locations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties (CDFG 2002, 
p. 14) (see Figure 1, below). The species was last collected in 1929, 
was not seen for 70 years (1929-1999), and was presumed extinct by the 
botanical community because C. parryi var. fernandina was extirpated 
from all of the areas where it was originally collected (Reveal and 
Hardham 1989, p. 149). The majority of the historical collections of C. 
parryi var. fernandina from the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area 
were made in areas where urban, agricultural, and industrial 
development have replaced native habitats. Numerous field botanists 
have tried to rediscover it, but all efforts have been unsuccessful 
(Reveal and Hardham 1989, p. 149).
    In 1999, Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina was discovered along 
the southern rim of Laskey Mesa within the footprint of the proposed 
Ahmanson Ranch development project in southeastern Ventura County, 
California (GLA 2000, p. 1); this was the only known extant population 
of this plant. The area occupied by C. parryi var. fernandina in 1999 
was estimated to be approximately 6 acres (ac) (2.4 hectares (ha)), 
comprised of approximately 23,000 plants (GLA 2000, pp. 6-9). The 
potential threats to the C. parryi var. fernandina population at this 
site were reduced in 2003, when the Ahmanson Ranch project did not 
occur as planned and the State of California purchased the property. 
However, due to historical land uses at this site, the population has 
been impacted by loss of habitat and invasive, nonnative grasses.
    In 2000, Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina was discovered near 
Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California, on land owned by 
Newhall Land Company. The 2000 survey data did not include population 
estimates. This population is within the footprint of the proposed 
Newhall Ranch development project.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP15SE16.000

Current Abundance and Distribution

    Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina currently occupies up to a total 
of 35 to 40 ac (14 to 16 ha) from two populations in Southern 
California that are 17 miles (mi) (27 kilometers (km)) apart (see 
Figure 1, above). The Laskey Mesa population is in Ventura County, 
California, within the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve on 
land owned by the SMMC and the Mountains Recreation Conservation

[[Page 63457]]

Authority (MRCA) (L.A. Mountains 2015; Newhall Land Company 2015, p. 8; 
MRCA 2015; SMMC 2015). The Santa Clarita population is in Los Angeles 
County on land owned by Newhall Land Company (Dudek 2010a, pp. 16-17). 
The Laskey Mesa population currently occupies approximately 15-20 ac 
(6.1-8.1 ha) (GLA 2000, p. 6; Sapphos 2001, p. 5-2; Sapphos 2003a, p. 
3; Cooper 2015, pp. 8-10); the Santa Clarita population currently 
occupies approximately 20 ac (8.2 ha) (Dudek 2010a, p. 63).
    Comparing annual numbers of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina 
individuals over time is complicated because: (1) Different 
methodologies and levels of effort have been used to estimate 
population numbers across both extant populations during survey efforts 
since 1999; and (2) as is typical of many annual plants, C. parryi var. 
fernandina shows inter-annual variation in abundance by several orders 
of magnitude, ranging from hundreds to millions of individuals. 
Therefore, occupied area or distribution of the populations is an 
appropriate surrogate measure for plant population size.
    Because of the fluctuation in occupied area and population numbers 
and the different methodologies used to conduct surveys, we are not 
able to determine if the population is stable or increasing or 
decreasing at this time. The area occupied by Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina at Laskey Mesa when it was discovered in 1999 was 
approximately 6 ac (2.4 ha), was up to 19 ac (7.7 ha) in 2003, and was 
estimated to be approximately 14 ac (5.7 ha) in 2015. The occupied area 
that was mapped in 2003 appears to have declined overall, though there 
were areas of expansion (GLA 2000, p. 6; Sapphos 2001, p. 5-2; Sapphos 
2003a, p. 3; Cooper 2015, p. 10). The Laskey Mesa population occurs 
over an area approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) from east to west, and 0.5 mi 
(0.8 km) from north to south. At the Santa Clarita population, total 
area occupied per year has ranged from 0.5-16.5 ac (0.2-6.7 ha) between 
2002 and 2007. The most recent data from 2011 to 2014 show the 
cumulative acreage across years ranged from 17.8-20.7 ac (7.2-8.4 ha). 
There are no population estimates from 2011 through 2014. The Santa 
Clarita population has roughly the same occupied acreage as Laskey Mesa 
but is more widely distributed across the landscape, scattered over a 
range of 4 mi (6.4 km) from east to west, and 4 mi (6.4 km) north to 
south.

Planned Conservation Measures

    At the Laskey Mesa population, there is currently no on-the-ground 
management of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina; however, the site is 
conserved as permanent parkland as part of the Upper Las Virgenes 
Canyon Open Space Preserve. At the Santa Clarita population, the 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) (referred to as the 
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as of 2014) issued a 
California Endangered Species Act section 2081 incidental take permit 
(ITP) to Newhall Land Company for the partial removal of C. parryi var. 
fernandina due to the proposed Newhall Ranch development project. 
Newhall Land Company developed the Spineflower Conservation Plan (SCP), 
which was finalized in 2010 (Dudek 2010a) (available at http://www.regulations.gov). The SCP serves as the mitigation and conservation 
plan for the purposes of the ITP (CDFG 2010, p. 2).
    As part of the SCP, Newhall Land Company has created a set of seven 
preserves that include 76 percent of the Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina occurrences and occupied habitat at the Santa Clarita site, 
the majority of which would be adjacent to and bordered by the proposed 
Newhall Ranch development project. The SCP also includes management 
actions within the preserves to reduce indirect effects of the proposed 
development (including those from nonnative, invasive grasses and 
Argentine ants (Linepithema humile)). Newhall Land Company proposes to 
implement an adaptive management program for impacts under the SCP 
(Dudek 2010a, p. 141) and the Argentine Ant Control Plan (AACP) (Dudek 
2014c, p. 22). Easements and a management endowment for the preserves 
and monitoring have been established. The rest of the SCP has not yet 
been implemented.
    The proposed development of Newhall Ranch would remove 24 percent 
of the occurrences of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina and its 
habitat, and would separate occurrences more than current conditions by 
removing C. parryi var. fernandina that connect, or are intermittent 
between, the larger concentrations of C. parryi var. fernandina within 
the designated preserves. Newhall Land Company has proposed to reduce 
the impacts of this habitat fragmentation by integrating corridors (in 
particular the Santa Clara River riparian corridor) into their 
development plans, along with potential C. parryi var. fernandina 
outplanting within the preserves (Dudek 2010a, pp. 146-148). Six of the 
seven preserves are directly connected to adjacent natural or human-
created open space via the river corridor, and the seventh, Entrada, is 
connected to open space via an existing and frequently-maintained 
utility corridor (CDFW in litt. 2016, p. 3). The open space areas 
within the proposed Newhall Ranch project as a whole, to which the 
preserves are connected, are intended to maintain landscape-level 
ecological functions and processes (CDFW in litt. 2016, p. 2-3). Open 
space varies in size and habitat quality, and according to the proposed 
development plan, human development would be adjacent to or border the 
majority of the preserves and the corridors. The SCP stresses 
maintaining natural hydrological conditions during construction of 
Newhall Ranch to prevent invasion of Argentine ants. However, even 
though construction has not yet begun, Argentine ants have been 
identified in two of the preserves and in adjacent corridors. Newhall 
Land Company proposes to implement control measures for Argentine ants 
using an integrated pest management strategy (Dudek 2014c, entire).
    Newhall Land Company has also deposited funds with the National 
Fish and Wildlife Foundation for management of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina at the Laskey Mesa site. The August 2014 property analysis 
record and September 2014 memorandum prepared by Dudek identify the 
management activities for C. parryi var. fernandina at Laskey Mesa 
(Newhall Land Company and Dudek 2014, entire). The funding is to be 
used for on-the-ground management activities that include research 
studies, fencing, weeding, surveys, annual reporting, and other 
activities. When this funding becomes accessible, we anticipate that 
the MRCA will implement the identified management activities.
    In addition, Newhall Land Company recently developed a draft ``San 
Fernando Valley Spineflower Enhancement and Introduction Plan,'' which 
outlines a proposal to experimentally introduce Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina to areas at the Santa Clarita site that have never been 
known to be occupied and are outside of the development footprint 
(Newhall Land Company 2016, entire). We anticipate continuing to work 
with Newhall Land Company and CDFW on additional conservation for C. 
parryi var. fernandina at the Santa Clarita population. The intervening 
time between a proposed and possible final rule to list this species 
provides the opportunity to develop measures to improve the future 
status of C. parryi var. fernandina at this site.
    In our Species Report (Service 2016), we completed an initial 
evaluation of

[[Page 63458]]

the potential effectiveness of the conservation measures in the 2010 
SCP, but because Newhall Land Company is supplementing their 
conservation strategy, we do not consider this evaluation finalized. We 
will continue to work with Newhall Land Company and CDFW in the 
development of an expanded and supplemented conservation strategy, and 
will formally evaluate all measures included in the supplemental 
conservation strategy using the Service's Policy for Evaluation of 
Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE) (68 FR 15100; 
March 28, 2003), thereby taking all formalized conservation measures 
into consideration before making our final determination of the status 
of the plant.

Summary of Biological Status and Threats

    The Act directs us to determine whether any species is an 
endangered species or a threatened species because of any factors 
affecting its continued existence. We completed a comprehensive 
assessment of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina (Service 2016, 
entire), which is summarized in this document and available on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2016-
0078. All potential threats of which we are aware that may be acting 
upon C. parryi var. fernandina currently or in the future (and 
consistent with the five listing factors identified in section 4(a)(1) 
of the Act) are evaluated and addressed in the Species Report (Service 
2016, entire).
    Stressors that currently act, or may act, on Chorizanthe parryi 
var. fernandina in the foreseeable future include development; 
nonnative, invasive plants; Argentine ants; grazing and agriculture; 
utility line easements and maintenance; miscellaneous land use; 
recreation; wildfire; and climate change. The effects of these 
stressors are magnified by virtue of the plant having small population 
sizes. For the purposes of this analysis, we define the ``foreseeable 
future'' time period to be 25 years. This timeframe takes into account 
the potential impacts of the completion of the proposed development of 
Newhall Ranch, variation in climate, and planned conservation measures 
for the Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita populations. All of these 
potential stressors are evaluated and presented in our 2016 Species 
Report (Service 2016, pp. 20-78). The best available data indicate that 
grazing and agriculture, utility line easements and maintenance, 
miscellaneous land use, recreation, and wildfire are not resulting in 
population or rangewide impacts currently or in the future such that 
they rise to the level of threats. We conclude this because these 
activities have been or will be removed from most areas that overlap C. 
parryi var. fernandina, with the exception of wildfire, for which 
current impacts at Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita will remain 
approximately the same into the future. The remaining stressors--
development; nonnative, invasive plants; Argentine ants; and 
potentially climate change--acting on the small isolated populations 
are described below because we have determined that population or 
rangewide impacts may contribute to, or are likely to contribute to, 
considerable loss of individuals or habitat currently or in the future.

Development

    Development consists of converting the landscape into residential, 
commercial, industrial, and recreational features, with associated 
infrastructure such as roads. Historically, Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina was known from no fewer than 10 locations in Los Angeles and 
Orange Counties (CDFG 2002, p. 14) (see Figure 1, above). After 1929, 
the plant was presumed extinct by the botanical community because C. 
parryi var. fernandina was extirpated from all of the areas where it 
was originally collected. The majority of the historical collections of 
C. parryi var. fernandina from the greater Los Angeles metropolitan 
area were made in areas where development has replaced native habitats 
(Reveal and Hardham 1989, p. 149).
    In 1999, Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina was discovered at 
Laskey Mesa within the footprint of the proposed Ahmanson Ranch 
development project site. This proposed development did not occur as 
planned. The State of California purchased the property for 
conservation in 2003. In 2000, C. parryi var. fernandina was discovered 
near Santa Clarita on land owned by the Newhall Land Company (Dudek 
2010a, pp. 16-17) at the site of the proposed Newhall Ranch 
development. Currently, development does not impact C. parryi var. 
fernandina at either population. In the future, there will be no 
development at the Laskey Mesa site because the property is owned and 
managed by the SMMC and MRCA, and preserved as permanent parkland. At 
the Santa Clarita site, the population is within the footprint of the 
proposed Newhall Ranch development project.
    As planned, the future development of the proposed Newhall Ranch 
would directly remove 24 percent of the Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina population and occupied habitat at the Santa Clarita site, 
reducing the population from 20.24 ac (8.2 ha) to 15.4 ac (6.2 ha) 
(Dudek 2010a, Table 12, p. 67). The proposed development would also 
create indirect effects by fragmenting the habitat between the 
occurrences of C. parryi var. fernandina, which would: (1) Create edge 
effects around remaining populations, such as increasing the risk of 
invasion of nonnative, invasive plants and animals; and (2) separate 
occurrences more than current conditions because much of the area 
between the remaining occurrences would be residential and commercial 
development (Dudek 2010a, pp. 48-117), potentially affecting 
pollination and dispersal of the plant (Steffan-Dewenter and Tscharntke 
1999, p. 437; Menges 1991, pp. 158-164; Jennerston 1988, pp. 359-366; 
Cunningham 2000, pp. 1149-1152). These indirect effects of the proposed 
development would remain into the future post-construction.
    Under the SCP, Newhall Land Company designated seven spineflower 
preserves containing 15.4 ac (6.2 ha) of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina occupied area, which is the remaining 76 percent of the 
Santa Clarita population. The SCP also includes several preserve 
management actions intended to address indirect effects of the proposed 
development. Easements and an endowment to manage and monitor the 
preserves have been put in place; additional management actions have 
not yet been implemented.
    Overall, we conclude that proposed development at one of the two 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina populations will result in the loss 
of 24 percent of the Santa Clarita population in the future. This 
equates to a loss of 12-14 percent of the plant rangewide. In addition, 
indirect effects to the remaining 76 percent of the Santa Clarita 
population (38-44 percent of the plant rangewide) are expected in the 
future as a result of fragmenting the landscape. This fragmentation 
would result in edge effects around the remaining occurrences that put 
these patches at risk and separate them more than they are under 
current conditions. It is possible that future management actions to 
ameliorate indirect effects of the development to the 76 percent of the 
population that would remain within these preserves after development 
could be implemented and may be effective. However, at this time, we 
conclude that development is a future population-level threat to the 
plant as it would result in loss of habitat and individuals, and 
further reduce the range of this plant, which is already vulnerable due

[[Page 63459]]

to its small size and isolated populations (Factors A and E).

Small, Isolated Populations

    The effects of having small, isolated populations include increased 
risk of extinction from random, naturally occurring events, and 
potentially reduced genetic variation, which can affect the ability of 
a species to sustain itself into the future in the face of 
environmental fluctuations. There are two known populations of 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina, one at Laskey Mesa and one at Santa 
Clarita, each comprising approximately 15 to 20 ac (6 to 8 ha) of 
occupied area. The two populations at Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita 
comprise the current known range of C. parryi var. fernandina; the 
populations are approximately 17 mi (27 km) apart from north to south.
    Because there are only two populations of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina, naturally occurring events and other stressors increase the 
risk of extirpation. Small, highly fragmented populations have a high 
extinction risk due to isolation (no other populations to ``rescue'' a 
declining or extirpated one) and small total population sizes 
(MacArthur and Wilson 1967, entire), both of which make them more 
vulnerable, especially to random, naturally occurring events, such as 
drought and wildfire (Kohlman et al. 2005, entire; Soule et al. 1992, 
p. 44).
    In addition, lower and reduced genetic variation may make a 
population less adapted to existing pressures and incapable of 
adaptation to new stressors (Frankham 1995, entire). Thus, small 
populations and low genetic diversity can have synergistic effects with 
respect to population decline, decreasing a species' ability to persist 
within a changing environment. In all but extreme cases, genetic losses 
due to drift and inbreeding within populations can be limited by 
keeping population sizes large relative to their historical sizes (Neel 
et al. 2008, p. 939). In addition, levels of diversity can be enhanced 
by high rates of gene flow among populations because such gene flow 
increases effective population size and facilitates exchange of alleles 
(Neel et al. 2008, p. 950). The genetic characteristics of Chorizanthe 
parryi var. fernandina have not been investigated; however, Dr. Deborah 
Rodgers is currently conducting research of C. parryi var. fernandina's 
genetic structure and the degree of inbreeding depression (Dudek 2015, 
p. 2; Dudek 2016c, p. 9). As of January 2016, all field collection is 
complete and the study is ongoing (D. Rodgers 2016, pers. comm.).
    Overall, we conclude that having only two small, isolated 
populations decreases the ability of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina 
to sustain itself into the future in the face of environmental 
fluctuations and random, naturally occurring events. Historically, the 
plant was known from no less than 10 additional locations across 
southern California. This stressor will continue to affect C. parryi 
var. fernandina and its habitat at both sites into the future. It is 
possible that additional populations at historically occupied but 
currently extirpated sites would decrease the risk of having small, 
isolated populations for C. parryi var. fernandina into the future. 
However, at this time, we conclude that having small, isolated 
populations is a current and future population-level threat to the 
plant (Factor E).

Nonnative, Invasive Plants

    Nonnative, invasive plants include nonnative vegetation that occurs 
within or adjacent to habitat that supports Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina. In particular, we focused on the impacts of nonnative 
grasses and other fast-invading, nonnative annual plants because they 
are abundant at both sites and are efficient at displacing native 
vegetation. Nonnative, invasive grasses historically affected the 
Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita populations (GLA 2000, p. 5; Dudek 2010a, 
pp. 48-51). Past activities (e.g., grazing and other human-induced 
disturbances) have historically occurred over most of the Upper Las 
Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve area including Laskey Mesa; it is 
not known whether Laskey Mesa was formerly native grassland, coastal 
scrub, or a mix of both prior to European contact (Dudek 2010a, p. 21). 
Historical and existing grazing activities, and other historical land 
uses, have affected much of the natural habitat at the Santa Clarita 
site, displacing scrub habitats with annual grasslands (Dudek 2010a, 
pp. 48-51). Currently, nonnative, invasive grasses are abundant at both 
the Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita sites and reduce available habitat; 
compete with C. parryi var. fernandina for light, water, and soil 
nutrients; increase the potential for wildfire; and alter pollinator 
communities. As of 2015, the vegetation at Laskey Mesa was largely 
comprised of nonnative grasses, primarily ripgut brome (Bromus 
diandrus), but also several other native and nonnative grasses (notably 
purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra)) (Cooper 2015, p. 5). At the 
Santa Clarita site, currently 29 percent of the total species are 
nonnative within the spineflower preserves (Dudek 2013, p. 13); 11 
nonnative species in the grass family (Poaceae) were present (Appendix 
B of Dudek 2013).
    This stressor will continue to affect Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina and its habitat at both sites into the future. With no 
future land use change at the Laskey Mesa population, we do not 
anticipate the impact of nonnative, invasive plants will become worse 
than current conditions, given that disturbance is a primary factor 
that promotes the invasion of nonnative plants (Rejmanek 1996; 
D'Antonio and Vitousek 1992; Hobbs and Huenneke 1992; Brooks et al. 
2004; Keeley et al. 2005). At the Santa Clarita population, the 
proposed development of Newhall Ranch would convert areas that 
currently contain nonnative vegetation to urban areas, thereby reducing 
the total acreage of nonnative vegetation at this site, but this ground 
disturbance would also create additional opportunities for nonnative 
plants to invade urban edges of the spineflower preserves and natural 
open space. In general, nonnative weedy species are often edge species 
and become more prevalent or increase in abundance, while rare and 
sensitive species and species that were once widespread tend to decline 
(Hilty et al. 2006, pp. 42-45).
    There are currently no management actions that are occurring to 
reduce direct or indirect impacts from nonnative, invasive plants. 
However, we note the following future proposed actions:
    (1) We anticipate that the MRCA will address the abundance of 
nonnative vegetation at Laskey Mesa once the funding becomes available 
for management; however, to date management actions have not been 
implemented at this site, and the timeline for management actions is 
unknown.
    (2) Newhall Land Company has proposed to restore habitat for 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina at Santa Clarita and implement 
measures as part of the proposed development of Newhall Ranch to reduce 
the abundance and impact of nonnative vegetation within the spineflower 
preserves.
    Overall, we conclude that nonnative, invasive plants are abundant 
at both Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita populations, reduce available 
habitat quality, compete with Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina for 
resources, and increase potential for wildfire. This stressor 
historically affected Laskey Mesa and Santa Clarita populations and 
will continue to affect C. parryi var. fernandina and its habitat at 
both sites into the future. It is likely that future management actions 
to reduce the presence and impact of nonnative,

[[Page 63460]]

invasive grasses would be implemented in the future and may be 
effective. We will further evaluate future conservation measures at 
such time that Newhall Land Company finalizes supplementing their 
conservation strategy. However, at this time, we conclude that 
nonnative, invasive plants are a current and future population-level 
threat to C. parryi var. fernandina (loss of individuals) and its 
habitat (Factors A and E).

Argentine Ants

    Argentine ants may impact pollination and seed dispersal vectors of 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina. Based on the best available 
information, Argentine ants have not historically impacted the Laskey 
Mesa or Santa Clarita populations of C. parryi var. fernandina. 
Currently at Laskey Mesa, Argentine ants are present in close proximity 
to the ranch house and a nearby eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) tree, but 
they were not encountered in areas occupied by C. parryi var. 
fernandina because, presumably, the conditions are too dry and thus 
unsuitable (Sapphos 2000, pp. 6-8). At Santa Clarita, as of February 
2016, Argentine ants are present within two spineflower preserves, 
Entrada and Potrero (Dudek, 2016b, pp. 17, 20), in the Santa Clara 
River corridor (Dudek 2016b, entire), at Middle Canyon Spring (Dudek 
2010a, p. 130), and in the existing utility corridor that runs along 
the southern portion of the property and through the Entrada Preserve 
(Dudek 2016b, p. 17). We do not have any information regarding the 
presence of Argentine ants where C. parryi var. fernandina occurs 
outside of the preserves at this site.
    At Laskey Mesa, we do not expect Argentine ants will impact 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina in the future without a change in 
land use. At Santa Clarita, Argentine ants already occur and we would 
expect them to occur within development areas and open areas adjacent 
to the preserves in the future after development of the proposed 
Newhall Ranch (Dudek 2010a, p. 130; Dudek 2016b, pp. 4-20). 
Anthropogenic modifications to the physical environment are preeminent 
in determining the extent to which Mediterranean scrub communities in 
southern California are susceptible to invasion by Argentine ants 
(Holway et al. 2002, p. 1617). Invasion of Argentine ants into natural 
areas from urban areas is a function of moisture, distance from the 
urban edge, season, and vegetation type (Bolger 2007, p. 303; Suarez et 
al. 1998, pp. 2047-2054; Erickson 1971, p. 264; Human and Gordon 1996, 
p. 408; Holway 1995, p. 1635; Holway 2005, pp. 563-566; Staubus et al. 
2015, p. 677). Because Argentine ants are present within two preserves 
and the Santa Clara River corridor and utility corridor, and because of 
the proposed development of Newhall Ranch, we anticipate that Argentine 
ants will be a long-term concern for the persistence of C. parryi var. 
fernandina at this site.
    Argentine ants can affect Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina 
reproduction by reducing effective pollination, successful seed set, 
and potentially the degree of heterozygosity of plants. Argentine ants 
are known to: (1) Displace native epigeic (above-ground) ants (Ward 
1987, pp. 13; Human and Gordon 1996, pp. 407-411; Suarez et al. 1998, 
pp. 2047-2054; Holway 2005, pp. 563-566; Holway and Suarez 2006, pp. 
321-322; Bolger 2007, pp. 301-303) that act as pollination and seed 
dispersal vectors for C. parryi var. fernandina; and (2) reduce floral 
visits by bees and thus reduce fruit production of plants (i.e., 
Calystegia macrostegia ssp. macrostegia (Santa Cruz morning glory) 
(Hanna 2015, p. 226); Ferocactus viridescens (coast barrel cactus) 
(LeVan and Holway 2014, pp. 167-169)) in areas dominated by Argentine 
ants. Based on the best available data, maintaining conditions that 
support both terrestrial and aerial guilds of pollinators is likely 
required for long-term viability of C. parryi var. fernandina (Jones et 
al. 2009, p. 39). The loss of effective pollination through reductions 
in local pollinator abundance and diversity would reduce successful 
seed set, or if the plant is at least partially self-compatible, would 
reduce the degree of heterozygosity within plant (Jones et al. 2010, p. 
165). C. parryi var. fernandina would have difficulty maintaining long-
term viability after a series of poor seed-production years without a 
natural diversity of pollinators because effective pollinators lead to 
significant increases in seed set and seed viability (Jones et al. 
2009, p. 39; for examples of other annual plants, see Steffan-Dewenter 
and Tscharntke 1999, entire; Jennersten 1988, entire).
    Newhall Land Company incorporated buffers of varying widths in the 
SCP and proposes to maintain the current hydrology within the 
spineflower preserves (Dudek 2010a, pp. 15, 125-129) to reduce the 
potential invasion of Argentine ants into the preserves. Abiotic 
conditions (e.g., soil moisture) and proximity to human development are 
primarily responsible for the rate of Argentine ant invasions (Suarez 
et al. 1998, pp. 2047-2054). Buffers between natural areas and 
urbanization have been suggested to decrease the likelihood of 
Argentine ant invasion. According to the best scientific information, 
the varying widths of the buffers around the spineflower preserves in 
the SCP are less than what is recommended to preclude Argentine ant 
invasion at urban edges and the proposed water control measures range 
from moderately to highly effective (Conservation Biology Institute 
2000, p. 21; Dudek 2010b, p. 4.5-1770). Newhall Land Company proposes 
to utilize control methods if Argentine ants are observed in the 
preserves. The proposed Argentine ant control measures in the SCP and 
AACP could negatively impact other arthropods that are beneficial to 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina, may not be applicable to 
controlling invasion into preserves (Gilboa et al. 2012, entire; 
Enzmann et al. 2012, entire) such as those at Santa Clarita, or are 
only recommended in closed systems where reintroduction of Argentine 
ants can be actively withheld (Enriquez Leni 2012, p. 55). The impacts 
to C. parryi var. fernandina from Argentine ants are likely to increase 
at Santa Clarita with the proposed development of Newhall Ranch.
    Overall, Argentine ants can directly impact pollinators and reduce 
effective pollination, reduce successful seed set, and may reduce the 
degree of heterozygosity of plants. Argentine ant invasion into the 
spineflower preserves is likely to displace native epigeic ants that 
are known pollinators and seed dispersers of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina. Similarly, non-ant arthropods that are known pollinators 
(e.g., honeybees) are likely to be negatively impacted by the presence 
of Argentine ants in the preserves. Conservation of conditions that 
support both guilds of pollinators is likely required for long-term 
viability of C. parryi var. fernandina. This stressor has not 
historically impacted C. parryi var. fernandina at either population. 
We do not anticipate an impact from Argentine ants at Laskey Mesa 
because there is no future land use change. At Santa Clarita, Argentine 
ants currently occur within two preserves (Entrada and Potrero), and 
the Santa Clara River corridor that connects six of the seven 
preserves. Argentine ants will occur adjacent to the preserves in the 
future post-development, and it is likely that Argentine ants will 
occur in other preserves in the future. It is likely that future 
management actions to reduce the presence and impact of Argentine ants 
at Santa Clarita would be implemented. Proposed actions to control 
Argentine ants have not been shown to be effective without negatively

[[Page 63461]]

affecting native species that are important for C. parryi var. 
fernandina reproduction. We will further evaluate future conservation 
measures aimed at controlling Argentine ants at such time that Newhall 
Land Company finalizes supplementing their conservation strategy. 
However, at this time, we conclude that Argentine ants are a current 
and future population-level threat to C. parryi var. fernandina (loss 
of individuals) (Factor E).

Climate Change

    The term ``climate'' refers to the mean and variability of 
different types of weather conditions over time, with 30 years being a 
typical period for such measurements, although shorter or longer 
periods also may be used (IPCC 2014, p. 119). The term ``climate 
change'' thus refers to a change in the mean or variability of one or 
more measures of climate (for example, temperature or precipitation) 
that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer, 
whether the change is due to natural variability, human activity, or 
both (IPCC 2014, p. 120). A recent synthesis report of climate change 
and its effects is available from the Intergovernmental Panel on 
Climate Change (IPCC) (IPCC 2014, entire).
    Global climate projections are informative, and in some cases, the 
only scientific information available. However, projected changes in 
climate and related impacts can vary substantially across and within 
different regions of the world (e.g., IPCC 2007, pp. 8-12). For this 
analysis across the two populations of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina, we used a projection tool called ClimateWizard (2015) to 
estimate what changes in rainfall and temperature, if any, would occur 
in the region that includes the Santa Clarita and Laskey Mesa 
populations over the next 50 years. ClimateWizard (2015) is useful in 
projecting future climate conditions and to compare the projections to 
baseline values (the latter of which is defined as the average 
temperature or precipitation between 1961 and 1990 (ClimateWizard 
2015)).
    There is no way to measure past impacts at either population 
associated with climate change. Compared to historical/baseline 
temperature and precipitation measurements, projections of climate 
change in the south coast region of California indicate that 
precipitation will decrease slightly and temperature will slightly 
increase by mid-century. The response of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina may be similar to other plant species with a similar life 
history. A growing body of literature discusses the specific mechanisms 
by which climate change could affect the abundance, distribution, and 
long-term viability of plant species, as well as current habitat 
configuration over time, including, but not limited to: Root et al. 
(2003), Parmesan and Yohe (2003), and Visser and Both (2005). Some of 
the responses by plants to climate change presented by these studies 
and others include the following:
    1. Drier conditions may result in less suitable habitat, or a lower 
germination success and smaller population sizes;
    2. Higher temperatures may inhibit germination, dry out soil, or 
affect pollinator services;
    3. The timing of pollinator life cycles may become out-of-sync with 
timing of flowering;
    4. A shift in the timing and nature of annual precipitation may 
favor expansion in abundance and distribution of nonnative species; and
    5. Drier conditions may result in increased fire frequency, making 
the ecosystems in which a species currently grows more vulnerable to 
threats of nonnative plant invasion.
    Overall, although many climate models generally agree about 
potential future changes in temperature and precipitation, their 
consequent effects on vegetation are more uncertain, as is the rate at 
which any such changes might be realized. It is not clear how or when 
changes in vegetation type or plant species composition will affect the 
distribution of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina. Therefore, 
uncertainty exists when determining the level of impact climate change 
may have on C. parryi var. fernandina or its habitat. Compared to 
historical/baseline temperature and precipitation measurements, 
projections of climate change in the south coast region of California 
indicate that precipitation will decrease slightly and temperature will 
slightly increase by mid-century. But at this time and based on the 
analysis in the Species Report (Service 2016, pp. 73-78) and summarized 
above, we do not have reliable information to indicate that climate 
change is a threat to C. parryi var. fernandina habitat now or in the 
future, although we will continue to seek additional information 
concerning how climate change may affect the plant and its habitat 
(Factors A and E).

Synergistic Effects

    When stressors occur together, one stressor may exacerbate the 
effects of another stressor, causing effects not accounted for when 
stressors are analyzed individually. Synergistic effects may be 
observed in a short amount of time or may not be noticeable for years 
into the future, and could affect the long-term viability of 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina. Stressors that could act 
synergistically on C. parryi var. fernandina include development; 
having small, isolated populations; nonnative, invasive plants; 
Argentine ants; wildfire, and potentially climate change. At the Laskey 
Mesa site, the presence of nonnative, invasive grasses increases the 
frequency of wildfire, which in turn creates more open area for 
nonnative, invasive plants to grow that are more likely to ignite and 
carry fire than native vegetation (Keeley et al. 2005, p. 2123). At the 
Santa Clarita site, the future development of Newhall Ranch would 
directly remove 24 percent of the C. parryi var. fernandina population, 
fragmenting the habitat between the occurrences of C. parryi var. 
fernandina, which will create edge effects around remaining occurrences 
within the spineflower preserves, and increase the risk of invasion of 
Argentine ants and nonnative, invasive plants. In general, invasive 
species are often edge species and become more prevalent or increase in 
abundance, while rare and sensitive species and species that were once 
widespread tend to decline (Hilty et al. 2006, pp. 42-45). In addition, 
the potential loss of habitat and conditions that support growth of C. 
parryi var. fernandina due to climate change can work in combination 
with and exacerbate the effects of all other stressors, such as 
increasing the frequency or intensity of wildfire and increasing the 
spread of nonnative, invasive plants and animals. When considered 
together, the impact of these stressors has the potential to be high. 
Even though the impact of each of these stressors may be low to 
moderate under current conditions, the proposed development of Newhall 
Ranch, which would occur over the next 25 years, will likely exacerbate 
the impact of the stressors while confining the C. parryi var. 
fernandina population at this site to small patches of suitable habitat 
adjacent to and bordered by urban development. Long-term future impacts 
may increase synergistic effects, and it is unknown if C. parryi var. 
fernandina will be able to adapt to the potential synergistic effect of 
stressors.

Resiliency, Representation, and Redundancy

    We use the principles of resiliency, representation, and redundancy 
as a lens to evaluate current and future effects to Chorizanthe parryi 
var. fernandina. Resiliency refers to the

[[Page 63462]]

capacity of an ecosystem, population, or organism to recover quickly 
from disturbance by tolerating or adapting to changes or effects caused 
by a disturbance or a combination of disturbances. The degree of 
resiliency of a species is influenced by the health of the populations, 
including number of individuals, genetic diversity, and habitat 
quality. Resiliency increases with a higher number of individuals, 
increasing genetic diversity, or better habitat quality; it decreases 
with fewer individuals, less genetic diversity, or lowered habitat 
quality. In the case of Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina, the number 
of individuals can fluctuate annually by orders of magnitude (GLA 2000; 
Sapphos 2000, 2001; Dudek 2010a; Cooper 2015; Dudek 2002-2007, 2010, 
2011-2014). The genetic characteristics of C. parryi var. fernandina 
have not been investigated; however, Dr. Deborah Rodgers is currently 
conducting research into C. parryi var. fernandina's genetic structure 
and the degree of inbreeding depression (Dudek 2015, p. 2; Dudek 2016c, 
p. 9). Habitat quality for C. parryi var. fernandina at the Santa 
Clarita population would be affected by fragmentation from the proposed 
Newhall Ranch development, which would result in edge effects, such as 
increasing the risk of invasion of nonnative, invasive plants and 
animals. Occurrences of C. parryi var. fernandina and its habitat would 
be more separated than current conditions because occurrences that 
connect, or are intermittent between, the larger concentrations of C. 
parryi var. fernandina within the designated preserves would be lost to 
development, potentially affecting pollination and dispersal of the 
plant. Highly fragmented populations have an increased extinction risk 
due to isolation because they are less likely to be repopulated or 
supplemented by nearby populations, which makes them more vulnerable, 
especially to random, naturally occurring events such as drought and 
wildfire (Kohlman et al. 2005, entire; Soule et al. 1992, p. 44). 
Reducing resiliency by decreasing habitat quality at the Santa Clarita 
population increases the overall risk to the plant from disturbance or 
a combination of disturbances. The best scientific and commercial 
information available indicates that there are current and future 
stressors acting upon C. parryi var. fernandina populations such that 
we anticipate impacts to its overall resiliency in the future.
    Redundancy refers to the ability of a species to compensate for 
fluctuations in or loss of populations across the species' range such 
that the loss of a single population has little or no lasting effect on 
the structure and functioning of the species as a whole. Multiple 
interacting populations across a broad geographic area provide 
insurance against the risk of extinction caused by catastrophic events. 
Because historically there were no fewer than 10 additional populations 
across Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California, 
redundancy is decreased for Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina. If 
either of the two extant populations were permanently lost, the 
redundancy of C. parryi var. fernandina would be further lowered, 
thereby decreasing the plant chance of survival in the face of 
potential environmental or demographic stochastic factors and 
catastrophic events (e.g., wildfire, extreme drought). We conclude that 
there is not sufficient redundancy at present to sustain C. parryi var. 
fernandina over the long term, given current and future stressors 
acting upon the population.
    Representation refers to a species' ability to adapt to changing 
environmental conditions related to distribution within the species' 
ecological settings. Representation is characterized by the breadth of 
genetic and environmental diversity within and among populations. The 
level of genetic divergence among the areas where Chorizanthe parryi 
var. fernandina grows is unknown. However, occupied area across 
multiple populations increases the probability of demographic 
persistence and preservation of overall genetic diversity by providing 
a larger genetic reservoir. Historically, there were no fewer than 10 
C. parryi var. fernandina populations across southern California, 
representing at least five level IV ecoregions of the conterminous 
United States. Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in 
ecosystems through analysis of patterns of biotic and abiotic 
phenomena, including geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, 
land use, wildlife, and hydrology; level IV is the finest ecoregion 
level developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental 
Protection Agency 2016; https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/level-iv-ecoregions-of-california). Currently, there are only two C. parryi var. 
fernandina populations, 17 mi (27 km) apart, representing only one 
level IV ecoregion. Therefore, we conclude that representation across 
different ecological settings for C. parryi var. fernandina is reduced, 
decreasing the ability of the plant to adapt to changing environmental 
conditions into the future, which increases the risk of future 
extirpation of the plant.
    Overall, redundancy and representation are currently reduced and 
resiliency is likely to decrease in the future, bringing into question 
whether Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina can sustain itself in the 
face of environmental fluctuations and random, naturally occurring 
events. Fragmentation of the Santa Clarita population is likely to 
decrease habitat quality, reducing resiliency at this population and 
increasing the overall risk to the plant from random, naturally 
occurring events. With only two populations, there may not be 
sufficient redundancy to sustain C. parryi var. fernandina over the 
long term, given current and future stressors acting upon the 
populations. Currently, the two C. parryi var. fernandina populations 
represent only one level IV ecoregion, down from five, decreasing the 
ability of the plant to adapt to changing environmental conditions into 
the future. At this time, we conclude that there may not be sufficient 
resiliency, representation, or redundancy to sustain C. parryi var. 
fernandina over the long term, given current and future stressors 
acting upon the plant.
    Please refer to the Potential Stressors section in the San Fernando 
Valley Spineflower (Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina) Species Report 
(Service 2016, pp. 20-78) for a more detailed discussion of our 
evaluation of the biological status of the plant and the factors that 
may affect its continued existence. Our conclusions are based upon the 
best available scientific and commercial data.

Determination

    Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533), and its implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR part 424, set forth the procedures for adding 
species to the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and 
Plants. Under section 4(a)(1) of the Act, we may list a species based 
on (A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overutilization for 
commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) 
disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory 
mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its 
continued existence. Listing actions may be warranted based on any of 
the above threat factors, singly or in combination. This document 
constitutes the Service's 90-day and 12-month findings on the December 
6, 1999, and January 27, 2000, petitions to list Chorizanthe parryi 
var. fernandina under the Act as an endangered species.

[[Page 63463]]

    Based on our review of the best scientific and commercial 
information available, we find that the current threats are of 
sufficient imminence, intensity, or magnitude to indicate that 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina is likely to become an endangered 
species within the foreseeable future throughout all of its range 
(threatened). We have determined that C. parryi var. fernandina 
warrants listing based on two of the five factors (Factors A and E), 
including historical and future loss of habitat and individuals from 
development (Factors A and E); having small, isolated populations 
(Factor E); presence of invasive, nonnative plants (Factors A and E); 
proliferation of Argentine ants (Factor E); and potentially climate 
change (Factors A and E).
    The Laskey Mesa population is currently affected by nonnative, 
invasive grasses (Factors A and E), being one of two small, isolated 
populations (Factor E), and potentially by climate change (Factors A 
and E). Past land-use activities (e.g., grazing and other human-induced 
disturbances), which have historically occurred over most of the Upper 
Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve area including Laskey Mesa, 
have greatly modified the vegetation and replaced many native plant 
habitats into nonnative annual grasslands (GLA 2000, p. 5). Nonnative, 
invasive grasses are currently reducing available habitat for 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina throughout this population and 
degrading the overall quality of the habitat, although this impact may 
decrease in the future when management is implemented.
    The Santa Clarita population is currently affected by nonnative, 
invasive grasses (Factors A and E); Argentine ants (Factor E); being 
one of two small, isolated populations (Factor E); and potentially by 
climate change (Factors A and E). The impacts of nonnative grasses 
occur throughout the entire population at this site, although this 
impact may decrease in the future when management is implemented. 
Argentine ants are currently present within at least two spineflower 
preserves (Entrada and Potrero), and within the Santa Clara River 
corridor. The invasion of Argentine ants into the preserves is likely 
to displace or negatively affect arthropods, including known 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina pollinators (e.g., epigeic ants, 
beetles (Coleoptera), flies (Diptera), honeybees) and seed dispersers 
(e.g., harvester ants), reducing the natural diversity of pollinators 
and dispersers, which is expected in turn to decrease the long-term 
viability of C. parryi var. fernandina after a series of poor seed-
production years.
    The Santa Clarita population will also be affected in the future by 
the proposed Newhall Ranch development project (Factors A and E). The 
development of Newhall Ranch will remove 24 percent of the Chorizanthe 
parryi var. fernandina population at this site, resulting in loss of 
individuals and habitat. The resulting fragmentation could increase 
impacts of random, naturally occurring events and result in loss of 
genetic variation. In addition, edge effects include increased risk of 
invasion of nonnative plants (Factors A and E) and Argentine ants 
(Factor E). Argentine ants will likely occur adjacent to the preserves 
in the future post-development, and it is likely that Argentine ants 
will occur in other preserves that are currently free of Argentine ants 
in the future.
    Population size, distribution, and diversity can be an indicator of 
whether a species can sustain itself into the future in the face of 
environmental fluctuations and natural, randomly occurring events. 
Decreased resiliency at the Santa Clarita population due to habitat 
fragmentation from the proposed Newhall Ranch development would 
increase the overall risk to the plant from disturbance or a 
combination of disturbances. With only two populations, Chorizanthe 
parryi var. fernandina exhibits low redundancy at present, which may be 
insufficient to sustain the plant over the long term, given current and 
future stressors acting upon the populations. Historically C. parryi 
var. fernandina populations across southern California represented at 
least five level IV ecoregions; currently, the two C. parryi var. 
fernandina populations represent only one level IV ecoregion, 
decreasing the ability of the plant to adapt to changing environmental 
conditions into the future. At this time, we conclude that there may 
not be sufficient resiliency, redundancy, or representation to sustain 
C. parryi var. fernandina over the long term, given current and future 
stressors acting upon the populations.
    The Act defines the term ``species'' as includes any subspecies of 
fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any 
species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature. 
The Act defines an endangered species as any species that is ``in 
danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its 
range'' and a threatened species as any species ``that is likely to 
become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range 
within the foreseeable future.'' We find that Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina is likely to become endangered throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range within the foreseeable future based on 
the current and future threats to the plant. The plants' historical 
range has been significantly reduced, and the remaining habitat and two 
populations are significantly and currently impacted by multiple 
threats at the population or rangewide scale. Therefore, on the basis 
of the best available scientific and commercial information, we propose 
listing C. parryi var. fernandina as a threatened species in accordance 
with sections 3(20) and 4(a)(1) of the Act.
    The threats associated with indirect effects to the Santa Clarita 
population from the Newhall Ranch proposed development (e.g., 
fragmentation and edge effects) are expected in the future. 
Fragmentation would separate Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina 
occurrences more than current conditions, potentially reducing 
pollination and dispersal, and result in edge effects around the 
remaining post-development occurrences, including an increase in 
nonnative plants and Argentine ants. Because these are future threats, 
we have determined that C. parryi var. fernandina is not currently in 
danger of extinction and thus does not meet the definition of 
``endangered.'' Rather, these threats are likely to occur in the 
foreseeable future such that the plant is likely to become endangered 
throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the 
foreseeable future, which is the definition of a threatened species.
    Under the Act and our implementing regulations, a species may 
warrant listing if it is endangered or threatened throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range. Because we have determined that 
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina is threatened throughout all of its 
range, no portion of its range can be ``significant'' for purposes of 
the definitions of ``endangered species'' and ``threatened species.'' 
See the Final Policy on Interpretation of the Phrase ``Significant 
Portion of Its Range'' in the Endangered Species Act's Definitions of 
``Endangered Species'' and ``Threatened Species'' (79 FR 37578; July 1, 
2014).

Available Conservation Measures

    Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or 
threatened species under the Act include recognition, recovery actions, 
requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain 
practices. Recognition through listing results in public awareness, and 
conservation by Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, private 
organizations, and

[[Page 63464]]

individuals. The Act encourages cooperation with the States and other 
countries and calls for recovery actions to be carried out for listed 
species. The protection required by Federal agencies and the 
prohibitions against certain activities are discussed, in part, below.
    The primary purpose of the Act is the conservation of endangered 
and threatened species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The 
ultimate goal of such conservation efforts is the recovery of these 
listed species, so that they no longer need the protective measures of 
the Act. Subsection 4(f) of the Act calls for the Service to develop 
and implement recovery plans for the conservation of endangered and 
threatened species. The recovery planning process involves the 
identification of actions that are necessary to halt or reverse the 
species' decline by addressing the threats to its survival and 
recovery. The goal of this process is to restore listed species to a 
point where they are secure, self-sustaining, and functioning 
components of their ecosystems.
    Recovery planning includes the development of a recovery outline 
shortly after a species is listed and preparation of a draft and final 
recovery plan. The recovery outline guides the immediate implementation 
of urgent recovery actions and describes the process to be used to 
develop a recovery plan. Completed recovery plans may be revised to 
address continuing or new threats to the species, as new substantive 
information becomes available. The recovery plan also identifies 
recovery criteria to evaluate when a species may be ready for 
downlisting or delisting, and methods for monitoring recovery progress. 
Recovery plans also establish a framework for agencies to coordinate 
their recovery efforts and provide estimates of the cost of 
implementing recovery tasks. Recovery teams (composed of species 
experts, Federal and State agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and 
stakeholders) are often established to develop recovery plans. If we 
list Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina, the recovery outline, draft 
recovery plan, and the final recovery plan for the plant will be 
available on our Web site (http://www.fws.gov/endangered), or from our 
Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Implementation of recovery actions generally requires the 
participation of a broad range of partners, including other Federal 
agencies, States, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, 
and private landowners. Examples of recovery actions include habitat 
restoration (e.g., restoration of native vegetation), research, captive 
propagation and reintroduction, and outreach and education. The 
recovery of many listed species cannot be accomplished solely on 
Federal lands because their range may occur primarily or solely on non-
Federal lands. To achieve recovery of these species requires 
cooperative conservation efforts on private, State, and Tribal lands. 
If Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina is listed, funding for recovery 
actions will be available from a variety of sources, including Federal 
budgets, State programs, and cost share grants for non-Federal 
landowners, the academic community, and nongovernmental organizations. 
In addition, pursuant to section 6 of the Act, the State of California 
would be eligible for Federal funds to implement management actions 
that promote the protection or recovery of C. parryi var. fernandina. 
Information on our grant programs that are available to aid species 
recovery can be found at: http://www.fws.gov/grants.
    Although Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina is only proposed for 
listing under the Act at this time, please let us know if you are 
interested in participating in recovery efforts for this plant. 
Additionally, we invite you to submit any new information on this plant 
whenever it becomes available and any information you may have for 
recovery planning purposes (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Section 7(a) of the Act requires Federal agencies to evaluate their 
actions with respect to any species that is proposed or listed as an 
endangered or threatened species and with respect to its critical 
habitat, if any is designated. Regulations implementing this 
interagency cooperation provision of the Act are codified at 50 CFR 
part 402. Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to 
confer with the Service on any action that is likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of a species proposed for listing or result in 
destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat. If a 
species is listed subsequently, section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires 
Federal agencies to ensure that activities they authorize, fund, or 
carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the 
species or destroy or adversely modify its critical habitat. If a 
Federal action may affect a listed species or its critical habitat, the 
responsible Federal agency must enter into consultation with the 
Service.
    Federal agency actions within the plants' habitat that may require 
conference or consultation or both under section 7 of the Act as 
described in the preceding paragraph include, but are not limited to, 
management and any other landscape-altering activities on Federal lands 
and activities on non-Federal lands that require the issuance of 
section 404 Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) permits by the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    It is our policy, as published in the Federal Register on July 1, 
1994 (59 FR 34272), to identify to the maximum extent practicable at 
the time a species is listed, those activities that would or would not 
constitute a violation of section 9 of the Act. The intent of this 
policy is to increase public awareness of the effect of a proposed 
listing on proposed and ongoing activities within the range of the 
species proposed for listing. The Act and its implementing regulations 
set forth a series of general prohibitions and exceptions that apply to 
endangered and threatened plants. With regard to threatened plants, 50 
CFR 17.71 provides that all of the prohibitions in 50 CFR 17.61 
applicable to endangered plants apply to threatened plants, with one 
exception. Thus, the regulations at 50 CFR 17.71(a) make it illegal for 
any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to import 
or export, transport in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of 
a commercial activity, sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign 
commerce, or remove and reduce the species to possession from areas 
under Federal jurisdiction any threatened plant. There is an exception 
for the seeds of cultivated specimens, provided that a statement that 
the seeds are of ``cultivated origin'' accompanies the seeds or their 
container. The Service concludes that the following activities would 
not result in violation of section 9 (this list is not comprehensive): 
Activities on private land such as grazing management, agricultural 
conversions, flood and erosion control, residential development, road 
construction, and pesticide/herbicide application when consistent with 
label restrictions. Questions regarding whether specific activities 
would constitute a violation of section 9 of the Act should be directed 
to the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

Critical Habitat for Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina

Background

    Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
    (1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the 
species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which 
are

[[Page 63465]]

found those physical or biological features:
    (a) Essential to the conservation of the species, and
    (b) Which may require special management considerations or 
protection; and
    (2) Specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the 
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas 
are essential for the conservation of the species.
    Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means to use 
and the use of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring 
an endangered or threatened species to the point at which the measures 
provided pursuant to the Act are no longer necessary. Such methods and 
procedures include, but are not limited to, all activities associated 
with scientific resources management such as research, census, law 
enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation, live 
trapping, and transplantation, and, in the extraordinary case where 
population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be otherwise 
relieved, may include regulated taking.
    Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act 
through the requirement that Federal agencies ensure, in consultation 
with the Service, that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is 
not likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of 
critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat does not affect 
land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or 
other conservation area. Such designation does not allow the government 
or public to access private lands. Such designation does not require 
implementation of restoration, recovery, or enhancement measures by 
non-Federal landowners. Where a landowner requests Federal agency 
funding or authorization for an action that may affect a listed species 
or critical habitat, the consultation requirements of section 7(a)(2) 
of the Act would apply, but even in the event of a destruction or 
adverse modification finding, the obligation of the Federal action 
agency and the landowner is not to restore or recover the species, but 
to implement reasonable and prudent alternatives to avoid destruction 
or adverse modification of critical habitat.
    Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on 
the basis of the best scientific data available. Further, our Policy on 
Information Standards under the Endangered Species Act (published in 
the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34271)), the Information 
Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 106-554; H.R. 5658)), 
and our associated Information Quality Guidelines, provide criteria, 
establish procedures, and provide guidance to ensure that our decisions 
are based on the best scientific data available. They require our 
biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and with the use of 
the best scientific data available, to use primary and original sources 
of information as the basis for recommendations to designate critical 
habitat.

Prudency Determination

    Section 4(a)(3) of the Act, as amended, and implementing 
regulations (50 CFR 424.12), require that, to the maximum extent 
prudent and determinable, the Secretary designate critical habitat at 
the time the species is determined to be endangered or threatened. Our 
regulations (50 CFR 424.12(a)(1)) state that the designation of 
critical habitat is not prudent when one or both of the following 
situations exist: (1) The species is threatened by taking or other 
human activity, and identification of critical habitat can be expected 
to increase the degree of threat to the species, or (2) such 
designation of critical habitat would not be beneficial to the species.
    There is currently no imminent threat to Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina from collection or vandalism under Factor B, and 
identification and mapping of critical habitat is not likely to 
increase any such threat. In the absence of finding that the 
designation of critical habitat would increase threats to a species, if 
there are any benefits to a critical habitat designation, then a 
prudent finding is warranted. The potential benefits of designation 
include: (1) Triggering consultation under section 7 of the Act in new 
areas for actions in which there may be a Federal nexus where it would 
not otherwise occur because, for example, it is or has become 
unoccupied or the occupancy is in question; (2) focusing conservation 
activities on the most essential features and areas; (3) providing 
educational benefits to State or county governments or private 
entities; and (4) preventing people from causing inadvertent harm to 
the plant. Therefore, because we have determined that the designation 
of critical habitat will not likely increase the degree of threat to C. 
parryi var. fernandina and may provide some measure of benefit, we find 
that designation of critical habitat is prudent for C. parryi var. 
fernandina.

Critical Habitat Determinability

    Having determined that designation is prudent, under section 
4(a)(3) of the Act we must find whether critical habitat for the 
species is determinable. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(a)(2) state 
that critical habitat is not determinable when one or both of the 
following situations exist: (i) Information sufficient to perform 
required analyses of the impacts of the designation is lacking, or (ii) 
The biological needs of the species are not sufficiently well known to 
permit identification of an area as critical habitat.
    As discussed above, we have reviewed the available information 
pertaining to the biological needs of Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina and habitat characteristics where this plant is located. On 
the basis of a review of available information, we find that critical 
habitat for C. parryi var. fernandina is not determinable because the 
specific information sufficient to perform the required analysis of the 
impacts of the designation is currently lacking. We will make a 
determination on critical habitat no later than 1 year following any 
final listing determination.

Required Determinations

Clarity of the Rule

    We are required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and by the 
Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain 
language. This means that each rule we publish must:
    (1) Be logically organized;
    (2) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (3) Use clear language rather than jargon;
    (4) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (5) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
    If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us 
comments by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. To better help us 
revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as possible. For 
example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections or paragraphs 
that are unclearly written, which sections or sentences are too long, 
the sections where you feel lists or tables would be useful, etc.

National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)

    We have determined that environmental assessments and

[[Page 63466]]

environmental impact statements, as defined under the authority of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), need 
not be prepared in connection with listing a species as an endangered 
or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We published a 
notice outlining our reasons for this determination in the Federal 
Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

References Cited

    A complete list of references cited in this rulemaking is available 
in the San Fernando Valley Spineflower (Chorizanthe parryi var. 
fernandina) Species Report available at http://www.regulations.gov and 
upon request from the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this proposed rule are the staff members of 
the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we propose to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter 
I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, unless 
otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  17.12 paragraph (h) by adding an entry for ``Chorizanthe 
parryi var. fernandina'' to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Plants in alphabetical order under FLOWERING PLANTS to read as follows:


Sec.  17.12  Endangered and threatened plants.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Listing citations
         Scientific name              Common name        Where listed           Status          and applicable
                                                                                                     rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flowering Plants
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Chorizanthe parryi var.           San Fernando        Wherever found....  T.................  [Insert Federal
 fernandina.                       Valley                                                      Register citation
                                   spineflower.                                                when published as
                                                                                               a final rule]
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: August 30, 2016.
James W. Kurth,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22167 Filed 9-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P