[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67060-67104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26210]



[[Page 67059]]

Vol. 84

Friday,

No. 235

December 6, 2019

Part III





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service





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50 CFR Part 17





Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species 
Status for Beardless Chinchweed With Designation of Critical Habitat, 
and Threatened Species Status for Bartram's Stonecrop With Section 4(d) 
Rule; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 2019 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 67060]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BD35


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species 
Status for Beardless Chinchweed With Designation of Critical Habitat, 
and Threatened Species Status for Bartram's Stonecrop With Section 4(d) 
Rule

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 Pectis imberbis (beardless chinchweed), a plant species from 
southern Arizona and northern Mexico, as an endangered species and to 
designate critical habitat for Beardless chinchweed under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, we propose 
to designate approximately 10,604 acres (4,291 hectares) in southern 
Arizona as critical habitat for this plant. We also announce the 
availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation 
of critical habitat for beardless chinchweed.
    In addition, we propose to list Graptopetalum bartramii (Bartram's 
stonecrop), a plant species from southern Arizona and northern Mexico, 
as a threatened species under the Act and to issue a rule under section 
4(d) of the Act to provide for the conservation of Bartram's stonecrop. 
We are not proposing to designate critical habitat for Bartram's 
stonecrop because we find that a designation is not prudent. If we make 
this rule final as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to 
both of these species and to beardless chinchweed's critical habitat.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
February 4, 2020. 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 a 
public hearing, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT by January 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: 
    Written comments: 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-R2-ES-2018-0104, 
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 Rule box 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-R2-ES-2018-0104; 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).
    Document availability: The draft economic analysis is available at 
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Docs_Species.htm, at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104, and at the 
Arizona Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    The coordinates or plot points or both from which the map is 
generated are included in the administrative record for this critical 
habitat designation and are available at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Docs_Species.htm, at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket 
No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104, and at the Arizona Ecological Services Field 
Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Any additional tools or 
supporting information that we may develop for this critical habitat 
designation will also be available at the Fish and Wildlife Service 
website and Field Office set out above, and may also be included in the 
preamble and/or at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Humphrey, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 
9828 North 31st Avenue, #C3, Phoenix, AZ 85051-2517; telephone 602-242-
0210. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Summary

    Why we need to publish a rule. Under the Act, if a species is 
determined to be an endangered or threatened species throughout all or 
a significant portion of its range, we are required to promptly publish 
a proposal in the Federal Register and make a determination on our 
proposal within 1 year. Under section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary of 
the Interior has the discretion to issue such regulations as he deems 
necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of threatened 
species. Critical habitat shall be designated, to the maximum extent 
prudent and determinable, for any species determined to be an 
endangered or threatened species under the Act. Listing a species as an 
endangered or threatened species, adopting provisions under section 
4(d) of the Act for a threatened species, and designations and 
revisions of critical habitat can only be completed by issuing a rule.
    What this document does. We propose to list beardless chinchweed as 
an endangered species and Bartram's stonecrop as a threatened species. 
This proposed rule assesses all available information regarding status 
of and stressors to beardless chinchweed and Bartram's stonecrop. We 
also propose a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act to provide for 
the conservation of Bartram's stonecrop. In addition, we propose to 
designate critical habitat for beardless chinchweed. We are not 
proposing critical habitat for Bartram's stonecrop as we have 
determined that the designation of critical habitat for this species is 
not prudent.
    The basis for our action. Under the Act, we can determine that a 
species is an endangered or threatened species based on any of five 
factors: (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.
    For beardless chinchweed, we have determined that the key factors 
supporting the proposed endangered finding are: Loss of habitat due to 
invasion by nonnative species (Factor A); altered fire regime 
exacerbated by nonnative invasion (Factors A and E); altered 
precipitation, drought, and temperature (Factors A and E); road and 
trail maintenance, mining, livestock, wildlife, and post-wildfire 
runoff (Factors A and E); grazing from wildlife and livestock (Factor 
C); and small population size exacerbating all other stressors (Factor 
E). The existing regulatory mechanisms are not adequate to address 
these factors such that the species does not meet the definition of

[[Page 67061]]

an endangered or threatened species (Factor D).
    For Bartram's stonecrop, we have determined the key factors 
supporting the proposed threatened finding are: Reduction in water 
availability (Factors A and E); erosion, sedimentation, and burial 
(Factors A and E); trampling (Factor E); altered fire regime (Factors A 
and E); loss of shade (Factors A and E); altered flooding regime 
(Factors A and E); drought (Factors A and E); predation of individuals 
and shade trees (Factors A, C, and E); illegal collection (Factor B); 
and small population size (Factor E). The existing regulatory 
mechanisms are not adequate to address these factors such that the 
species does not meet the definition of an endangered or threatened 
species (Factor D).
    Under the Act, any species that is determined to be an endangered 
or a threatened species shall, to the maximum extent prudent and 
determinable, have habitat designated that is considered to be critical 
habitat. Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary shall 
designate and make revisions to critical habitat on the basis of the 
best available scientific data after taking into consideration the 
economic impact, the impact on national security, and any other 
relevant impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. 
The Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat if he 
determines that the benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of 
specifying such area as part of the critical habitat, unless he 
determines, based on the best scientific data available, that the 
failure to designate such area as critical habitat will result in the 
extinction of the species. Under section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary 
of the Interior has the discretion to issue such regulations as he 
deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of 
threatened species.
    We prepared an economic analysis of the proposed designation of 
critical habitat. In order to consider economic impacts, we prepared an 
analysis of the economic impacts of the proposed critical habitat 
designation. We hereby announce the availability of the draft economic 
analysis and seek public review and comment.
    Peer review. In accordance with our joint policy on peer review 
published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we 
have sought the expert opinions of three appropriate and independent 
specialists regarding the scientific information in the species status 
assessment upon which this proposed rule is based. The purpose of peer 
review is to ensure that our listing determinations and critical 
habitat designation are based on scientifically sound data, 
assumptions, and analyses. The peer reviewers have expertise with 
beardless chinchweed's or Bartram's stonecrop's biology, habitat, 
physical or biological factors, or stressors. Species status assessment 
reports for beardless chinchweed and Bartram's stonecrop were developed 
(Service 2018a and 2018b, entire), which represent a compilation of the 
best scientific and commercial data available concerning the status of 
the species, including the past, present, and future stressors to the 
species. We requested peer review of each species status assessment 
report from three independent specialists, with expertise with the 
species, to ensure that we based our determinations on scientifically 
sound data, assumptions, and analyses. The peer reviewers' comments 
have been considered and incorporated where appropriate in the species 
status assessment reports (Service 2018a and 2018b, entire), which are 
available at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Docs_Species.htm, 
and at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104. 
The peer review comments will be available along with other public 
comments in the docket for this proposed rule on http://www.regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104).

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) Beardless chinchweed and Bartram's stonecrop biology, range, 
and population trends, including:
    (a) Biological or ecological requirements of these species, 
including habitat requirements for germination, growth, and 
reproduction;
    (b) Genetics and taxonomy;
    (c) Historical and current range, including distribution in Mexico;
    (d) Historical and current population levels, and current and 
projected trends; and
    (e) Past and ongoing conservation measures for these species, their 
habitats, or both.
    (2) Factors that may affect the continued existence of these 
species, 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 stressors (or lack thereof) to these species and existing 
regulations that may be addressing those stressors.
    (4) Additional information concerning the historical and current 
status, range, distribution, and population size of these species, 
including the locations of any additional populations of these species.
    (5) Information related to climate change within the range these 
species and how it may affect these species' habitats.
    (6) Information on regulations that are necessary and advisable to 
provide for the conservation of these species and that the Service can 
consider in developing a 4(d) rule for the species. In particular, 
information concerning the extent to which we should include any of the 
section 9 prohibitions in the 4(d) rule or whether any other forms of 
take should be excepted from the prohibitions in the 4(d) rule.
    (7) The reasons why areas should or should not be designated as 
critical habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) including information to inform the following factors such that a 
designation of critical habitat may be determined to be not prudent:
    (a) The species is threatened by taking or other human activity and 
identification of critical habitat can be expected to increase the 
degree of such threat to the species;
    (b) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of a species' habitat or range is not a threat to the 
species, or threats to the species' habitat stem solely from causes 
that cannot be addressed through management actions resulting from 
consultations under section 7(a)(2) of the Act;
    (c) Areas within the jurisdiction of the United States provide no 
more than negligible conservation value, if any, for a species 
occurring primarily outside the jurisdiction of the United States;
    (d) No areas meet the definition of critical habitat.
    (8) The following specific information on:
    (a) The amount and distribution of habitat;
    (b) What areas, that are currently occupied and that contain the 
physical and biological features essential to the conservation of these 
species, should be

[[Page 67062]]

included in a critical habitat designation and why;
    (c) Special management considerations or protection that may be 
needed for the essential features in potential critical habitat areas, 
including managing for the potential effects of climate change; and
    (d) What areas not occupied at the time of listing are essential 
for the conservation of the species. We particularly seek comments 
regarding:
    (i) Whether occupied areas are inadequate for the conservation of 
the species; and,
    (ii) Specific information that supports the determination that 
unoccupied areas will, with reasonable certainty, contribute to the 
conservation of the species and, contain at least one physical or 
biological feature essential to the conservation of the species.
    (9) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the 
subject areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat.
    (10) Any probable economic, national security, or other relevant 
impacts of designating any area that may be included in the final 
designation, and the benefits of including or excluding areas that may 
be impacted.
    (11) Information on the extent to which the description of probable 
economic impacts in the draft economic analysis is a reasonable 
estimate of the likely economic impacts.
    (12) Whether any specific areas we are proposing for critical 
habitat designation should be considered for exclusion under section 
4(b)(2) of the Act, and whether the benefits of potentially excluding 
any specific area outweigh the benefits of including that area under 
section 4(b)(2) of the Act.
    (13) The likelihood of adverse social reactions to the designation 
of critical habitat, as discussed in the associated documents of the 
draft economic analysis, and how the consequences of such reactions, if 
likely to occur, would relate to the conservation and regulatory 
benefits of the proposed critical habitat designation.
    (14) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating 
critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation 
and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and 
comments.
    (15) Additional guidance and methods that the Service could provide 
or use, respectively, to streamline the implementation of the proposed 
4(d) rule for Bartram's stonecrop.
    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 directs that 
determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or a 
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 in ADDRESSES.
    If you submit information via http://www.regulations.gov, your 
entire submission--including any personal identifying information--will 
be posted on the website. 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, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Public Hearing

    Section 4(b)(5) of the Act provides for a public hearing on this 
proposal, if requested. Requests must be received within 45 days after 
the date of publication of this proposed rule in the Federal Register 
(see DATES, above). Such requests must be sent to the address shown in 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. We will schedule a public hearing on 
this proposal, if requested, and announce the date, time, and place of 
the hearing, as well as how to obtain reasonable accommodations, in the 
Federal Register and local newspapers at least 15 days before the 
hearing.

Previous Federal Actions

Beardless Chinchweed

    Beardless chinchweed was a candidate for listing from 1980 to 1996. 
It was first a Category 1 candidate species, as identified in our 
December 15, 1980, notice of review (45 FR 82480). Category 1 is a term 
no longer in use, having been replaced by the term ``candidate 
species.'' A candidate species is a species for which the Service has 
on file sufficient information on biological vulnerability and 
threat(s) to support issuance of a proposed rule to list, but issuance 
of the proposed rule is precluded by higher priority actions to amend 
the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. In 1983, 
beardless chinchweed was reclassified as a Category 2 species (48 FR 
53640; November 28, 1983). A Category 2 species referred to a species 
for which the Service had some indication that listing as endangered or 
threatened might be warranted, but there were insufficient data 
available to justify a proposal to list. The species remained so 
designated in subsequent annual candidate notices of review (50 FR 
39526, September 27, 1985; 55 FR 6184, February 21, 1990; 58 FR 51144; 
September 30, 1993). In 1996, the Service eliminated Category 2 
species; consequently, this species dropped off the candidate list. The 
Service received a petition in July 2010 to list beardless chinchweed 
and designate critical habitat under the Act (Center for Biological 
Diversity 2010, entire). The Service published a 90-day finding on 
August 8, 2012 (77 FR 47352), concluding that the petition presented 
substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that 
listing of the species may be warranted.

Bartram's Stonecrop

    Bartram's stonecrop was a candidate for listing from 1980 to 1996. 
It was first a Category 1 candidate species, as identified in our 
December 15, 1980, notice of review (45 FR 82480), and then in 1983, it 
was reclassified as a Category 2 species (48 FR 53640; November 28, 
1983). The species remained so designated in subsequent annual 
candidate notices of review (50 FR 39526, September 27, 1985; 55 FR 
6184, February 21, 1990; 58 FR 51144; September 30, 1993). In 1996, the 
Service eliminated Category 2 species; consequently, this species 
dropped off the candidate list. The Service received a petition in July 
2010 to list Bartram's stonecrop and designate critical habitat under 
the Act (Center for Biological Diversity 2010, entire). The Service 
published a 90-day finding on August 8, 2012 (77 FR 47352), concluding 
that the petition presented substantial scientific or commercial 
information indicating that listing of the species may be warranted.

[[Page 67063]]

I. Proposed Listings

Background

    To provide the necessary and most up-to-date information and 
background on which to base our determination, we completed a species 
status assessment (SSA) report for beardless chinchweed (Service 2018a, 
entire), and an SSA report for Bartram's stonecrop (Service 2018b, 
entire), which are available online at http://www.regulations.gov, 
under Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104. The SSA reports document the 
results of the comprehensive biological status review for each species, 
and each provides an account of the applicable species' overall 
viability through the forecasting of the condition of populations into 
the future. We generally define viability as the ability of the species 
to persist over the long term and, conversely, to avoid extinction 
(Service 2016, entire). In the SSA reports, we summarize the relevant 
biological data; describe the past, present, and likely future risk 
factors (causes and effects); and conduct an analysis of the viability 
of the species. The SSA reports provide the scientific basis that 
informs our regulatory decision regarding whether these species should 
be listed under the Act. This decision involves the application of 
standards within the Act, its implementing regulations, and Service 
policies (see Determination, below). Further, these SSA reports contain 
the risk analysis on which this determination is based, and the 
following discussion is a summary of the results and conclusions from 
these SSA reports. Species experts and appropriate agencies provided 
input into the development of these SSA reports.
Beardless Chinchweed
    Beardless chinchweed is plant of the Asteraceae, or sunflower, 
family. Beardless chinchweed was first collected by Charles Wright in 
the early 1850s in Sonora, Mexico (now part of Santa Cruz County, 
Arizona), and was described by Asa Gray in 1853 (Phillips et al. 1982, 
p. 1; Keil 1978, p. 135). The name has remained unchanged since that 
time, and there are no known synonyms. Based on this information as the 
best available scientific and commercial data, we accept the 
characterization of beardless chinchweed as a valid species.
    Beardless chinchweed is an erect, many-branched, perennial herb 
growing 3 to 12 decimeters (1 to 4 feet (ft)) from a slender, woody, 
taprooted caudex (stem base) (Keil 1978, p. 143; Phillips et al. 1982, 
p. 2; Keil 2017, pers. comm.). The glabrous (without hairs) leaves are 
1 to 5 centimeters (cm) (0.4 to 2 inches (in)) in length and 1 to 2 
millimeters (mm) (0.04 to 0.08 in) wide with pointed tips (Phillips et 
al. 1982, p. 2). Daisy-like flower heads containing yellow ray and disk 
flowers are solitary or in open, flat-topped clusters at the tips of 
the branches (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 2). In fruit, the heads have red 
to purple drying phyllaries (bracts around the flower head of a 
composite plant) and have small (<5 mm (0.2 in) long), spreading, awned 
black achenes (simple dry fruit) (Fishbein and Warren 1994, p. 19). 
Although we do not know exactly how long individual beardless 
chinchweed live, experts estimate 5 to 10 years (Keil 2017, pers. 
comm.).
    Young beardless chinchweed plants have been noted in April (Dahlby 
2017, pers. comm.), and are still present in November (Westland 2010, 
p. 10). Flowering occurs from August to October, when the plants are 
more than 0.5 meters (m) (1.6 ft) in height (Kearney and Peebles 1951, 
p. 935; Phillips et al. 1982, p. 8). There have been no reports of the 
plant from winter months, when beardless chinchweed is presumed to die 
back to the ground. It is unknown how long flowers remain open. In one 
measurement of the number of flowers per stem, these range from 0 to 
55, with an average of 28.3 per stem (Service 2015, p. 1). It was 
estimated that there were 6 to 8 seeds per head, resulting in a 
potential of roughly 832 seeds per plant, although seed loss to 
grazing, desiccation, and abortion were not accounted for. Germination 
and establishment may be sporadic or require specific conditions for 
success (Keil 1978, p. 144). There is no information available on the 
seedbank longevity of the species; however, we are aware that within 
populations, a variety of age classes are represented (Phillips et al. 
1982, p. 7; Service 2011, p. 4; Service 2014a, p. 2; Service 2015, p. 
1; Sebesta 2017, pers. comm.). Therefore, we believe viable seeds are 
being produced and reproduction is occurring.
    The species has been reported to reproduce both by seed and 
rhizomes (Westland 2010, p. 10), although there is no evidence that the 
species is rhizomatous (Keil 2017, pers. comm.). It is not known 
whether plants are able to pollinate themselves or require the pollen 
of another plant. However, it is likely that the plant requires 
pollinators. The pollinators of beardless chinchweed are not known, but 
other Pectis species are reported to be pollinated by bees and flies 
(Cockerell 1897, pp. 148-149; Cockerell 1911, pp. 136-137, 141-142; 
Simpson and Neff 1987, p. 434; Phillip et al. 2006, pp. 532, 535-536, 
538), and both an Acmaeodera beetle and a Diadasia bee were noted 
visiting beardless chinchweed plants (Sebesta 2017, pers. comm.). 
Butterflies may also use this species, as showy yellow heads containing 
both ray and disk flowers serve as landing platforms and are easily 
accessible to a variety of low energy pollinators such as butterflies 
(Schmitt 1980, p. 935; Keil 2017, pers. comm.).
    Beardless chinchweed is typically found in oak woodlands at higher 
elevations, and desert grasslands and oak savannas at lower elevations 
(McLaughlin et al. 2001, pp. 119, 121). However, it has also been found 
on disturbed road cuts, arroyo cuts, and unstable rocky slopes, where 
it has little competition for sunlight and nutrients (Phillips et al. 
1982, pp. 4, 6; Fishbein and Warren 1994, p. 19). It is found at 
elevations from 1,158-1,737 m (3,799-5,699 ft) (SEINet 2017, entire). 
Plants are typically noted to occur on steep, south-facing, sunny to 
partially shaded hillslopes, with eroding bedrock and open areas with 
little competition from other plants. The nonstable substrate, which 
could be moved through gravity, erosion, or impact, reduces competition 
with other vegetation, favoring beardless chinchweed. It is presumed to 
be a poor competitor due to its preferred open habitat and inability to 
find the species under dense vegetation conditions.
    Beardless chinchweed requires a lack of competition from other 
plants. The different shaped and sized canopy and root systems of 
associated plant species within healthy grasslands, savannas, and 
woodlands create heterogeneity of form, height, and open patches needed 
by beardless chinchweed. Open patches are created and maintained 
through a variety of abiotic and biotic mechanisms (Porensky et al. 
2013, p. 591), including natural erosion (from things like 
precipitation events, gravity, and animals); the grazing and browsing 
of native animals, such as black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys 
ludovicianus) and pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) (BANWR 
2012, entire; Bahre 1995, p. 231; McPherson and Weltzin 2000, p. 4); 
and low severity, frequent wildfires (Hoffmeister 1986, pp. 194-195; 
McPherson and Weltzin 2000, p. 5; Brooks and Pyke 2002, p. 6; McDonald 
and McPherson 2011a, p. 385; Fryer and Leunsmann 2012, entire). The 
desert grasslands, oak savannas, and oak woodlands of southern Arizona 
historically had large-scale, low severity fire roughly every 10 to 20 
years and following periods of adequate moisture (McPherson and Weltzin 
2000, p. 5; Brooks and Pyke 2002, p. 6; McDonald and McPherson 2011a, 
p. 385; Fryer and

[[Page 67064]]

Leunsmann 2012, entire). Precipitation within the mountain ranges is 
bimodal, with dormant season snow and rain, and growing season monsoon 
rain. Data are lacking to indicate how beardless chinchweed uses 
dormant season versus growing season precipitation; however, we believe 
that dormant season precipitation is more important because this is 
needed for seed germination and growth.
    The historical range of beardless chinchweed was larger than the 
current range, with a greater number of populations than persist today 
in southeastern Arizona and northern Sonora and Chihuahua Mexico. The 
historical distribution included 21 separate beardless chinchweed 
populations within the Atascosa-Pajarito, Huachuca, Patagonia, and 
Santa Rita Mountains and Canelo Hills of Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz 
Counties, Arizona, as well as in northern Chihuahua and Sonora Mexico 
(see Table 1, below). We define a population of beardless chinchweed as 
one or more subpopulations that occur within 1 kilometer (km) (0.62 
miles (mi)) of other beardless chinchweed individuals allowing for gene 
flow and movement through cross-pollination. Because many bees and 
butterflies can travel a distance of 1 km (0.62 mi), we believe plants 
within this distance to be a single population. Subpopulations within a 
population are separated by between 300 and 999 m (984.3 and 3,278 ft). 
Of the 21 populations, 15 were in Arizona and 6 were in Mexico. The 
number of individuals seen historically in Mexico is not available, and 
no beardless chinchweed have been reported from Mexico since 1940. Nine 
populations and one subpopulation in Arizona have become extirpated 
since 1962.

                           Table 1--Current Status of Beardless Chinchweed Populations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Subpopulation name     Subpopulation
     Mountain range/country         Population name    Population status           *                status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atascosa-Pajarito Mountains, USA  Pena Blanca Lake..  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
                                  Ruby Road.........  Extant............  N/A...............  Extant.
                                  Summit Motorway...  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
Canelo Hills, USA...............  Audubon Research    Extant............  Post Canyon.......  Extirpated.
                                   Ranch.
                                  ..................  ..................  Tributary of        Extant.
                                                                           O'Donnell Canyon.
                                  Copper Mountain...  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
                                  Harshaw Creek.....  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
                                  Lampshire Well....  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
Huachuca Mountains, USA.........  Scotia Canyon.....  Extant............  N/A...............  Extant.
                                  Coronado National   Extant............  State of Texas      Extant.
                                   Memorial.                               Mine.
                                  ..................  ..................  Visitor Center....  Extant.
                                  Joe's Canyon Trail  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
Patagonia Mountains, USA........  Flux Canyon.......  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
                                  Washington Camp...  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
Santa Rita Mountains, USA.......  Box Canyon Road...  Extirpated........  N/A...............  Extirpated.
                                  McCleary Canyon--   Extant............  N/A...............  Extant.
                                   Gunsight Pass.
                                  McCleary Canyon--   Extant............  N/A...............  Extant.
                                   Wasp Canyon.
Chihuahua, Mexico...............  Batopililas.......  Unknown; presume    N/A...............  Unknown; presume
                                                       extant.                                 extant.
                                  Guasaremos........  Unknown; presume    N/A...............  Unknown; presume
                                                       extant.                                 extant.
Sonora, Mexico..................  Canon de la         Unknown; presume    N/A...............  Unknown; presume
                                   Petaquilla.         extant.                                 extant.
                                  Canyon Estrella...  Unknown; presume    N/A...............  Unknown; presume
                                                       extant.                                 extant.
                                  Horconcitos.......  Unknown; presume    N/A...............  Unknown; presume
                                                       extant.                                 extant.
                                  Los Conejos.......  Unknown; presume    N/A...............  Unknown; presume
                                                       extant.                                 extant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In this column of the table, N/A means ``not applicable.''

    Currently, there are 12 populations in Arizona and Mexico. In 
Arizona, there are currently 387 individual beardless chinchweed spread 
across less than 2 hectares (ha) (5 acres (ac)) within six extant 
populations spread across the following four mountain ranges: The 
Atascosa-Pajarito, Huachuca, Santa Rita mountain ranges, and the Canelo 
Hills (see Table 1, above). Five of the six populations in Arizona 
contain fewer than 50 individuals. Most of the mountain ranges in the 
United States have been surveyed for beardless chinchweed, and it is 
unlikely that any large populations remain unaccounted for therein. In 
addition, there are six populations in northern Mexico for which we 
have no current information. Inquiries between February 17 and December 
12, 2017, with 11 researchers familiar with the flora of Chihuahua and 
Sonora revealed no information on the status of the species in Mexico. 
We believe these populations are extant, but with few individuals and 
with poor habitat condition (similar to the smallest extant populations 
in the United States), because much of the grasslands in beardless 
chinchweed' historical range in Mexico have been invaded by nonnative 
species (Romo et al., 2012, entire; Arriaga et al., 2004, entire).
    For beardless chinchweed to maintain viability, its populations or 
some representative portion thereof must be resilient. Resiliency 
describes the ability of populations to withstand stochastic events 
(arising from random factors). We can measure resiliency based on 
metrics of population health (for example, germination versus death 
rates and population size). Highly resilient populations are better 
able to withstand disturbances such as random fluctuations in 
germination rates (demographic stochasticity), variations in rainfall 
(environmental stochasticity), or the effects of anthropogenic 
activities. A beardless chinchweed population with high resiliency is 
one in which abundance is high, the number of subpopulations is high 
and spatially dispersed, seed production is high,

[[Page 67065]]

recruitment is such that the population remains stable or increases, 
and the population is able to withstand stochastic events or recover to 
current or better condition from stochastic events from seed bank. 
Population resiliency categories for beardless chinchweed are described 
in section 3.2 of the SSA report (Service 2018a).
    In addition to the above demographic needs, populations also need 
habitat elements for resiliency. Based on where the species has 
typically been found, a resilient population needs eroding granite or 
limestone soils or rock outcrops with native-dominated habitat, on 
sunny to partly shaded southern exposures. Beardless chinchweed plants 
are also often associated with active disturbances from frequent, low 
severity wildfire; grazing and browsing of native animals; and natural 
erosion of nonstable substrates, thus reducing competition for 
beardless chinchweed. In addition, resilient populations need soil 
moisture for seed germination, growth, and reproduction in the form of 
dormant season (October through March) precipitation. The minimum 
amount of precipitation needed for individual survival is unknown. We 
believe that deviation from the timing and amount of precipitation 
would impact the resiliency of a population, because soil moisture 
would be impacted. This would lead to decreased seed germination, 
reduced growth, reduced flowering, and decreased seed production. 
Further, the presence of pollinators is needed for effective 
fertilization, out-crossing, and seed production in beardless 
chinchweed. Habitat resiliency categories for beardless chinchweed are 
described in Table 2, below, and in section 3.2 of the SSA report 
(Service 2018a).

                  Table 2--Population Resiliency Category Definitions for Beardless Chinchweed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              Dormant season
       Condition category          Subpopulations       Abundance       Native-dominated     (October through
                                                                            habitat        March)  precipitation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High (3).......................  Three or more      Number of adults   No nonnative       More than 12 inches of
                                  subpopulations     in each            plants.            winter rain on
                                  per population.    population is                         average during the
                                                     >300 individuals.                     past 5 years as
                                                                                           recorded at the
                                                                                           nearest weather
                                                                                           station.
Moderate (2)...................  Two                Number of          Native plants      Between 6.1 and 12
                                  subpopulations     individuals in     dominate.          inches of winter rain
                                  per population.    each population                       on average during the
                                                     is 100 to 300                         past 5 years as
                                                     individuals.                          recorded at the
                                                                                           nearest weather
                                                                                           station.
Low (1)........................  One subpopulation  Number of          Mix of nonnative   6 or fewer inches of
                                  per population.    individuals in     and native         winter rain on
                                                     each population    plants, where      average during the
                                                     is <100            there is not a     past 5 years as
                                                     individuals.       clear dominance    recorded at the
                                                                        of either.         nearest weather
                                                                                           station.
[Oslash].......................  No                 No individuals     Nonnative plants   6 or fewer inches of
                                  subpopulations;    are found during   dominate the       winter rain on
                                  population is      surveys.           habitat.           average during the
                                  extirpated.                                              past 5 years as
                                                                                           recorded at the
                                                                                           nearest weather
                                                                                           station.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Maintaining representation in the form of genetic or ecological 
diversity is important to maintain the capacity of beardless chinchweed 
to adapt to future environmental changes. Representation describes the 
ability of a species to adapt to changing environmental conditions. 
Representation can be measured by the breadth of genetic or ecological 
diversity within and among populations. The more representation, or 
diversity a species has, the more it is capable of adapting to changes 
(natural or human-caused) in its environment. In the absence of 
species-specific genetic and ecological diversity information, we 
evaluate representation based on the extent and variability of habitat 
characteristics across the geographical range.
    Genetic analysis of beardless chinchweed has not been conducted 
within or among populations or mountain ranges. However, populations on 
different mountain ranges are widely separated, making cross-
pollination highly unlikely, and most of the populations contain small 
numbers of individuals. Therefore, there is the potential for genetic 
diversity among mountain ranges. However, these populations are 
isolated and contain small numbers of individuals. Small, isolated 
populations are susceptible to the loss of genetic diversity, genetic 
drift, and inbreeding. This could mean that between-population genetic 
diversity may be greater than within-population diversity (Smith and 
Wayne 1996, p. 333; Lindenmayer and Peakall 2000, p. 200). It is 
possible that there has been a loss of genetic diversity in the species 
due to the fact that multiple populations are already extirpated. 
Currently, there are six extant populations across four widely 
separated mountain ranges in the United States, and six populations in 
northern Mexico that are presumed extant.
    Beardless chinchweed has been reported from both decomposing 
granite and limestone substrates. This variability of substrate 
preference may be important in maintaining environmental and genetic 
diversity. Similarly, the species is found over a relatively wide range 
of elevations of 1,158 to 1,737 m (3,799 to 5,699 ft) and vegetation 
communities (oak woodlands at higher elevations, and grasslands and oak 
savannas at lower elevations), which could be important in terms of 
representation. The precise genetic and ecological diversity needed is 
unknown, but given the loss of populations, the low number of 
individuals in the majority of the populations, and the distance among 
populations, it is likely that some diversity has been lost. 
Consequently, at a minimum, we likely need to retain populations 
throughout the range of the species to maintain the overall potential 
genetic and life-history attributes that can buffer the species' 
response to environmental changes over time.
    Beardless chinchweed needs to have multiple resilient populations 
distributed throughout its range to provide for redundancy. Redundancy 
describes the ability of a species to withstand catastrophic events, 
measured by the number of populations, and their resiliency, 
distribution, and connectivity. The more populations, and the wider the 
distribution of those populations, the more redundancy the species will 
exhibit. Redundancy reduces the risk that a large portion of the 
species' range will be negatively affected by a catastrophic natural or 
anthropogenic event at a given point in time. Species that are well-
distributed across their historical range are considered less 
susceptible to extinction and more likely to be viable than species 
confined to a small portion of their range (Carroll et al. 2010, 
entire).

[[Page 67066]]

With the known six extant populations being separated by as much as 35 
km (21.8 mi) in southern Arizona and even farther with the six 
populations believed to be extant in northern Mexico, a localized 
stressor such as grazing during flowering would impact only those 
groups of plants nearby the activity. Conversely, such distance among 
populations reduces connectivity among populations and mountain ranges, 
which may be important for genetic exchange and recolonization. 
Nonnative plant invasion and repeated, large-scale, moderate and high 
severity fires have impacted and will continue to impact many 
populations throughout the plant's range. The minimum number of 
populations needed to provide for sufficient redundancy is unknown. 
However, based on the number of populations now extirpated and the 
wide-ranging impacts from nonnatives and wildfire, the species likely 
needs to retain its existing population redundancy across multiple 
mountain ranges throughout the range to minimize impacts from 
catastrophic events.
Bartram's Stonecrop
    Bartram's stonecrop is a plant of the Crassulaceae or stonecrop 
family (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 2; Moran 1994, p. 192). Acevedo et al. 
(2004, entire) investigated the phylogenetic relationship of 
Graptopetalum and other genera of Crassulaceae. Their work clearly 
separates Bartram's stonecrop from other species (Acevedo et al. 2004, 
p. 1101). The Flora of North America (2008, p. 227) recognizes 
Graptopetalum and Dudleya as distinct, and recognizes this species as 
Bartram's stonecrop in the genus Graptopetalum. Based on this 
information as the best available scientific and commercial data, the 
Service accepts this taxonomy.
    Bartram's stonecrop is a small, succulent (fleshy), acaulescent 
(without a stem) perennial plant (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 2; Moran 
1994, p. 192). Bartram's stonecrop has a basal rosette that is 7 to 16 
centimeters (cm) (2.75 to 6.3 in) wide comprised of 20 or more flat to 
concave, smooth, blue-green leaves (Rose 1926, p. 2; Phillips et al. 
1982, p. 2; Moran 1994, p. 192). One to seven showy inflorescences 
(includes stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers) up to 30.5 cm (12 in) in 
height are produced in equilateral panicles (pyramidal loosely branched 
flower cluster). The branches of the panicles produce one to six 
(usually three) flowers each (Rose 1926, p. 2). The fruits are 
follicles (capsule that splits along one side to release seeds), with 
minute seeds (0.5 to 0.9 mm (0.02 to 0.04 in) in length)) having little 
or no endosperm (tissue surrounding the embryo that provides nutrition; 
Shohet 1999, pp. 3, 48). The lifespan of Bartram's stonecrop is thought 
to be approximately 5 years (Ferguson, 2017b, tables 1-3; Ferguson 
2017, pers. comm.).
    The inflorescence stalks of Bartram's stonecrop grow for 30 to 40 
days, around July and August, before coming to their full height, with 
the flowers then opening primarily between September and November 
(Kearney and Peebles 1951, p. 361; Phillips et al. 1982, pp. 2, 7; 
Shohet 1999, p. 25). Individual flowers produce both male and female 
parts, but the timing of male and female flower stages differs. 
Individual flowers open in succession, such that the length of time 
each flower remains open overlaps, allowing for various stages of 
flowering and fruiting to be simultaneous within an individual plant 
for a month or more. The two stages of floral growth may reduce the 
probability of self-pollination, though it likely does still occur 
(Ferguson 2017, pers. comm.). Flowering is triggered by fall rains and 
does not occur during periods of water stress (Shohet 1999, pp. 22, 25, 
36, 39).
    Bartram's stonecrop requires pollination for reproduction. The 
major pollinators of Bartram's stonecrop are Sarcophaga spp. (true 
flies) and Musca spp. (house flies), although Apis mellifera (honey 
bee) may also play a role in pollination. Other species noted on 
Bartram's stonecrop include wasps, butterflies, and Tachinidae and 
Bombyliidae flies (Shohet 1999, p. 41; Ferguson 2014, p. 26; Ferguson 
2017b, p. 13). Fertilization success is greatest in earliest opening 
flowers, possibly due to more pollinators being available earlier in 
the season, but having a long period of flowering increases overall 
chance of pollination (Shohet 1999, p. 57). Of the seeds produced, 
approximately 20 percent are viable under optimal conditions (Shohet 
1999, p. 48). Because seedlings (plants less than 1.5 cm [0.6 in] in 
diameter) have been located in most populations, we believe pollinator 
availability is not a limiting factor for this species. Given their 
geographic location in the landscape (i.e., in canyons with springs and 
streams), it is possible that seeds are transported by water and that 
populations may have been founded by a single individual plant or seed 
(Shohet 1999, p. 58). Seeds may also be dispersed via gravity and wind.
    There is little information available regarding the seedbank of 
Bartram's stonecrop. In general, a seed that is very tiny has evolved a 
requirement of sunlight for germination, as they cannot successfully 
emerge from deep burial (Venable and Brown 1987, p. 360). Similarly, it 
is thought that Bartram's stonecrop seeds reside at the soil surface 
beneath the litter (Shohet 1999, p. 48). It is possible that because 
the seed is so small, with little endosperm, mycorrhizae (the symbiotic 
association of a fungus with the roots of plants) may be required for 
seedling establishment and growth, but this has not been studied 
(Felger 2017, pers. comm.). Researchers at the Desert Botanical Gardens 
have attempted to grow Bartram's stonecrop from seed. They had no 
difficulty with seed germination; however, they have experienced high 
seedling mortality, perhaps related to a requirement for mycorrhizae 
for seedling establishment.
    The species typically occurs on rocky outcrops with erodible soils 
in deep, narrow canyons in heavy cover of litter and shade within 
Madrean woodlands at elevations ranging from 1,067 to 2,042 m (3,500 to 
6,700 ft). Madrean woodlands are a forested community dominated by 
evergreen oaks, but also containing junipers and pine trees, and 
characterized by mild winters and warm wet summers (Brown 1982, p. 59). 
Madrean evergreen woodland is typically bounded by semi-desert 
grasslands and savanna at warmer, drier sites in the lower elevations, 
and by evergreen and broadleaf forests on more mesic and cooler sites 
at higher elevation, at north aspect, or near riparian areas. Bartram's 
stonecrop root into crevices on rock ledges and cliffs on slopes of 
various aspects (Shohet 1999, p. 22; Ferguson 2014, p. 41; NPS 2016, p. 
7). In addition, Bartram's stonecrop are almost always located near 
water sources (springs, seeps, or intermittent streams), but above the 
floodline (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 4; Shohet 1999, p. 22; NPS 2014, p. 
2). Plants are typically within 10 m (32.8 ft) from a streambed in the 
bottom of canyons on rocky outcrops, but can be much farther on 
occasion (Shohet 1999, p. 5; Ferguson 2014, p. 41; NPS 2014, p. 2; 
Ferguson 2016a, p. 14). Based on microhabitats in which the species is 
typically found, the species' needs include crevices (with or without 
soil) for seeds to lodge and germinate, shade and deep leaf litter to 
help maintain soil moisture, and a humid microhabitat in this arid 
environment. Proximity to water may provide humidity for the plant's 
microclimate. The deep, narrow canyons and associated overstory species 
provide shade during a portion of the day, creating a cooler 
temperature and aiding in maintaining a humid microenvironment. In 
addition, the vegetation litter provides retention of

[[Page 67067]]

soil moisture, further promoting the humid microenvironment. The 
specific substrate component does not seem to be critical. In addition, 
for reestablishment, moist soil for seedbank may be important for this 
species following extended periods of drought.
    Madrean evergreen woodlands of the sky island mountain ranges have 
evolved with frequent, low-severity fire and have warm wet summers and 
mild winters. The maximum interval between the relatively widespread 
fires typically ranged from about 10 to 30 years in the pine-dominant 
forests (Swetnam et al. 2001, p. 4). Precipitation within the sky 
island mountain ranges is bimodal, with winter snow and rain, and 
summer monsoon rain. Mean annual precipitation in the Madrean woodland 
habitat of southern Arizona is 250 to 450 mm (10 to 17 in), with more 
than 50 percent occurring in summer. The winter snow and rain coincide 
with Bartram's stonecrop seed germination and growth. Winter 
precipitation is needed for Bartram's stonecrop germination (although 
some germination likely occurs following summer rains), and both summer 
(July and August) and fall precipitation (captured partially in the 
October and November ``winter'' data) is needed for Bartram's stonecrop 
flower production.
    Bartram's stonecrop is known to have historically occurred in 33 
separate populations within 13 isolated sky island mountain ranges, 10 
in southern Arizona and 3 in northern Mexico. While the overall range 
of the species is likely unchanged, the number and size of populations 
has been reduced. Four populations have become extirpated in the United 
States in recent years, and a fifth population has contracted in size. 
In three instances, extirpation was associated with the drying of 
habitat, which rendered it no longer suitable for the species to 
persist; we do not know the cause of extirpation in the fourth 
instance. In addition, there have been many changes in the southeastern 
Arizona landscape since the 1890s due to intensive cattle grazing, 
water development, and fire suppression (e.g., Bahre 1991, entire). 
These impacts may have reduced the range or number of populations and 
individuals.
    We define a population as occurring within the same water course 
(i.e., stream) in a sky island range and within the distance 
pollinators can travel. A population may consist of one or more 
subpopulations of Bartram's stonecrop. These subpopulations are 
separated by up to 8 km (5 mi). Within each subpopulation are groupings 
of plants. Groupings are separated by up to 1.7 km (1 mi).
    As of 2017, when the SSA analysis was completed, there were 29 
extant populations across 12 mountain ranges in the United States and 
Mexico: 26 extant populations from 9 mountain ranges in southern 
Arizona and 3 presumed extant populations from 3 mountain ranges in 
northern Mexico (see Table 3, below). Within these 29 populations, 
there are approximately 3,756 individuals within about 2 ha (5 ac).
    In 2018, four additional populations were located in the United 
States in the Rincon Mountains, one additional population was located 
in Mexico, and a known population in Mexico, which we did not have 
recent data for, was confirmed. The new populations in the United 
States included the Upper Rincon Creek population with 38 individuals 
(including ``many'' seedlings), Turkey Creek population with 4 
individuals (seedlings not differentiated, but photos look like adult 
rosettes and flowering), Deer Creek population with 10 individuals 
(adult rosettes and flowering), and Chiminea Tributary population with 
13 plants (seedlings not differentiated). In Sonora, Mexico, a new 
population (Mesa Tres Rios population) with 80 living and 28 dead 
plants was found in Mesa Tres Rios. In the R[iacute]o Piedras Verdes 
near Colonia Pacheo area of Chihuahua, seven individuals were located, 
confirming the presence of an extant population ``near Colonia 
Pacheco''; it is unknown if this is the exact historical location. 
Seedlings were not differentiated in either of the Mexico surveys. In 
total, only 145 new individuals were found, including seedlings, with 
65 from the United States and 80 from Mexico. All but one population 
(Mesa Tres Rios) are small populations with fewer than 150 individuals. 
The number of extant populations as of 2018 is 34 across 13 mountain 
ranges in the United States and Mexico.

                           Table 3--Current Status of Bartram's Stonecrop Populations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Subpopulation
         Mountain ranges              Population      Population  status     Subpopulation          status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  UNITED STATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baboquivari Mountains...........  Brown Canyon......  Extant............  Brown Canyon......  Extant.
                                  Thomas Canyon.....  Extant............  Thomas Canyon.....  Extant.
Chiricahua Mountains............  Echo Canyon.......  Extant............  Echo Canyon.......  Extant.
                                                                          Rhyolite Canyon...  Extant.
                                                                          Sugarloaf Mountain  Extant.
                                  Indian Creek......  Extirpated........  Indian Creek        Extirpated.
                                                                           Canyon.
Dragoon Mountains...............  Carlink Canyon....  Extirpated........  Carlink Canyon....  Extirpated.
                                  Jordan Canyon.....  Extant............  Jordan Canyon.....  Extant.
                                  Sheepshead........  Extant............  Sheepshead........  Extant.
                                  Slavin Gulch......  Extant............  Lower Slavin Gulch  Extant.
                                  Stronghold Canyon   Extant............  Cochise Spring....  Extant.
                                   East.                                  Park Canyon.......  Extant.
                                  Stronghold Canyon   Extant............  Rockfellow Dome     Extant.
                                   West.                                   Trail.             Extant.
                                                                          Stronghold Canyon   Extant.
                                                                           West.
                                                                          Stronghold Canyon--
                                                                           hanging canyon
                                                                           drainage.
Empire Mountains................  Empire Mountains..  Extirpated........  Empire Mountains..  Extirpated.
Mule Mountains..................  Juniper Flat......  Extant............  Juniper Flat and    Extant.
                                                                           vicinity.
Pajarito/Atascosa Mountains.....  Alamo Canyon......  Extant............  Alamo Canyon......  Extant.
                                  Holden Canyon.....  Extant............  Holden Canyon.....  Extant.
                                  Sycamore Canyon...  Extant............  Montana Peak        Extant.
                                                                           Vicinity.          Extant.
                                                                          Montana Canyon....  Extant.
                                                                          Mule Ridge........

[[Page 67068]]

 
                                                                          Penasco Canyon;     Extant.
                                                                           below dam.         Extant.
                                                                          Summit Motorway...  Extant.
                                                                          Sycamore Canyon...
                                  Warsaw Canyon.....  Extant............  Warsaw/Old Glory    Extant.
                                                                           Canyons.
Patagonia Mountains.............  Alum Gulch........  Extant............  Alum Gulch........  Extant.
                                                                          Flux Canyon.......  Extant.
Rincon Mountains................  Chimenea-Madrona    Extant............  Chimenea Canyon +   Extant.
                                   Canyons.                                Manning Camp
                                                                           Trail + Madrona
                                                                           Canyon.
                                  Happy Valley North  Extirpated........  Happy Valley North  Extirpated.
                                  Happy Valley South  Extant............  Happy Valley South  Extant.
                                  Upper Rincon Creek  Extant............  Upper Rincon Creek  Extant.
                                  Turkey Creek......  Extant............  Turkey Creek......  Extant.
                                  Deer Creek........  Extant............  Deer Creek........  Extant.
                                  Chiminea Tributary  Extant............  Chiminea Tributary  Extant.
Santa Rita Mountains............  Adobe Canyon......  Extant............  Adobe Canyon......  Extant.
                                  Gardner Canyon....  Extant............  Cave Creek Canyon.  Extant.
                                                                          Gardner Canyon....  Extant.
                                                                          Sawmill Canyon....  Extant.
                                  Josephine Canyon..  Extant............  Bond Canyon.......  Extant.
                                                                          Josephine Canyon..  Extant.
                                  Madera Canyon.....  Extant............  Madera Canyon.....  Extant.
                                  Squaw Gulch.......  Extant............  Squaw Gulch.......  Extant.
                                  Sycamore Canyon...  Extant............  Sycamore Canyon...  Extant.
                                  Temporal Gulch....  Extant............  Temporal Gulch....  Extant.
                                                                          Upper Jones Canyon  Extant.
                                  Walker Canyon.....  Extant............  Big Casa Blanca     Extant.
                                                                           Canyon.            Extant.
                                                                          Walker Canyon
                                                                           Basin.
Whetstone Mountains.............  Death Trap Canyon.  Extant............  Death Trap Springs  Extant.
                                  French Joe Canyon.  Extant............  French Joe Canyon.  Extant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     MEXICO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sierra Las Avispas, Sonora......  Sierra Las          Presumed Extant...  Sierra Las          Presumed Extant.
                                   Avispas, Sonora.                        Avispas, (Nogales
                                                                           County).
Sierra La Escuadra, Chihuahua...  Sierra La           Extant............  Near Colonia        Extant.
                                   Escuadra,                               Pacheco (in the
                                   Chihuahua.                              Municipio Nuevo
                                                                           Casas Grandes).
Sierra La Estancia, Chihuahua...  Sierra La           Presumed Extant...  Cuarenta Casas      Presumed Extant.
                                   Estancia,                               (northwest of Las
                                   Chihuahua.                              Varas, Municipio
                                                                           Madera).
Sierra Los Mojones..............  Mesa Tres Rios....  Extant............  Mesa Tres Rios....  Extant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The number of populations within each sky island mountain ranges 
from one population (e.g., Mule Mountains) to as many as eight 
populations (e.g., Santa Rita Mountains). Each of these populations 
contains from one to eight subpopulations, which can be separated by up 
to 8 km (5 mi). Within each subpopulation, plants grow in groups or 
clusters of one to eight groups, which are separated by up to 1.7 km (1 
mi). Within each subpopulation, plants grow across an area of 1 to 140 
m (3.3 to 459 ft) (Ferguson 2014, entire; Ferguson 2016a, p. 14).
    Bartram's stonecrop typically occurs in small populations with 
limited numbers of individuals. Most populations contain fewer than 100 
plants (Ferguson 2014, entire; Ferguson 2016a, entire), but 
occasionally hundreds of plants can be found within a single 
population. The number of individuals in a given population can vary 
greatly from year to year and from season to season, depending on 
weather and stressors present (Ferguson 2017b, pp. 8, 15).
    For Bartram's stonecrop to maintain viability, its populations or 
some representative portion thereof must be resilient. Resiliency 
describes the ability of populations to withstand stochastic events 
(arising from random factors). We can measure resiliency based on 
metrics of population health (for example, germination versus death 
rates and population size). Highly resilient populations are better 
able to withstand disturbances such as random fluctuations in 
germination rates (demographic stochasticity), variations in rainfall 
(environmental stochasticity), or the effects of anthropogenic 
activities. Resilient Bartram's stonecrop populations must be large 
enough that stochastic events do not eliminate the entire population. A 
highly resilient population of Bartram's stonecrop consists of multiple 
subpopulations, with a large number of individuals in each 
subpopulation. Highly resilient Bartram's stonecrop populations must 
also produce and disperse seeds, establish seedlings that survive, and 
maintain mature reproductive individuals in the population; recruitment 
should exceed or be equal to mortality. This allows for shared 
pollinators and seed dispersal between subpopulations and groups within 
the population, which can allow the population to recover from 
disturbance events and maintain or increase genetic diversity. 
Population resiliency categories for Bartram's stonecrop are described 
in section 3.2 of the SSA report (Service 2018b, entire).
    In addition to the above demographic needs, populations also need 
habitat elements for resiliency. Based on where the species has 
typically been found, a resilient population needs riparian 
characteristics (i.e., proximity to water and associated vegetation),

[[Page 67069]]

precipitation, shade, and bedrock or soil pockets in rock ledges and 
cliffs. Precipitation is needed to maintain soil moisture, cooler 
temperatures, and humidity in the microenvironment; shade from trees, 
canyon walls, and leaf litter aid in moisture retention. Small 
population size has the potential to decrease Bartram's stonecrop's 
population resiliency, as all stressors are exacerbated in populations 
with only a small number of individuals. Area of occupied habitat, 
abundance, number of subpopulations, and recruitment all affect 
population resiliency. Habitat resiliency categories for Bartram's 
stonecrop are described in Table 4, below, and in section 3.2 of the 
SSA report (Service 2018b).

                                       Table 4--Population Resiliency Category Definitions for Bartram's Stonecrop
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Population factors                                                  Habitat factors
                     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Condition  category                                                                                             Winter (October
                         Subpopulations           Abundance            Recruitment        Riparian elements      through March)             Shade
                                                                                                                  precipitation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High (3)............  Three or more         Number of adults in   Populations contain   Water is within 10 m  More than 12 inches   Overstory cover of
                       subpopulations of     each population is    more seedlings        from individuals or   of winter rain on     Juniperus, Quercus,
                       plants/population.    >300 individuals.     (<1.5 cm [0.6 in])    riparian vegetation   average during the    Pinus or other is
                                                                   than dying            present indicating    past 5 years as       >80%.
                                                                   individuals.          subsurface water      recorded at the
                                                                                         nearby.               nearest weather
                                                                                                               station.
Moderate (2)........  Two subpopulations    Number of             Populations contain   Water at or near the  Between 6.1 and 12    Overstory cover of
                       of plants/            individuals in each   an equal number of    surface (riparian     inches of winter      Juniperus, Quercus,
                       population.           population is 150     seedlings (<1.5 cm    vegetation present    rain on average       Pinus or other is
                                             to 300 individuals.   [0.6 in]) to dying    indicating            during the past 5     between 50 and 80%.
                                                                   individuals.          subsurface water)     years as recorded
                                                                                         is within 10-20 m     at the nearest
                                                                                         from individuals.     weather station.
Low (1).............  One subpopulation of  Number of             Populations contain   Water at or near the  6 or fewer inches of  Overstory cover of
                       plants/population.    individuals in each   fewer seedlings       surface (riparian     winter rain on        Juniperus, Quercus,
                                             population is <150    (<1.5 cm [0.6 in])    vegetation present    average during the    Pinus or other is
                                             individuals.          than dying            indicating            past 5 years as       between 20 and 50%.
                                                                   individuals.          subsurface water)     recorded at the
                                                                                         is within 20-30 m     nearest weather
                                                                                         from individuals.     station.
[Oslash]............  No subpopulations...  No individuals are    Population is made    Streambed near        6 or fewer inches of  Overstory cover has
                                             found during          up primarily of       plants is dry and     winter rain on        been removed.
                                             surveys in            dead and dying        invaded by non-       average during the
                                             appropriate           individuals that do   riparian plant        past 5 years as
                                             microhabitat.         not produce seed or   species indicating    recorded at the
                                                                   no individuals        shift of vegetation   nearest weather
                                                                   found.                community and         station.
                                                                                         complete loss of
                                                                                         suitable habitat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Maintaining representation in the form of genetic or ecological 
diversity is important to maintain the capacity of Bartram's stonecrop 
to adapt to future environmental changes. Representation describes the 
ability of a species to adapt to changing environmental conditions. 
Representation can be measured by the breadth of genetic or ecological 
diversity within and among populations. The more representation, or 
diversity, a species has, the more it is capable of adapting to changes 
(natural or human-caused) in its environment. In the absence of 
species-specific genetic and ecological diversity information, we 
evaluate representation based on the extent and variability of habitat 
characteristics across the geographical range.
    Genetic analysis of Bartram's stonecrop has not been conducted 
within or among populations or mountain ranges. However, populations on 
different mountain ranges are widely separated (ranging from roughly 14 
to 42 km (8.7 to 26 mi) apart), making cross-pollination highly 
unlikely, and most of the populations contain small numbers of 
individuals. Therefore, there is the potential for genetic diversity 
among mountain ranges. Because multiple populations have been 
extirpated, it is possible that there has been a loss of genetic 
diversity. There may be genetic diversity between populations within 
and among the sky island mountain ranges due to response to elevational 
and other environmental differences between locations. As such, 
maintaining representation in the form of genetic diversity across 
multiple populations and sky island mountain ranges may be important to 
the capacity of Bartram's stonecrop to adapt to future environmental 
change.
    The species is found over a relatively wide range of elevations of 
1,067 to 2,042 m (3,500 to 6,700 ft) and vegetation communities (oak 
woodlands at higher elevations, and grasslands and oak savannas at 
lower elevations), which could be important in terms of representation. 
Such variability in elevation could aid in survival of future 
environmental changes, such as warming temperatures or decreased 
precipitation from climate change. At a minimum, we likely need to 
retain populations throughout the geographic and elevational ranges of 
the species to maintain the overall potential genetic and environmental 
diversity that can maximize the species' response to environmental 
changes over time.
    Bartram's stonecrop needs to have multiple resilient populations 
distributed throughout its range to provide for redundancy such that a 
catastrophic event will not result in the loss of all populations. 
Redundancy describes the ability of a species to withstand catastrophic 
events, measured by the number of populations, and their resiliency, 
distribution, and connectivity. The more populations, and the wider the 
distribution of those populations, the more redundancy the species will 
exhibit. Redundancy reduces the risk that a large portion of the 
species' range will be negatively affected by a catastrophic natural or 
anthropogenic event at a given point in time. Species that are well-
distributed across their historical range are considered less 
susceptible to extinction and more likely to be viable than species 
confined to a small portion of their range (Carroll et al. 2010, 
entire). There is little connectivity potential between the sky island 
mountain ranges (separated from roughly 14 to 42 km (8.7 to 26 mi) 
apart); therefore, a localized stressor such as dewatering from a mine 
or a high-severity wildfire would impact only those populations near 
the activity. Regional drought and altered fire regime could impact 
many populations throughout the plant's range. There are 34 populations 
spread throughout the range of the species, many with multiple 
subpopulations. Conversely, such distance among populations reduces 
connectivity among populations and mountain ranges, which may be 
important for genetic exchange and recolonization. At a minimum, the 
species likely requires retaining population redundancy across multiple 
sky island mountain ranges throughout

[[Page 67070]]

the species' range to minimize impacts from catastrophic events.

Summary of Biological Status and Stressors

    Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533) and its implementing 
regulations (50 CFR part 424) set forth the procedures for determining 
whether a species is an ``endangered species'' or a ``threatened 
species.'' The Act defines an endangered species as a species that is 
``in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of 
its range,'' and a threatened species as a species that is ``likely to 
become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout 
all or a significant portion of its range.'' The Act requires that we 
determine whether any species is an ``endangered species'' or a 
``threatened species'' because of any of the following factors:
    (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.
    These factors represent broad categories of natural or human-caused 
actions or conditions that could have an effect on a species' continued 
existence. In evaluating these actions and conditions, we look for 
those that may have a negative effect on individuals of the species, as 
well as other actions or conditions that may ameliorate any negative 
effects or may have positive effects.
    We use the term ``threat'' to refer in general to actions or 
conditions that are known to or are reasonably likely to negatively 
affect individuals of a species. The term ``threat'' includes actions 
or conditions that have a direct impact on individuals (direct 
impacts), as well as those that affect individuals through alteration 
of their habitat or required resources (stressors). The term ``threat'' 
may encompass--either together or separately--the source of the action 
or condition or the action or condition itself.
    However, the mere identification of any threat(s) does not 
necessarily mean that the species meets the statutory definition of an 
``endangered species'' or a ``threatened species.'' In determining 
whether a species meets either definition, we must evaluate all 
identified threats by considering the expected response by the species, 
and the effects of the threats--in light of those actions and 
conditions that will ameliorate the threats--on an individual, 
population, and species level. We evaluate each threat and its expected 
effects on the species, then analyze the cumulative effect of all of 
the threats on the species as a whole. We also consider the cumulative 
effect of the threats in light of those actions and conditions that 
will have positive effects on the species--such as any existing 
regulatory mechanisms or conservation efforts. The Secretary determines 
whether the species meets the definition of an ``endangered species'' 
or a ``threatened species'' only after conducting this cumulative 
analysis and describing the expected effect on the species now and in 
the foreseeable future.
    The Act does not define the term ``foreseeable future,'' which 
appears in the statutory definition of ``threatened species.'' Our 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.11(d) set forth a framework for 
evaluating the foreseeable future on a case-by-case basis. The term 
foreseeable future extends only so far into the future as the Services 
can reasonably determine that both the future threats and the species' 
responses to those threats are likely. In other words, the foreseeable 
future is the period of time in which we can make reliable predictions. 
``Reliable'' does not mean ``certain''; it means sufficient to provide 
a reasonable degree of confidence in the prediction. Thus, a prediction 
is reliable if it is reasonable to depend on it when making decisions.
    It is not always possible or necessary to define foreseeable future 
as a particular number of years. Analysis of the foreseeable future 
uses the best scientific and commercial data available and should 
consider the timeframes applicable to the relevant threats and to the 
species' likely responses to those threats in view of its life-history 
characteristics. Data that are typically relevant to assessing the 
species' biological response include species-specific factors such as 
lifespan, reproductive rates or productivity, certain behaviors, and 
other demographic factors.
    We completed a comprehensive assessment of the biological status of 
beardless chinchweed and Bartram's stonecrop, and prepared an SSA 
report for each species (Service 2018a and 2018b, entire), which 
provides a thorough account of the species' overall viability. We 
define viability here as the ability of the species to persist over the 
long term and, conversely, to avoid extinction. In the following 
discussion, we summarize the conclusions of the SSA reports, which can 
be accessed at Docket FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104 on http://www.regulations.gov 
and at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Docs_Species.htm.

Beardless Chinchweed

    Several stressors influence whether beardless chinchweed 
populations will grow to maximize habitat occupancy, which increases 
the resiliency of a population to stochastic events. We evaluated the 
past, current, and future stressors (i.e., negative changes in the 
resources needed by beardless chinchweed) that are affecting what 
beardless chinchweed needs for viability. These stressors are described 
in detail in chapter 4 of the SSA report (Service 2018a). Stressors 
that have the potential to affect beardless chinchweed population 
resiliency include:
     Loss of habitat due to invasion by nonnative species;
     Altered fire regime exacerbated by invasion by nonnative 
species;
     Altered precipitation, drought, and temperature;
     Erosion, sedimentation, and burial from road and trail 
maintenance, mining, livestock, wildlife, and post-wildfire runoff;
     Grazing from wildlife and livestock; and
     Small population size exacerbating all other stressors.
    The stressors that pose the largest risk to future viability of the 
species are: (1) Loss of habitat caused by the invasion of nonnative 
grasses that compete for space, water, light, and nutrients and that 
alter wildfire regimes; and (2) small population size (fewer than 50 
individuals), which potentially causes other stressors to seriously 
damage or extirpate populations. The size of fewer than 50 individuals 
as a small population was determined by assessing the range of known 
population sizes. Much of the historical range of beardless chinchweed 
in both the United States and Mexico has been altered by an invasion of 
nonnative grasses and herbaceous plants. Although there are many 
nonnative plant species growing in historical beardless chinchweed 
habitats in both the United States and Mexico, two species in 
particular are most problematic to beardless chinchweed at this time: 
Lehman's lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and rose natal (Melinis 
repens). Both of these species are strong competitors on southern 
exposures where beardless chinchweed occurs.
Habitat Loss Caused by Nonnative Grasses
    Lehman's lovegrass, a nonnative grass from South Africa, has 
numerous

[[Page 67071]]

competative advantages over native grasses in southern Arizona. 
Lehman's lovegrass resprouts from roots and tiller nodes not killed by 
hot fire, is not hampered by the reduction in mycorrhizae associated 
with fire and erosion, is able to respond to winter precipitation when 
natives grasses are dormant, is able to produce copious seed earlier 
than native grasses, maintains larger seed banks than native grasses, 
and has higher seedling survival and establishment than native grasses 
during periods of drought (Anable 1990, p. 49; Anable et al. 1992, p. 
182; Robinett 1992, p. 101; Fernandez and Reynolds 2000, pp. 94-95; 
Crimmins and Comrie 2004, p. 464; Geiger and McPherson 2005, p. 896; 
Schussman et al. 2006, p. 589; O'Dea 2007, p. 149; Archer and Predick 
2008, p. 26; Mathias et al. 2013, entire). This species outcompetes 
native grasses for water, light, and nutrients, forming nonnative-
dominated grasslands that reduce structural, species, and spatial 
diversity and that produce two to four times the biomass of native 
grasslands (D'Antonio and Vitousek 1992, p. 70; McPherson 1995, pp. 
136-137; VanDevender et al. 1997, p. 4; Huang et al. 2009, pp. 903-
904;). This change in vegetation structure results in a higher fuel 
load that is highly lignified (long-lasting through slow decomposition) 
and results in more frequent fires that have longer flames, faster 
rates of spread, and higher severity and frequency than historical low-
intensity burns of native desert grasslands (Anable et al. 1992, p. 
186; Dennet et al. 2000, pp. 22-23; Williams and Baruch 2000, p. 128; 
Crimmins and Comrie 2004, p. 464). In addition, Lehman's lovegrass-
dominated grasslands recover quickly from fire, as fires scarify the 
ample seeds and remove canopy, allowing for high seedling emergence 
(Cable 1965, p. 328; Anable 1990, p. 15; Roundy et al. 1992, p. 81; 
McPherson 1995, p. 137; Biedenbender and Roundy 1996, p. 160).
    Rose natal, a native of Africa and Madagascar, is invasive in many 
locations, including southern Arizona and northern New Mexico (Stevens 
and Fehmi 2009, p. 379; Romo et al. 2012, p. 34). Similar to Lehman's 
lovegrass, rose natal is capable of growing in low moisture situations 
and has many advantages to outcompete native grasses of southern 
Arizona, such as prolific seed production and culms that root from the 
nodes (Stokes et al. 2011, p. 527). This aggressive grass displaces 
native vegetation in shrublands and oak stands, and increases fire 
frequency (Romo et al. 2012, p. 35; Center for Agriculture and 
Biosciences International 2017, entire).
    In addition, several other African grasses (e.g., Eragrostis 
cilianensis [stinkgrass], Eragrostis curvula [Boer lovegrass], 
Eragrostis echinochloidea [African lovegrass], and Dichanthium 
annulatum [Kleberg's bluestem]) have been documented in southern 
Arizona and northern Mexico (Van Devender and Reina 2005, p. 160; 
NatureServe, entire; Fire Effects Information System, entire; SEINet, 
entire), as has the Asian grass, Bothriochloa ischaemum (yellow 
bluestem). Studies of other nonnative grasses in Mexico show rapid 
expansion and degradation of native communities, with the potential to 
invade large areas of northern Mexico (Arriaga et al. 2004, p. 1504). 
There are no beardless chinchweed populations in the United States that 
are more than 1 km (0.6 mi), and no beardless chinchweed populations in 
Mexico that are more than 27 km (16.8 mi), from documented nonnative 
grasses (SEINet, entire; Heitholt 2017, pers. comm.). Because we have 
seen nonnative infestations in the field in locations not shown in 
SEINet, we believe only a small portion of nonnative plants are 
reported into the SEINet system in either country. Based on the above 
information, we believe that it is unlikely any beardless chinchweed 
population is free of nonnative plants. This encroachment of nonnatives 
has reduced beardless chinchweed population numbers and habitat, and as 
nonnatives continue to encroach on beardless chinchweed populations, 
the number of individuals and available habitat will continue to 
decrease.
Altered Fire Regime
    The desert grasslands, oak savannas, and oak woodlands of southern 
Arizona historically had large-scale, low-severity fire roughly every 
10 to 20 years and following periods of adequate moisture (McPherson 
and Weltzin 2000, p. 5; Brooks and Pyke 2002, p. 6; McDonald and 
McPherson 2011a, p. 385; Fryer and Leunsmann 2012, entire). Fires now 
are more frequent and intense due to the unnaturally dense and evenly 
spaced canopies of nonnative-dominated communities (as compared to more 
open and heterogeneous native-dominated grasslands), coupled with more 
frequent fire starts from recreationist and cross-border violators 
(Anable et al. 1992, p. 186; D'Antonio and Vitousek1992, p. 75; Dennet 
et al. 2000, pp. 22-23; Williams and Baruch 2000, p. 128; Crimmins and 
Comrie 2004, p. 464; Emerson 2010, pp. 15, 17; United States Government 
Accountability Office 2011, p. 1; Wildland Fire Lesson's Learned Center 
2011, entire). Nonnative grasses have higher seed output and large seed 
banks, earlier green-up in the spring, and greater biomass production 
than native grasses; all of these characteristics help to perpetuate a 
grass-fire cycle (e.g., D'Antonio and Vitousek 1992, p. 73; Zouhar et 
al. 2008, pp. 17, 21; Steidl et al. 2013, p. 529).
    In many locations in southern Arizona in recent decades, repeat 
fires have occurred within short periods of time, aided by the 
dominance of nonnative grasses in the landscape. For example, in the 
Pajarito and Atascosa Mountains area, multiple fires burned the 
landscape between 2008 and 2016 (Figure 4.4 in Service 2018a). This 
landscape is now dominated by both nonnative Lehman's lovegrass and 
rose natal (Service 2014c, entire; Heitholt 2017, entire), and many 
historically documented locations that supported beardless chinchweed 
have not been found again (Service 2014c, entire; Fernandez 2017, pers. 
comm.; Haskins and Murray 2017, p. 4). High-severity wildfires burn 
hotter than fires that beardless chinchweed evolved with; consequently, 
we believe the plant is not capable of surviving high-severity fires.
Altered Precipitation, Drought, and Temperature
    Altered precipitation timing and form (snow versus rain), as well 
as reduced winter and spring precipitation and prolonged drought, are 
currently occurring and projected to increase or be altered from normal 
in the Southwest (Garfin et al. 2014, entire). Recently there has been 
a decrease in the amount of snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and increased 
drought severity in the Southwest (Garfin et al. 2013, entire; Garfin 
2013b p. 465). Further, more wintertime precipitation is falling as 
rain rather than snow in the western United States (IPCC 2013, p. 204; 
Garfin 2013b p. 465). This means that the amount of runoff in the 
spring when snow melts is reduced, as is soil moisture. Precipitation 
is bimodal with the mountain ranges where beardless chinchweed occurs, 
with dormant season snow and rain, and growing season monsoon rains 
(CLIMAS 2014, entire). We believe that precipitation during October 
through March is important for beardless chinchweed germination and 
growth. In addition, beardless chinchweed does not flower until it 
reaches a height of more than 0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall; without sufficient 
precipitation, beardless chinchweed may be unable to attain adequate 
size for reproduction (Phillips et al. 1982, p.

[[Page 67072]]

8). Further, reduced precipitation, change in the timing and type of 
precipitation, and prolonged drought impact soil and ambient moisture 
availability for beardless chinchweed germination, growth, and 
flowering. In addition, due to increased nonnative competition during 
times of reduced precipitation and drought, impacts from these 
stressors to beardless chinchweed would be exacerbated (Anable 1990, p. 
49; Robinett 1992, p. 101; Fernandez and Reynolds 2000, pp. 94-95; 
Geiger and McPherson 2005, p. 896; Schussman et al. 2006, p. 589; 
Archer and Predick 2008, p. 26; Mathias et al. 2013, entire).
    Under a continuation of A2-high emissions scenario, reduced winter 
and spring precipitation is consistently projected for the southern 
part of the Southwest by 2100, as part of the general global 
precipitation reduction in subtropical areas (Garfin et al. 2014, p. 
465). Analyses of the southwestern United States indicate future 
drying, primarily due to a decrease in winter precipitation under both 
the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios (IPCC 2013, p. 1080). The annual 
projected changes in precipitation for 2025 to 2049 under the RCP 4.5 
and 8.5 scenarios range from an increase of 1.3 cm/month (0.5 in/month) 
to a decrease of 1.5 cm/month (0.5 in/month), with a an annual average 
of no change compared to 1981 to 2010 (USGS 2019, entire). However, 
winter and spring precipitation under both emission scenarios is 
projected to decrease from -0.3 to -1 cm (-0.1 to -0.4 inches) (MACA 
2019) or a decrease up to 10 percent for 2016-2035 relative to 1986-
2005 under RCP 4.5 (IPCC 2013, p. 985). The decrease in winter and 
spring precipitation would likely be greater under the RCP 8.5 
scenario. There is some evidence from comparing observations with 
simulations of the recent past that climate models might be 
underestimating the magnitude of changes in precipitation in many 
regions (IPCC 2013, p. 986). The climate-model-projected simulations 
indicate that a high degree of variability of annual precipitation will 
continue during the coming century, for both low and high emission 
scenarios (Garfin 2013, p. 110). This suggests that the Southwest will 
remain susceptible to unusually wet spells and, on the other hand, will 
remain prone to occasional drought episodes (Garfin 2013, p. 110). 
However, decrease in soil moisture across much of the Southwest is 
projected under both scenarios by mid-century, due to increased 
evaporation (IPCC 2013, p. 1259). Late winter-spring mountain snowpack 
in the Southwest is predicted to continue to decline over the 21st 
century under the high emission scenario (A2), mostly because of 
projected increased temperature (Garfin et al. 2013, p. 6). Reduced 
rain and snow, earlier snowmelt, and drying tendencies cause a 
reduction in late-spring and summer runoff. Together these effects, 
along with increases in evaporation, result in lower soil moisture by 
early summer (Gafrin 2013, p. 117).
    Climatic events such as snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and increased 
drought are regional and will impact all populations of beardless 
chinchweed. Precipitation timing and amount impacts the germination, 
growth, and flowering of beardless chinchweed, resulting in the loss of 
individuals and recruitment, and overall reducing the population size.
    In the Southwest, temperatures increased 2.7 degrees Celcius 
([deg]C) (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F)) plus or minus 0.9 [deg]C 
(0.5 [deg]F), between 1901 and 2010, and more heat waves occurred over 
the Southwest during 2001-2010 compared to average occurrences in the 
20th century. In the future, under RCP 4.5, the annual maximum 
temperature is projected to increase by 5 [deg]C (2.7 [deg]F) for 2025-
2049 and 7.3 [deg]C (4 [deg]F) for 2050-2074, and 5 [deg]C (2.7 [deg]F) 
for 2025-2049 and 10.4 [deg]C (5.7 [deg]F) for 2050-2074 under RCP 8.5, 
all relative to 1981-2010 (USGS 2019, entire). When temperatures rise, 
as has been occurring in recent decades and as is projected to continue 
into the future, evapotranspiration rates also increase and soil 
moisture decreases. Along with projected warming and increased 
evapotranspiration, it is highly likely that droughts will become more 
severe (Garfin 2013, pp. 137-138). A decrease of up to 4 percent soil 
moisture is projected under RCP 4.5 scenario for 2016-2035, relative to 
1986-2005. The decrease in soil moisture would likely be greater under 
the RCP 8.5 scenario. Further, the evaporation deficient increases 
under RCP 4.5 and increases more in RCP 8.5 in 2025 to 2049, relative 
to 1981 to 2010. Based on the high emissions scenario, the current 100-
year drought will become commonplace in the second half of this century 
and future droughts will be much more severe than those previously 
recorded (Garfin 2013, p. 138). This projection of intensified drought 
conditions on the Colorado River is not due to changes in 
precipitation, but rather due directly to warming and its effect on 
reducing soil moisture (Garfin 2013, p. 138). Physiological effects of 
CO2 may involve both the stomatal response, which acts to 
restrict transpiration, and an increase in plant growth and leaf area, 
which acts to increase evapotranspiration (IPCC 2013, p. 986). An 
increase in evapotranspiration results in water loss from the plant and 
increases stress on the plant. This increase in stress impacts 
photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, water use efficiency, leaf 
conductance, growth rate, vigor, and gas exchange. These impacts result 
in reduced growth, flowering, and seed production and, therefore, in 
reduced overall recruitment and population numbers.
    Although rare species in the southwestern United States evolved 
with drought, recent changes in temperature, and rainfall patterns 
present stressful conditions of increased magnitude greater than what 
the species faced historically and raise the question of whether the 
species, can persist. Some species may shift their distributions in 
response to warming of the climate (McLaughlin et al. 2002, p. 6070). 
However, it is highly unlikely that beardless chinchweed would be able 
to naturally shift its range to keep up with current and high projected 
rates of climate change, due to its overall population decline and 
inability to maintain current populations. Since plants are not mobile, 
expanding the distribution of this species is dependent on seed 
dispersal. Further, extant populations are small, which limit the 
amount of seed production for dispersal. It is highly unlikely that 
under elevated environmental stress associated with climate change, the 
species would be able to both maintain populations and also colonize 
new areas with more suitable climate conditions. Thus localized 
extirpations over portions of the beardless chinchweed range could 
result (lower elevations), and, in other portions of its distribution, 
the occupied range (higher elevation) may expand, depending upon 
habitat availability.
Erosion, Sedimentation, and Burial
    General road maintenance and widening could disturb populations 
along road cuts and create erosion (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 8). Of the 
six extant U.S. populations, the Ruby Road and Scotia Canyon 
populations, and the State of Texas Mine subpopulation of Coronado 
National Memorial occur along roadcuts; similarly, the Visitor Center 
subpopulation of the Coronado National Memorial population contains 
some plants that occur along a maintained trail. These plants could be 
damaged or removed by road or trail maintenance. Impacts from such 
stressors could be profound for

[[Page 67073]]

populations with fewer than 50 individuals. In addition, nonnative 
plant introduction and spread often occur in areas of disturbance, such 
as along roadways, along trails, in mining sites, and in areas of 
recreational use (Gelbard and Belnap 2003, p. 421; Brooks 2007, pp. 
153-154; Anderson et al. 2015, p. 1).
    The McCleary Canyon--Gunsight Pass population is in the path of a 
proposed alignment of a secondary access road for the proposed Rosemont 
Mine (Westland 2010, p. iv), and the McCleary Canyon--Wasp Canyon 
population is within the processing facility portion of the proposed 
Rosemont Mine (Westland 2017, entire). Collectively, these plants 
represent approximately 33 percent of the total beardless chinchweed 
populations known across the U.S. range and 16 percent of all known 
individuals. The proposed road alignment would eliminate these 
populations.
    Dust from mining operations or recreational travel can impact 
beardless chinchweed populations along dirt roadways. Dust may 
negatively affect plant growth and vigor as a result of changes in 
physiological and biochemical processes (e.g., photosynthesis, 
respiration, transpiration, water use efficiency, leaf conductance, 
growth rate, vigor, and gas exchange) and reduced pollination (Phillips 
et al. 1982, pp. 9-10; Chibuike and Obiora 2014, p. 1; Waser et al. 
2017, p. 90). These impacts could affect those populations within 30 
meters (98 feet) of roads and mine sites (Waser et al. 2017, p. 90). 
This stressor could impact four of the six populations in the United 
States.
Grazing
    There are two different perspectives on the influence of grazing on 
beardless chinchweed:
    (1) Wildfire historically maintained native open habitat where 
beardless chinchweed occurred, but with fire suppression, overgrazing 
may have alternatively provided native open habitats for this species 
to expand its range in the early 1900s, even without frequent fire 
(Schmalzel 2015, p. 2), due to open space being created and maintained 
by cattle; and
    (2) Grazing pressure may have contributed to the species' rareness 
(Keil 1982, entire) due to reduced reproduction and alteration in 
habitat.
    Regardless, grazing that occurs in small populations (fewer than 50 
individuals) of beardless chinchweed would have a negative population-
level impact through the reduction of flowers and seeds, and possibly 
individuals. Beardless chinchweed does not flower until it reaches a 
height of more than 0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall, suggesting that grazing in 
summer or fall when the plant is growing and flowering could reduce 
seed production and recruitment.
Small Populations
    Small population size has the potential to affect beardless 
chinchweed' population resiliency, as all stressors are exacerbated in 
populations with only a small number of individuals (fewer than 50). 
Known population sizes of beardless chinchweed were used to quantify 
the size of a small population. Small populations are less able to 
recover from losses caused by random environmental changes (Shaffer and 
Stein 2000, pp. 308-310), such as fluctuations in reproduction 
(demographic stochasticity), variations in rainfall (environmental 
stochasticity), or changes in the frequency or severity of 
disturbances, such as wildfires. Five of the six extant beardless 
chinchweed populations in the United States contain fewer than 50 
individuals. Based on populations in the United States, which are 
mostly small and occur in habitat dominated by nonnatives, we believe 
that the six populations in Mexico are of similar size but may be in 
worse condition, because of limited native habitat management, similar 
climate change impacts, equally frequent wildfires, and likely more 
impacts from grazing. Loss due to mining, erosion, road and trail 
maintenance, trampling, grazing, or other stressors mentioned above are 
exacerbated in small populations, and have the potential to seriously 
damage or completely remove these small populations. Synergistic 
interactions among wildfire, nonnative grasses, decreased 
precipitation, and increased temperatures cumulatively and cyclically 
impact beardless chinchweed, and all stressors are exacerbated in small 
populations.
Current Condition of Beardless Chinchweed
    Since 1962, we are aware of nine populations and one subpopulation 
of beardless chinchweed in the United States that have become 
extirpated. Currently, six extant beardless chinchweed populations are 
spread across four mountain ranges in southern Arizona: The Atascosa-
Pajarito, Huachuca, Santa Rita, and the Canelo Hills. These six 
populations consist of 387 individuals spread across less than 2 ha (5 
ac). Additionally, six populations have been reported from northern 
Mexico, but this information is from 1940 or earlier.
Population Resiliency of Beardless Chinchweed
    To help determine current condition, we assessed each population in 
terms of its resiliency. Our analysis of the past, current, and future 
stressors on the resources that beardless chinchweed needs for long-
term viability revealed that there are a number of stressors impacting 
this species. All beardless chinchweed populations likely contain 
nonnative grasses. Further, altered fire regime has the potential to 
affect all populations. This altered fire regime enhances the spread of 
nonnatives, and all populations of beardless chinchweed contain 
nonnatives. Consequently, fire will aid in the spread of nonnatives, 
and is currently a risk to all populations of beardless chinchweed and 
will be further exacerbated by nonnative grasses in the near future 
(approximately 10 years). Altered precipitation, increased 
temperatures, increased evapotranspiration, decreased soil moisture, 
and decreased winter and spring precipitation are current and ongoing 
regional actions that are impacting all populations of beardless 
chinchweed. These environmental conditions exacerbate an altered fire 
regime, which in turn further drives the spread of nonnatives. In 
addition, nonnative grasses have competitive advantage over native 
grasses during periods of drought.
    Road maintenance is likely resulting in the direct killing of 
individuals in three populations (Ruby Road, Scotia Canyon, and 
Coronado National Memorial). In addition, all individuals in these 
three populations are currently being impacted by dust from the road. 
These three populations are already of low resiliency. Two additional 
populations (McCleary Canyon--Gunsight Pass and McCleary Canyon--Wasp 
Canyon) will be impacted by Rosemont mining operations and dust in the 
near future (approximately 10 years; Westland 2010, p. iv). One of 
these populations is already of low resiliency, and the other is of 
moderate resiliency. Eleven of the 12 populations (92 percent) are 
small population (fewer than 50 individuals). Synergistic interactions 
among wildfire, nonnative grasses, decreased precipitation, and 
increased temperatures cumulatively and cyclically impact beardless 
chinchweed, and all stressors are exacerbated in small populations. Of 
the six extant populations, two are moderately resilient and four are 
in low resiliency (Table 5, below). Population resiliency categories 
are described in Table 2, above, and in the SSA report (Service 2018a).

[[Page 67074]]



                           Table 5--Beardless Chinchweed Current Population Condition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Number of
         Mountain range/country                  Population            individuals         Current  condition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atascosa-Pajarito Mountains, USA.......  Pena Blanca Lake.........                  0  Extirpated.
                                         Ruby Road................                 10  Low.
                                         Summit Motorway..........                  0  Extirpated.
Canelo Hills, USA......................  Audubon Research Ranch...                 37  Low.
                                         Copper Mountain..........                  0  Extirpated.
                                         Harshaw Creek............                  0  Extirpated.
                                         Lampshire Well...........                  0  Extirpated.
Huachuca Mountains, USA................  Scotia Canyon............                 40  Low.
                                         Coronado National                        241  Low.
                                          Memorial.
                                         Joe's Canyon Trail.......                  0  Extirpated.
Patagonia Mountains, USA...............  Flux Canyon..............                  0  Extirpated.
                                         Washington Camp..........                  0  Extirpated.
Santa Rita Mountains, USA..............  Box Canyon...............                  0  Extirpated.
                                         McCleary Canyon--Gunsight                 32  Moderate.
                                          Pass.
                                         McCleary Canyon--Wasp                     32  Low.
                                          Canyon.
Chihuahua, Mexico......................  Batopililas, Rio Mayo....                ~10  Low.
                                         Guasaremos, Rio Mayo.....                ~10  Low.
Sonora, Mexico.........................  Canon de la Petaquilla...                ~10  Low.
                                         North of Horconcitos.....                ~10  Low.
                                         Canyon Estrella, Sierra                  ~10  Low.
                                          de los Cendros;
                                          southeast of Tesopaco.
                                         Los Conejos, Rio Mayo....                ~10  Low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beardless Chinchweed Representation
    No genetic studies have been conducted within or between the 21 
historical populations of beardless chinchweed in southern Arizona and 
Mexico. Mountain ranges that have only one or two populations, or have 
only have one subpopulation per population, or low numbers of 
individuals per population with several miles between mountain ranges, 
may not be as genetically diverse because pollination or transport of 
seeds between populations may be very limited or nonexistent. Five of 
the six extant U.S. populations do not have multiple subpopulations. 
The Coronado National Memorial population has two subpopulations. The 
six extant U.S. populations are separated geographically into the 
Atascosa-Pajarito, Huachuca, and Santa Rita Mountains, and the Canelo 
Hills, which are separated by 16 to 61 km (9.9 to 37.9 mi). There is 
likely genetic diversity among mountain ranges, but reduced genetic 
diversity within populations. Further, overall genetic diversity is 
likely reduced given that some populations are extirpated.
    The 15 historical beardless chinchweed populations in the United 
States range in elevation from 1,158 m (3,799 ft) to 1,737 m (5,699 
ft). Of these, eight (about 53 percent) fall below 457 m (1,500 ft) 
elevation. Of these eight, six have become extirpated in recent 
decades. This essentially indicates a loss at this lower elevational 
range and possibly loss of some local adaptation to warmer or dryer 
environments and genetic differentiation among populations.
    In the Ruby Road, Scotia Canyon, and Coronado National Memorial 
populations, plants have been reported over many decades, indicating 
that these populations may have the genetic and environmental diversity 
needed to adapt to changing conditions. Note, however, that both the 
Ruby Road and Scotia Canyon populations have been reduced in size in 
the past 30 years, and we have no previous count data at Coronado 
National Memorial for comparison.
Beardless Chinchweed Redundancy
    The beardless chinchweed populations in the United States and 
Mexico are naturally fragmented between mountain ranges. Currently, six 
extant beardless chinchweed U.S. populations are spread across 
Atascosa-Pajarito, Huachuca, and Santa Rita Mountains and the Canelo 
Hills. The Atascosa-Pajarito Mountains and the Canelo Hills have only 
one extant population each, while the Santa Rita and Huachuca Mountains 
have two extant populations each. These mountain ranges are separated 
from each other by 16 to 61 km (9.9 to 37.9 mi), so natural gene 
exchange or re-establishment following extirpation is very unlikely. In 
addition, six historical populations of beardless chinchweed are 
distributed across two general areas in northern Chihuahua and Sonora, 
Mexico. Their status is unknown, but we believe they are small 
populations with poor habitat based on populations in the United 
States, which are small and dominated by nonnative species. Although 
this may imply some level of redundancy across the range of beardless 
chinchweed, note that five of the six extant populations in the United 
States contain fewer than 50 individual plants. Further, nine 
populations and one subpopulation have been extirpated in recent 
decades, largely from the lower elevations of the species' range, and 
several populations have been reduced in size in recent decades.
Future Condition of Beardless Chinchweed
    We also assessed the future condition of beardless chinchweed under 
several plausible scenarios in our SSA report (Service 2018a, entire). 
We present a summary of the relevant information here; the detailed 
future condition analysis is available in the SSA report.
    We developed four scenarios incorporating the stressors that are 
ongoing or will occur in the future to consider the range of possible 
future conditions. For each scenario, we describe the level of impact 
from the identified stressors that would occur in each population. All 
of the scenarios involve some degree of uncertainty; however, they 
present a range of realistic and plausible future conditions (Table 6). 
All scenarios consider impacts from nonnative invasion, altered 
wildfire regime, and drought because there is no likely future scenario 
where these stressors would not affect the species. In addition, 
effects on individual plants (small population size) from multiple 
stressors are assessed, including cross-border

[[Page 67075]]

violator traffic, mining, trampling, erosion, road and trail 
maintenance, and grazing. We projected the likelihood of each scenario 
occurring at 40-years. We chose 40 years because this is within the 
range of available hydrological and climate change model forecasts, is 
within the time period of the Rosemont Mine effects, and it represents 
four generations of the plant.
    Below is a summary of the four scenarios. For more detail, see 
Chapter 6 of the SSA (Service 2018a, entire).

                                                   Table 6--Future Scenarios for Beardless Chinchweed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Risks                     Mining activity     Altered fire  regime *         Climate          Individual  effects        Conservation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk described.....................   Burial.......   Lightning....   Reduction in   Grazing.....  Conservation actions
                                      Removal......   Nonnative       available water **.    Trampling...   implemented.
                                      Dust.........   plants.                 Seedling       Trail and
                                                              Cross border    desiccation.           road maintenance.
                                                              violators.              Flowering      Erosion.....
                                                              Recreation...   halt.
Scenario 1 Continuation continuing   Rosemont mine           Number of wildfires     Available water and    Applied to             No new individuals,
 into the future.                     implemented with        annually increases at   drought continue at    populations <50        subpopulations or
                                      indirect and direct     the same rate as the    the same level as in   individuals.           populations found.
                                      impacts.                last 10 years.          the past 10 years,                            No augmentation of
                                                                                      emissions 4.5.                                existing
                                                                                                                                    populations, little
                                                                                                                                    seed preservation,
                                                                                                                                    nonnatives not
                                                                                                                                    controlled, some
                                                                                                                                    woodland areas
                                                                                                                                    thinned.
Scenario 2 Conservation............  Rosemont mine           Number of wildfires     Available water        Applied to             Sites revisited and
                                      implemented with        does not increase       remains stable,        populations <50        additional plants
                                      indirect and direct     from current rate.      emissions 4.5.         individuals.           are located, sites
                                      impacts; with                                                                                 are augmented, or
                                      mitigation.                                                                                   new sites are
                                                                                                                                    established, some
                                                                                                                                    nonnatives are
                                                                                                                                    controlled, and
                                                                                                                                    additional woodland
                                                                                                                                    areas are thinned.
Scenario 3 Moderate increase in      Rosemont mine           Number of wildfires     Available water is     Applied to             No new individuals,
 negative effects.                    implemented with        increases.              reduced per 4.5        populations <50        subpopulations or
                                      direct impacts and                              emissions scenario.    individuals.           populations found.
                                      additional mines                                                                              No augmentation of
                                      implemented with                                                                              existing
                                      indirect impacts.                                                                             populations, little
                                                                                                                                    seed preservation,
                                                                                                                                    nonnatives not
                                                                                                                                    controlled, some
                                                                                                                                    woodland areas
                                                                                                                                    thinned.
Scenario 4 Major increase in         Rosemont mine           Number of wildfires     Available water is     Applied to             No new individuals,
 negative effects.                    implemented and         increases.              reduced per 8.5        populations <50        subpopulations or
                                      additional mines                                emissions scenario.    individuals.           populations found.
                                      implemented with                                                                              No augmentation of
                                      direct impacts.                                                                               existing
                                                                                                                                    populations, little
                                                                                                                                    seed preservation,
                                                                                                                                    nonnatives not
                                                                                                                                    controlled, some
                                                                                                                                    woodland areas
                                                                                                                                    thinned.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ``continuation'' scenario evaluates the condition of beardless 
chinchweed if there is no increase in risk of stressors to the 
populations relative to what exists today. The other scenarios evaluate 
the response of the species to changes in those risks. The 
``conservation'' scenario takes into account realistically possible 
additional protective measures, which may or may not happen. The 
``moderate effects'' scenario is an increase in the risk of stressors 
to populations. The ``major effects'' scenario is a further increase in 
risk of stressors to populations.
    We examined the resiliency, representation, and redundancy of 
beardless chinchweed under each of these plausible scenarios (see table 
6.7 in the SSA report). The overall resiliency categories are the same 
as those used for current condition. We expect the six extant beardless 
chinchweed populations to experience changes to aspects of their 
habitat in different ways under the different scenarios. We projected 
the expected future resiliency, representation, and redundancy of 
beardless chinchweed based on the risk of stressors that would occur 
under each scenario (see Table 7). Under the ``continuation'' scenario, 
we would expect the viability of beardless chinchweed to be 
characterized by a loss of resiliency, representation, and redundancy 
at the level that is currently occurring. Under the ``conservation'' 
scenario, we would expect the viability of beardless chinchweed to be 
characterized by higher levels of resiliency, representation, and 
redundancy than it exhibits under the current condition. Under the 
``moderate effects'' scenario, we would expect the viability of 
beardless chinchweed to be characterized by lower levels of resiliency, 
representation, and redundancy than it has in the ``continuation'' 
scenario. Under the ``major effects'' scenario, we would expect all 
populations of beardless chinchweed to be extirpated at the 40-year 
time step.

                        Table 7--Beardless Chinchweed Population Conditions Under the Current Condition and All Future Scenarios
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Continuation        Conservation      Moderate effects      Major effects
         Mountain range             Population name    Current condition       scenario            scenario            scenario            scenario
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atascosa-Pajarito...............  Pena Blanca Lake..  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Ruby Road.........  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Summit Motorway...  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
Canelo Hills....................  Audubon Research    Low...............  Low...............  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                   Ranch.
                                  Copper Mountain...  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Harshaw Creek.....  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Lampshire Well....  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
Huachuca........................  Scotia Canyon.....  Low...............  Low...............  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Coronado National   Low...............  Low...............  Low...............  Low...............  Extirpated.
                                   Memorial.
                                  Joe's Canyon Trail  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
Patagonia.......................  Flux Canyon.......  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Washington Camp...  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
Santa Rita......................  Box Canyon Road...  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  McCleary Canyon--   Moderate..........  Low...............  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                   Gunsight Pass.
                                  McCleary Canyon--   Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                   Wasp Canyon.
Chihuahua, MX...................  Batopililas.......  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Guasaremos........  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.

[[Page 67076]]

 
Sonora, MX......................  Canon de la         Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                   Petaquilla.
                                  Canyon Estrella...  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Horconcitos.......  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
                                  Los Conejos.......  Low...............  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated........  Extirpated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bartram's Stonecrop

    Several factors influence whether Bartram's stonecrop populations 
will grow to increase habitat occupancy, which increases the resiliency 
of a population to stochastic events. We evaluated the past, current, 
and future stressors that are affecting what Bartram's stonecrop needs 
for viability. These stressors are described in detail in the chapter 4 
of the SSA report (Service 2018b, entire). Stressors that have the 
potential to affect Bartram's stonecrop population resiliency include:
     Loss of water in nearby drainages from mining and drought;
     Erosion, sedimentation, and burial from mining, livestock, 
wildlife, recreation trails and roads, cross-border violators, and 
post-wildfire runoff;
     Trampling from humans, wildlife, and livestock, and 
predation;
     Altered fire regime resulting from fires ignited by 
recreationists, cross-border violators, and lightning;
     Illegal collection;
     Altered precipitation, drought, flooding, and freezing 
regime from current and future climate change, resulting in loss of 
seedling, immature, and adult plants, and in loss of reproduction; and
     Small population size exacerbating all other stressors.
    The stressors that pose the largest risk to future viability of the 
species, which are related to habitat changes, include:
    (1) Groundwater extraction and prolonged drought that may reduce 
nearby water levels and humidity within Bartram's stonecrop habitat; 
and
    (2) Altered fire regimes leading to erosion of Bartram's stonecrop 
habitat, sedimentation that could cover individuals, and loss of 
overstory shade trees. These stressors play a large role in the future 
viability of Bartram's stonecrop, especially for smaller populations. 
These stressors may reduce nearby water levels, shade, and humidity 
within Bartram's stonecrop habitat and may directly impact individuals.
Loss of Water
    Dewatering of streams from mining operations may lead to overstory 
canopy losses and resulting loss of shade, as well as reduction in 
spring and stream flow and humidity in nearby Bartram's stonecrop 
populations. The Rosemont Mine Final Environmental Impact Statement 
states that no Bartram's stonecrop were found in the project area or 
the footprint of the connected actions; however, individuals growing in 
the analysis area could experience indirect impacts from groundwater 
drawdown (USFS 2013a, p. 676). According to the Rosemont Mine Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (USFS 2013a, p. 339), the proposed mine 
pit would create a permanent drawdown of the water table, and 
groundwater would flow toward the pit and be lost to evaporation. The 
water would be perpetually replenished in part by groundwater from the 
regional aquifer, and the pit would act as a hydraulic sink. Given that 
Bartram's stonecrop is consistently found in locations with nearby 
springs or other water sources, the loss of groundwater at the nearby 
unmapped spring in Box Canyon/Sycamore Canyon confluence, between 
Ruelas Spring and the Singing Valley Road residences, could 
significantly impact these Bartram's stonecrop plants. In the range of 
Bartram's stonecrop, there are many mining claims, trenching and 
exploration drilling activities, and a few active and proposed mines. 
Many currently undeveloped areas of locatable mineral deposits may be 
explored and/or mined in the future. We do not know the extent of 
future mine activity within the range of Bartram's stonecrop; however, 
a number of proposed mines are identified for development within 
Bartram's stonecrop habitat. The range of current and projected mining 
activities varies from 1 to 10 per sky island mountain range containing 
Bartram's stonecrop (USFS 2012, entire). The loss of water in any 
Bartram's stonecrop population could lead to extirpation of that 
population.
Erosion, Sedimentation, and Burial
    Bartram's stonecrop typically occurs on steep slopes with erodible 
soils and areas susceptible to rock fall, making the plant particularly 
vulnerable to physical damage to its environment (Phillips et al. 1982, 
p. 10; Shohet 1999, p. 50; Ferguson 2014, p. 42; Ferguson 2016a, pp. 
15, 26). Soil erosion can result in burying plants, eroding the soil 
the plant is growing in, or dislodging plants. While displaced plants 
may re-root (Shohet 1999, pp. 50-51, 60), it is more likely that these 
plants will not survive (Ferguson 2015, p. 2). The potential of soil 
disturbance and erosion within or above Bartram's stonecrop habitat or 
the trampling of individual Bartram's stonecrop plants may occur from a 
variety of activities, including livestock and wildlife movement; the 
placement and maintenance of infrastructure, trails, and roads; and 
recreationists or cross-border violators traveling along established 
trails or cross country (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 10; Shohet 1999, p. 
60; Ferguson 2014, p. 42; NPS 2015, p. 4; Ferguson 2016a, p. 26).
    Direct removal of Bartram's stonecrop individuals and substrate due 
to erosion, or burial of individuals, may occur due to the placement of 
mineral extraction sites and debris piles. These impacts could severely 
impact small Bartram's stonecrop populations. Erosion from test pits 
(an excavation made to examine the subsurface conditions of a potential 
mine site) has been documented to remove portions of habitat occupied 
by Bartram's stonecrop in Flux Canyon (Phillips et al. 1982, pp. 9-10).
Trampling
    The trampling of individual Bartram's stonecrop plants may occur 
from a variety of activities, including livestock and wildlife 
movement; the placement and maintenance of infrastructure, trails, and 
roads; and recreationists or cross-border violators traveling along 
established trails or cross country (Phillips et al. 1982, p. 10; 
Shohet 1999, p. 60; Ferguson 2014, p. 42; NPS 2015, p. 4; Ferguson 
2016a, p. 26). Given the potential for these stressors, those 
populations with fewer than 50 individuals may be heavily impacted 
during periods of unusual recreational use. This stressor is considered 
in our analysis of future viability only when it may impact a 
population with fewer than 50 individuals.
Altered Fire Regime
    Since the mid-1980s, wildfire frequency in western forests has 
nearly quadrupled compared to the average of the period 1970 to 1986 
(Westerling et

[[Page 67077]]

al. 2006, p. 941). The timing, frequency, extent, and destructiveness 
of wildfires are likely to continue to increase (Westerling et al. 
2006, p. 943), especially given historical land management actions, an 
increase in fire starts from cross-border violators and recreationists 
(e.g., from campfires, cigarettes, target shooting), nonnative plant 
invasion, and continuing drought conditions (Westerling et al. 2006, p. 
940; FireScape 2016, entire; Fire Management Information System 2016, 
p. 2; Tersey 2017, pers. comm.). Altered fire regimes can have direct 
and indirect impacts to Bartram's stonecrop and its habitat. Direct 
impacts include burning of individual Bartram's stonecrop plants, 
resulting in injury, reduction in reproductive structures, or death. 
Indirect impacts of fire on Bartram's stonecrop may include increased 
runoff of floodwaters, post-fire flooding, deposition of debris and 
sediment originating in the burned area, erosion, changes in vegetation 
community composition and structure, increased presence of nonnative 
plants, alterations in the hydrologic and nutrient cycles, and loss of 
overstory canopy shade essential for maintaining Bartram's stonecrop 
microhabitat (Griffis et al. 2000, p. 243; Crawford et al. 2001, p. 
265; Hart et al. 2005, p. 167; Smithwick et al. 2005, p. 165; Stephens 
et al. 2014, p. 42; Ferguson 2014, p. 43; Ferguson 2016a, p. 26).
    We are aware of 11 wildfires (Alamo, Brown, Elkhorn, Hog, Horseshoe 
II, La Sierra, Lizard, Mule Ridge, Murphy, Soldier Basin, and Spring) 
that have occurred in known Bartram's stonecrop sites in the past 
decade that killed some Bartram's stonecrop individuals and removed 
shade in some instances. When looking at the number of acres burned per 
sky island mountain range in comparison to the number of adult 
individuals known from that range, the two largest populations occur in 
sky island mountain ranges that have had the fewest acres burned in the 
past 10 years. It is not known if this is coincidence or is of 
significance, as we do not have pre-fire population counts in any 
population to address this question. Wildfires have burned in all nine 
sky island mountain ranges of southern Arizona that support Bartram's 
stonecrop during this time period. Fires did not burn through Bartram's 
stonecrop populations in all cases, but fire could occur in any 
population within this 10-year timeframe. Wildfire could potentially 
cause extirpation of small Bartram's stonecrop populations throughout 
the range of the species and have negative impacts on larger 
populations. In addition, because it is thought that Bartram's 
stonecrop seeds reside at the soil surface and the seeds are very tiny 
(Shohet 1999, p.48), it is likely that the seeds would not survive a 
wildfire.
    The nonnative plants in the uplands and within Bartram's stonecrop 
populations include nonnative grass species such as Lehman's lovegrass 
and rose natal, both of which have numerous advantages over native 
grasses. Lehman's lovegrass resprouts from roots and tiller nodes not 
killed by hot fire, is not hampered by the reduction in mycorrhizae 
associated with fire and erosion, responds to winter precipitation when 
natives grasses are dormant, produces copious seed earlier than native 
grasses, maintains larger seedbanks than native grasses, and has higher 
seedling survival and establishment than native grasses during periods 
of drought (Anable 1990, p. 49; Anable et al. 1992, p. 182; Robinett 
1992, p. 101; Fernandez and Reynolds 2000, pp. 94-95; Crimmins and 
Comrie 2004, p. 464; Geiger and McPherson 2005, p. 896; Schussman et 
al. 2006, p. 589; O'Dea 2007, p. 149; Archer and Predick 2008, p. 26; 
Mathias et al. 2013, entire). Rose natal is capable of growing in low 
moisture situations, has prolific seed production, and culms that root 
from the nodes (Stokes et al. 2011, p. 527). Both species outcompete 
native plants, reduce structural and spacial diversity of habitats, and 
increased biomass and fuel loads, increasing the fire frequency. 
Nonnative grasses have been reported with Bartram's stonecrop 
individuals in two instances, at French Joe Canyon and Juniper Flat 
populations, increasing the likelihood of fire occurrence and 
subsequent impacts to these two populations (Heritage Database 
Management System, E.O. ID 55; Simpson 2017, pers. comm.). Nonnative 
plant species increase the frequency and severity of wildfires, such 
wildfires can directly and indirectly impact individuals and 
populations.
Illegal Collection
    Bartram's stonecrop is an attractive small plant that can be easily 
collected by gardeners and succulent enthusiasts. Tagged individuals 
were uprooted and taken from two sites in the Santa Rita Mountains, one 
near a campsite (Shohet 1999, p. 60). In a 2016 on-line Google search 
for Bartram's stonecrop for sale, an advertisement from a collector in 
Texas offered to pay cash for Bartram's stonecrop seedlings or rooted 
cuttings. One website notes that the similar southern Arizona occurring 
species, G. rusbyi, is cultivated and legally available for sale from 
cactus nurseries; however, Bartram's stonecrop is not (because it is 
more difficult to propagate and maintain in captivity) and is therefore 
vulnerable to collection. Small populations may not be able to recover 
from collection, especially if the mature, reproductive plants are 
removed. The removal of mature plants reduces the overall reproductive 
effort of the population, thereby reducing the overall resilience of 
the population.
Altered Precipitation, Drought, Flooding, and Freezing Regimes
    Precipitation within the sky island mountain ranges is bimodal, 
with winter snow and rain, and summer monsoon rain (CLIMAS 2014, 
entire). Fall and winter (October through March) precipitation is 
needed for Bartram's stonecrop germination, and both summer (July and 
August) and fall precipitation (October and November) is needed for 
Bartram's stonecrop flower production. Flowering is triggered by fall 
rains and does not occur during periods of water stress (Shohet 1999, 
pp. 22, 25, 36, 39). Altered precipitation timing and form (i.e., snow 
versus rain), as well as reduced precipitation in the winter and spring 
and prolonged drought, are important considerations in the analysis of 
the future stressors to Bartram's stonecrop due to increased nonnative 
competition during times of reduced precipitation and drought, which 
exacerbate impacts from stressors (Anable 1990, p. 49; Robinett 1992, 
p. 101; Fernandez and Reynolds 2000, pp. 94-95; Geiger and McPherson 
2005, p. 896; Schussman et al. 2006, p. 589; Archer and Predick 2008, 
p. 26; Mathias et al. 2013, entire). In addition, reduced precipitation 
in the winter and spring and drought will also impact moisture 
availability for Bartram's stonecrop's germination, growth, and 
flowering.
    Altered precipitation timing and form (snow versus rain), as well 
as reduced winter and spring precipitation and prolonged drought, are 
currently occurring and projected to increase or be altered from normal 
in the Southwest (Garfin et al. 2014, entire). Recently there has been 
a decrease in the amount of snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and increased 
drought severity in the Southwest (Garfin et al. 2013, entire; Garfin 
2013b, p. 465). Further, more wintertime precipitation is falling as 
rain rather than snow in the western United States (IPCC 2013, p. 204; 
Garfin 2013b p. 465). This means that the amount of runoff in the 
spring when snow melts is reduced, as is soil moisture.
    Under a continuation A2-high emissions scenario, reduced winter and

[[Page 67078]]

spring precipitation is consistently projected for the southern part of 
the Southwest by 2100, as part of the general global precipitation 
reduction in subtropical areas (Garfin et al. 2014, p. 465). Analyses 
of the southwestern United States indicate future drying, primarily due 
to a decrease in winter precipitation under both the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 
scenarios (IPCC 2013, p. 1080). The annual projected changes in 
precipitation for 2025 to 2049 under RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios ranges 
from an increase of 1.3 cm/mo (0.5 to a decrease of 0.5 in/mo), with an 
annual average of no change compared to 1981 to 2010 (USGS 2019, 
entire). However, winter and spring precipitation under both emission 
scenarios is projected to decrease from -0.3 to -1 cm (-0.1 to -0.4 in) 
(MACA 2019) or a decrease up to 10 percent for 2016-2035 relative to 
1986-2005 under RCP 4.5 (IPCC 2013, p. 985). The decrease in winter and 
spring precipitation would likely be greater under the RCP 8.5 
scenario. There is some evidence from comparing observations with 
simulations of the recent past that climate models might be 
underestimating the magnitude of changes in precipitation in many 
regions (IPCC 2013, p. 986). The climate-model-projected simulations 
indicate that a high degree of variability of annual precipitation will 
continue during the coming century, for both low and high emission 
scenarios (Garfin 2013, p. 110). This suggests that the Southwest will 
remain susceptible to unusually wet spells and, on the other hand, will 
remain prone to occasional drought episodes (Garfin 2013, p. 110). 
However, decrease in soil moisture across much of the Southwest is 
projected under both scenarios by mid-century, due to increased 
evaporation (IPCC 2013 p. 1259). Late winter-spring mountain snowpack 
in the Southwest is predicted to continue to decline over the 21st 
century under the high emission scenario (A2), mostly because of 
projected increased temperature (Garfin et al. 2013, p. 6). Reduced 
rain and snow, earlier snowmelt, and drying tendencies cause a 
reduction in late-spring and summer runoff. Together these effects, 
along with increases in evaporation, result in lower soil moisture by 
early summer (Gafrin 2013, p. 117).
    Precipitation timing and amount impacts the germination, growth, 
and flowering of Bartram's stonecrop, resulting in the loss of 
individuals and recruitment, and overall reducing the population size.
    In the Southwest, temperatures increased 2.7[deg]C (1.6 [deg]F) 
plus or minus 0.9 [deg]C (0.5 [deg]F), between 1901 and 2010, and more 
heat waves occurred over the Southwest during 2001-2010 compared to 
average occurrences in the 20th century. In the future, under RCP 4.5, 
the annual maximum temperature is projected to increase by 5[deg]C 
(2.7[deg]F) for 2025-2049 and 7.3 [deg]C (4[deg]F) for 2050-2074, and 5 
[deg]C (2.7[deg]F) for 2025-2049 and 10.4 [deg]C (5.7[deg]F) for 2050-
2074 under RCP 8.5, all relative to 1981-2010 (USGS 2019, entire). When 
temperatures rise, as has been occurring in recent decades and as is 
projected to continue into the future, evapotranspiration rates also 
increase and soil moisture decreases. Along with projected warming and 
increased evapotranspiration, it is highly likely that droughts will 
become more severe (Garfin 2013, pp. 137-138). A decrease of up to 4 
percent soil moisture is projected under RCP 4.5 for 2016-2035, 
relative to 1986-2005. The decrease in soil moisture would likely be 
greater under RCP 8.5. Further, the evaporation deficient increases 
under RCP 4.5 and increases more in RCP 8.5 in 2025 to 2049, relative 
to 1981 to 2010. Based on the high emissions scenario, the current 100-
year drought will become commonplace in the second half of this century 
and future droughts will be much more severe than those previously 
recorded (Garfin 2013, p. 138). This projection of intensified drought 
conditions on the Colorado River is not due to changes in 
precipitation, but rather due directly to warming and its effect on 
reducing soil moisture (Garfin 2013, p. 138). Physiological effects of 
CO2 may involve both the stomatal response, which acts to 
restrict transpiration, and an increase in plant growth and leaf area, 
which acts to increase evapotranspiration (IPCC 2013 p. 986). An 
increase in evapotranspiration results in water loss from the plant and 
increases stress on the plant. This increase in stress impacts 
photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, water use efficiency, leaf 
conductance, growth rate, vigor, and gas exchange. These impacts result 
in reduced growth, flowering, and seed production, and, therefore, 
reduces overall recruitment and population numbers.
    Although rare species in the southwestern United States evolved 
with drought, recent changes in temperature and rainfall patterns 
present stressful conditions of increased magnitude above what the 
species faced historically and raise the question of whether the 
species in this rule can persist. Some species will shift their 
distributions in response to warming of the climate (McLaughlin et al. 
2002, p. 6070). It is highly unlikely that Bartram's stonecrop would be 
able to naturally shift its range to keep up with current and high 
projected rates of climate change due to its general state of 
population decline, lack of suitable intervening habitat, and abundant 
nonnative competitors. Thus, localized extinctions over portions of 
Bartram's stonecrop's range could result.
Small Populations
    Stressors are exacerbated in populations with only a small number 
(e.g., fewer than 50) of individuals. Small populations are less able 
to recover from losses caused by random environmental changes (Shaffer 
and Stein 2000, pp. 308-310), such as fluctuations in reproduction 
(demographic stochasticity), variations in rainfall (environmental 
stochasticity), or changes in the frequency or severity of wildfires. 
Approximately half of the extant Bartram's stonecrop populations 
contain 50 or fewer individuals. Loss due to erosion, trampling, 
collection, predation, fire, severe frost, or other stressors have the 
potential to seriously damage or completely remove these small 
populations.
    In summary, the stressors that pose the largest risk to future 
species viability are primarily related to habitat changes: Groundwater 
extraction from mining, long-term drought, and alteration in wildfire 
regime. These stressors may reduce nearby water levels, shade, and 
humidity within Bartram's stonecrop habitat and may directly impact 
individuals. Other important stressors include erosion or trampling 
from livestock, wildlife, or human activities; illegal collection; 
predation of Bartram's stonecrop or their shade trees by wildlife and 
insects; abnormal freezing or flooding events; or other stressors that 
have the potential to seriously damage or completely remove small 
populations. Synergistic interactions among wildfire, drought, altered 
precipitation, and increased temperatures cumulatively and cyclically 
impact Bartram's stonecrop, and all stressors are exacerbated in small 
populations.
Current Condition of Bartram's Stonecrop
    Historically, we know of 33 populations spread across 13 mountain 
ranges. Four populations have been extirpated in the United States in 
recent years, and a fifth population has likely contracted in size. In 
addition, the southeastern Arizona landscape has experienced many 
changes since the 1890s, resulting from intensive cattle grazing, water 
development, and fire

[[Page 67079]]

suppression (e.g., Bahre 1991, entire). These impacts may have reduced 
the range or number of populations and individuals. Currently, 29 
extant populations occur across 12 mountain ranges in the United States 
and Mexico: 9 in southern Arizona and 3 in northern Mexico. The U.S. 
populations total 3,726 individuals within occupied habitats that total 
about 2 ha (5 ac). Data are lacking for the Mexico populations; 
however, based on populations in the United States, which are mostly 
small, we believe that the three populations in Mexico are of similar 
size to U.S. populations but may be in worse condition, because of 
limited native habitat management, similar climate change impacts, 
equally frequent wildfires, and likely more livestock impacts (Romo et 
al. 2012, entire; Arriaga et al. 2004, entire; Fishbein and Warren 
1994, p. 20).
Population Resiliency for Bartram's Stonecrop
    To help determine current condition, we assessed each population in 
terms of its resiliency and assessed the species' representation and 
redundancy. Our analysis of the past, current, and future stressors on 
the resources that Bartram's stonecrop needs for long-term viability 
revealed a number of stressors to this species. All Bartram's stonecrop 
populations likely contain nonnative grasses. Further, altered fire 
regime has the potential to affect all populations. This altered fire 
regime enhances the spread of nonnatives. Consequently, all populations 
of Bartram's stonecrop will be further impacted by nonnative grasses in 
the near future. Altered precipitation, increased temperatures, and 
decreased annual precipitation are current and ongoing regional 
conditions that are impacting all populations of Bartram's stonecrop. 
These environmental conditions exacerbate an altered fire regime, 
which, in turn, further drives the spread of nonnatives. In addition, 
nonnative grasses have competitive advantage over native grasses during 
periods of drought. Many currently undeveloped areas of locatable 
mineral deposits may be explored or mined in the future. We do not know 
the extent of future mine activity within the range of Bartram's 
stonecrop; however, there are 12 mining projects currently ongoing or 
proposed within 8 km (5 mi) of Bartram's stonecrop populations in 
Arizona. The range of current and projected mining activities varies 
from 1 to 10 per sky island mountain range containing Bartram's 
stonecrop (USFS 2012, entire). One population, Sycamore Canyon (115 
adult individuals), would be affected by groundwater drawdown due to 
the Rosemont Mine. Sycamore Canyon is currently in moderate condition. 
Further, this species is collected and sold. Synergistic interactions 
among wildfire, nonnative grasses, decreased precipitation, and 
increased temperatures cumulatively and cyclically impact Bartram's 
stonecrop, and all stressors are exacerbated in small populations. In 
addition, because approximately 41 percent (12 populations) of the 
extant Bartram's stonecrop populations contain 50 or fewer individuals, 
loss due to erosion, trampling, collection, predation, fire, severe 
frost, or other stressors have the potential to seriously damage or 
completely remove these small populations. Of the 29 extant 
populations, 1 population (3 percent) is in high condition, 21 
populations (72 percent) are in moderate condition, and 7 populations 
(24 percent) are in low condition (Table 8, below). Population 
resiliency categories are described in Table 4, above, and in the SSA 
report (Service 2018b).

                            Table 8--Bartram's Stonecrop Current Population Condition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Number of
               Sky Island                         Population            individuals        Current condition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baboquivari.............................  Brown Canyon..............             112  Moderate.
                                          Thomas Canyon.............               5  Low.
Chiricahua..............................  Echo Canyon...............             186  Moderate.
                                          Indian Creek..............               0  Extirpated.
Dragoon.................................  Carlink Canyon............               0  Extirpated.
                                          Jordan Canyon.............             415  Moderate.
                                          Sheephead.................              45  Moderate.
                                          Slavin Gulch..............               9  Moderate.
                                          Stronghold Canyon East....             188  Moderate.
                                          Stronghold Canyon West....             533  High.
Empire..................................  Empire Mountains..........               0  Extirpated.
Mule....................................  Juniper Flat..............             798  Moderate.
Pajarito-Atascosa.......................  Alamo Canyon..............             134  Moderate.
                                          Holden Canyon.............               7  Moderate.
                                          Sycamore Canyon...........             298  Moderate.
                                          Warsaw Canyon.............              13  Moderate.
Patagonia...............................  Alum Gulch................             123  Moderate.
Rincon..................................  Chimenea-Madrona Canyon...               9  Moderate.
                                          Happy Valley North........               0  Extirpated.
                                          Happy Valley South........              14  Moderate.
Santa Rita..............................  Adobe Canyon..............              82  Moderate.
                                          Gardner Canyon............              14  Moderate.
                                          Josephine Canyon..........              71  Moderate.
                                          Madera Canyon.............              76  Moderate.
                                          Squaw Gulch...............               5  Low.
                                          Sycamore Canyon...........             115  Moderate.
                                          Temporal Gulch............               7  Moderate.
                                          Walker Canyon.............               3  Moderate.
Whetstone...............................  Deathtrap Canyon..........             135  Low.
                                          French Joe Canyon.........              87  Low.
Sierra Las Avispas, Sonora..............  Sierra Las Avispas........              10  Low.
Sierra La Escuadra, Chihuahua...........  Near Colonia Pacheco......              10  Low.
Sierra La Estancia, Chihuahua...........  Cuarenta Casas............              10  Low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 67080]]

Bartram's Stonecrop Representation
    No genetic studies have been conducted within or between the 33 
historical populations of Bartram's stonecrop in southern Arizona and 
Mexico. However, we assessed representation for Bartram's stonecrop in 
the form of its geographic distribution across the range. Some genetic 
exchange likely occurs within populations containing many 
subpopulations or many plants per subpopulation. Sky island populations 
on different mountain ranges are widely separated (ranging from roughly 
14 to 42 km (8.7 to 26 mi) apart), making cross-pollination across sky 
islands highly unlikely. Mountain ranges that have only one or two 
populations, have only one subpopulation per population, or have low 
numbers of individuals per population with several miles between 
mountain ranges may not be as genetically diverse because pollination 
or transport of seeds between populations may be very limited. However, 
there may be genetic diversity between populations within and between 
the sky island mountain ranges in response to elevational and other 
environmental differences between locations. Due to the loss of four 
populations, it is possible that there has been a loss of genetic 
diversity. However, because the species occurs across 29 populations in 
12 mountain ranges, it is likely some genetic diversity exists among 
mountain ranges.
    In addition, because the plant occurs on multiple substrate types 
and at a range of elevations (1,067 to 2,042 m (3,500 to 6,700 ft)), 
there is likely some local adaptation and genetic differentiation among 
populations. This range in elevation provides a variety of climatic 
conditions for the species to inhabit. Lastly, in at least three 
locations (Flux Canyon, Sycamore Canyon (Pajarito-Atascosa Mountains), 
and Gardner Canyon populations), Bartram's stonecrop have been reported 
over many decades, indicating that these populations may have the 
genetic and environmental diversity to adapt to changing conditions.
Bartram's Stonecrop Redundancy
    The Bartram's stonecrop populations in the United States and Mexico 
are naturally fragmented between mountain ranges. Currently, 29 extant 
Bartram's stonecrop populations are spread across 12 different mountain 
ranges in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Although these numbers 
may imply redundancy across its range, note that 24 of the 29 extant 
populations contain fewer than 150 total individual plants. Further, 14 
of the 29 populations have 50 individuals or less, and 4 populations 
have been extirpated over recent (approximately 10) years. Five 
mountain ranges (Baboquivari, Chiricahua, Mule, Whetstone, and 
Patagonia Mountains) have only one or two populations each or have only 
have one subpopulation per population, and low numbers of individuals 
per population. These sky island mountain ranges are several miles away 
from the other sky island mountain ranges, so natural gene exchange or 
re-establishment following extirpation is unlikely. In addition, the 
Mule Mountains contain large number of Bartram's stonecrop individuals, 
but there is only one population and it is approximately 38 km (23.6 
mi) away from the nearest population, making natural re-establishment 
of populations unlikely. In addition, this population is known to be 
contracting in size due to drying of habitat (The Nature Conservancy 
1987, p. 2).
Future Condition of the Bartram's Stonecrop
    We now consider the species' future condition of population 
resiliency and the species' representation and redundancy are likely to 
be. The future viability of Bartram's stonecrop depends on maintaining 
multiple resilient populations over time. The resiliency of Bartram's 
stonecrop populations depends on moisture in their microenvironment 
maintained by shade from overstory vegetation, spring and winter 
precipitation, proximity to water, and vegetation litter. We expect the 
29 extant Bartram's stonecrop populations to experience changes to all 
of these aspects of their habitat, although it may be in different ways 
under the different conditions. In addition, direct impacts to 
Bartram's stonecrop through being dislodged, buried, or collected will 
continue to impact the species.
    Given our uncertainty regarding the scope of the stressors 
manifesting and the species' response, we forecasted future conditions 
of Bartram's stonecrop under four plausible future scenarios (see 
chapter 6 of the SSA report; Service 2018b). We developed these 
scenarios to span a range of potential stressors that are ongoing or 
will occur in the future that we believe will influence the future 
status of the species. We chose 10 years to evaluate the current 
condition, as well as future projections out to 40 years because this 
is within the range of predictions of available hydrological and 
climate change model forecasts and is within the time period of the 
Rosemont Mine effects. This time frame represents eight generations of 
the Bartram's stonecrop, which allows us to assess reproductive effects 
on the species and allows the species opportunities to rebound after 
poor water years. The ten-year time step also represents a reasonable 
timeframe to judge the species' current vulnerability to threats as 
they are manifested now, without projecting changes to threats that 
longer timeframes would provide. Thus, the future scenarios forecast 
the viability of Bartram's stonecrop over the next 40 years. See table 
9 below for a summary of the four scenarios. For more detail, see 
Chapter 6 of the SSA report (Service 2018b, entire).

                                                    Table 9--Future Scenarios for Bartram's Stonecrop
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Risks               Mining activity    Altered fire regime        Climate              Climate         Individual effects      Conservation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk described...........  Water extraction,     Lightning            Reduction in         Dislodging from      Livestock            Conservation
                            Excavation, Burial,   Recreation Cross     available water *    flooding events,     Recreation           actions
                            Shade reduction.      border violators     and/or shade.        Seedling             Trampling            implemented.
                                                  Nonnative plants.                         desiccation,         Predation
                                                                                            Flowering halt,      Collection.
                                                                                            Shade removal.
Scenario 1. Continuation   Ongoing or planned    Number of wildfires  Available water and  Number and severity  Applied to           No new individuals,
 continuing into the        mining activities     annually increases   drought continue     of flooding events   populations <50      subpopulations or
 future.                    as of 2012 (~20).     at the same rate     at the same level    continues at the     individuals.         populations found.
                                                  as the last 10       as in the past 10    past 10 years.                            No augmentation of
                                                  years.               years. Emissions     Emissions <4.5.                           existing
                                                                       8.5.                                                           populations, no
                                                                                                                                      seed preservation,
                                                                                                                                      nonnatives
                                                                                                                                      controlled, and
                                                                                                                                      forest thinned.
Scenario 2. Conservation.  Number of mining      Number of wildfires  Available water      Flooding events do   Applied to           Sites revisited and
                            activities does not   does not increase    remains stable.      not increase.        populations <50      additional plants
                            increase from         from current rate.   Emissions 4.5.       Emissions <4.5.      individuals.         are located, sites
                            current condition.                                                                                        are augmented, or
                                                                                                                                      new sites are
                                                                                                                                      established,
                                                                                                                                      nonnatives
                                                                                                                                      controlled, and
                                                                                                                                      forest thinned.

[[Page 67081]]

 
Scenario 3. Moderate       1-3 new mining        Number of wildfires  Available water is   Increases in flash   Applied to           No new individuals,
 increase in negative       activities (above     increases in         reduced per 8.5      flooding per 4.5     populations <50      subpopulations, or
 effects.                   the 2012 number)      uplands.             emissions scenario.  emissions scenario.  individuals.         populations found,
                            are implemented and/                                                                                      and no
                            or existing mines                                                                                         augmentation of
                            expand.                                                                                                   existing
                                                                                                                                      populations,
                                                                                                                                      nonnatives
                                                                                                                                      controlled, and
                                                                                                                                      forest thinned.
Scenario 4. Major          >3 new mining         Number of wildfires  Available water is   Increases in flash   Applied to           No new individuals,
 increase in negative       activities are        increases in         reduced per 8.5      flooding per 8.5     populations <50      subpopulations or
 effects.                   implemented and/or    uplands.             emissions scenario.  emissions scenario.  individuals.         populations found,
                            existing mines                                                                                            and no
                            expand.                                                                                                   augmentation of
                                                                                                                                      existing
                                                                                                                                      populations,
                                                                                                                                      nonnatives
                                                                                                                                      controlled, and
                                                                                                                                      forest thinned.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Available water includes precipitation, soil moisture, humidity, surface water, aquifer recharge, reduction in riparian vegetation, and increased
  number of days without water.

    All scenarios consider impacts from mining, wildfire, and climate. 
In addition, effects on individual plants from multiple stressors are 
assessed, including livestock, recreation, trampling, predation, and 
collection. The ``continuation'' scenario evaluates the condition of 
Bartram's stonecrop if there is no increase in risks to the populations 
relative to what exists today, while the other scenarios evaluate the 
response of the species to changes in those risks. The ``conservation'' 
scenario takes into account realistically possible additional 
protective measures which may or may not happen. The ``moderate 
effects'' scenario is an increase in the risks to populations with 
changes in climate as projected in a lower (8.5) emissions scenario 
along with increases in other stressors. The ``major effects'' scenario 
is a further increase in risks to populations, with changes in climate 
projected at a higher (8.5) emissions scenario, and with additional 
increases in other stressors. These are described in more detail in 
chapter 6 of the SSA report (Service 2018b).
    The most likely scenario is the ``moderate effects'' scenario, with 
impacts to the species occurring around the 40-year time step. Under 
the ``moderate effects'' scenario, water flow reduction due to drought 
and groundwater extraction continues to reduce the humid microhabitat 
for this species. Cross-border violator traffic continues, and risk of 
catastrophic wildfire is high due to dry conditions; invasion of 
nonnatives in the uplands; and increased risk of fire starts from 
illegal activity, recreation, and natural causes. Mining impacts 
individuals in the Patagonia and Santa Rita Mountains. Collection, 
trampling, freezing, predation, and human impacts also continue at 
current or increased levels. The full analyses of all scenarios are 
available in the SSA report (Service 2018b, chapter 6); however, we are 
only presenting the full results of the ``moderate effects'' scenario 
here because it gives the most realistic projection of the future 
condition of the species.
    Under the ``moderate effects'' scenario, within the 40-year 
timeframe, we expect Bartram's stonecrop's viability to be 
characterized by lower levels of resiliency, representation, and 
redundancy than it has currently, which is already reduced as described 
above. Under the ``moderate effects'' scenario, no populations would be 
in high condition, 4 populations (12 percent) would remain in moderate 
condition, 16 populations (52 percent) would be in low condition, and 
13 populations (36 percent) would be extirpated, further reducing 
population redundancy and connectivity (see table 6.6 in the SSA 
report; Service 2018b). Under the ``moderate effects'' scenario, 
because of the intensity of stressors discussed above, 22 populations 
would be reduced from their current condition (see Table 10, and see 
figure 6.3 and table 6.6 in the SSA report (Service 2018b)). We further 
believed that in the ``moderate effects'' scenario, one of the three 
small populations in Mexico becomes extirpated due to the amount of 
nonnatives contributing to fire, reduction in precipitation, increase 
in drought, and low resiliency of a small population.

           Table 10--Bartram's Stonecrop Population Conditions Under the ``Moderate Effects'' Scenario
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Condition under the  ``moderate effects''
               Sky Island                        Population                            scenario
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baboquivari............................  Brown Canyon..............  Low.
                                         Thomas Canyon.............  Low.
Chiricahua.............................  Echo Canyon...............  Low.
                                         Indian Creek..............  Extirpated.
Dragoon................................  Carlink Canyon............  Extirpated.
                                         Jordan Canyon.............  Moderate.
                                         Sheephead.................  Low.
                                         Slavin Gulch..............  Low.
                                         Stronghold Canyon East....  Moderate.
                                         Stronghold Canyon West....  Moderate.
Empire.................................  Empire Mountains..........  Extirpated.
Mule...................................  Juniper Flat..............  Low.
Pajarito-Atascosa......................  Alamo Canyon..............  Low.
                                         Holden Canyon.............  Extirpated.
                                         Sycamore Canyon...........  Moderate.
                                         Warsaw Canyon.............  Extirpated.
Patagonia..............................  Alum Canyon...............  Extirpated.
Rincon.................................  Chimenea-Madrona Canyon...  Low.
                                         Happy Valley North........  Extirpated.
                                         Happy Valley South........  Low.
Santa Rita.............................  Adobe Canyon..............  Low.
                                         Gardner Canyon............  Low.
                                         Josephine Canyon..........  Low.

[[Page 67082]]

 
                                         Madera Canyon.............  Extirpated.
                                         Squaw Gulch...............  Extirpated.
                                         Sycamore Canyon...........  Extirpated.
                                         Temporal Gulch............  Low.
                                         Walker Canyon.............  Extirpated.
Whetstone..............................  Deathtrap Canyon..........  Low.
                                         French Joe Canyon.........  Extirpated.
Sierra Las Avispas, Sonora.............  Sierra Las Avispas........  Low.
Sierra La Escuadra, Chihuahua..........  Near Colonia Pacheco......  Extirpated.
Sierra La Estancia, Chihuahua..........  Cuarenta Casas............  Low.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    We have carefully assessed the best scientific and commercial 
information available regarding the past, present, and future stressors 
to beardless chinchweed and Bartram's stonecrop.
    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.''
    Therefore, on the basis of the best available scientific and 
commercial information, we propose listing beardless chinchweed as 
endangered in accordance with sections 3(6) and 4(a)(1) of the Act and 
Bartram's stonecrop as threatened in accordance with sections 3(20) and 
4(a)(1) of the Act.
Beardless Chinchweed
    Historically there were 21 populations. Nine populations have been 
extirpated, leaving 12 extant populations (six in the United States and 
six in Mexico). The six populations in the United States consist of 387 
individuals spread across less than 2 ha (5 ac). The six populations 
have been reported from northern Mexico, but this information is from 
1940 or earlier.
    The proliferation of invasive nonnative grasses throughout most of 
the beardless chinchweed's range has greatly affected this species 
through increased competition and altered fire regimes. Many of these 
historical locations no longer support beardless chinchweed due to this 
alteration of habitat (National Park Service 2014, pp. 3-4; Service 
2014b, pp. 1-2; Service 2014c, entire; Service 2014d, pp. 1-2).
    All beardless chinchweed populations likely contain nonnative 
grasses, resulting in habitat loss (Factor A). Further, altered fire 
regime (Factors A and E), which is currently or in the near future 
impacting all populations, drives the spread of nonnatives (Factor A), 
exacerbating the encroachment of nonnative grasses. Consequently, all 
remaining populations of beardless chinchweed are impacted by nonnative 
grasses now or will be in the near future. Altered precipitation 
(Factors A and E), increased temperatures (Factors A and E), and 
decreased annual precipitation (Factors A and E) are current and 
ongoing regional conditions that are impacting all populations of 
beardless chinchweed. These environmental conditions exacerbate an 
altered fire regime, which, in turn, drives the spread of nonnatives. 
In addition, nonnative grasses have competitive advantage over native 
grasses during periods of drought. Road and trail maintenance (Factors 
A and E) is altering habitat and likely resulting in the direct killing 
of individuals in three populations (Ruby Road, Scotia Canyon, and 
Coronado National Memorial). In addition, all individuals in these 
three populations are being impacted by dust (Factor E) from the road. 
These three populations are already of low resiliency. Two additional 
populations (McCleary Canyon--Gunsight Pass and McCleary Canyon--Wasp 
Canyon) will be impacted by roads (Factor A) related to mining 
operations in the near future (Westland 2010, p. iv). All individuals 
of these two populations will also be impacted by dust (Factor E). One 
of these populations is already of low resiliency and the other is of 
moderate resiliency. Of the 12 populations, 11 (92 percent) are small 
populations (fewer than 50 individuals). Synergistic interactions among 
wildfire, nonnative grasses, decreased precipitation, and increased 
temperatures cumulatively and cyclically impact beardless chinchweed, 
and all stressors are exacerbated in small populations (Factor E). No 
conservation efforts have been implemented for this species.
    We consider beardless chinchweed to have poor representation in the 
form of potential genetic diversity (Factor E). All but one population 
has fewer than 50 individuals. Small populations are susceptible to the 
loss of genetic diversity, genetic drift, and inbreeding. There are 
currently six populations spread across four mountain ranges in the 
United States and six populations in northern Mexico that are presumed 
extant. Five of the six extant U.S. populations do not have multiple 
subpopulations (all but the Coronado National Memorial population, 
which has two subpopulations). Mountain ranges that have only one or 
two populations, have only have one subpopulation per population, or 
have low numbers of individuals per population with several miles (16 
to 61 km (9.9 to 37.9 mi)) between mountain ranges, may not be 
genetically diverse because pollination or transport of seeds between 
populations may be very limited. This could mean that between-
population genetic diversity may be greater than within-population 
diversity (Smith and Wayne 1996, p. 333; Lindenmayer and Peakall 2000, 
p. 200). Further, nine populations are extirpated, and it is possible 
that there has been a loss of genetic diversity.
    Beardless chinchweed populations in the United States range in 
elevation from 1,158 m (3,799 ft) to 1,737 m (5,699 ft) in elevation. 
Of the 15 historical U.S. populations, 8

[[Page 67083]]

(approximately 53 percent) fall below 457 m (1,500 ft) elevation. Of 
these eight, six have become extirpated in recent decades. This 
essentially indicates a loss at this lower elevational range and 
possibly loss of some local adaptation to warmer or dryer environments 
and genetic differentiation among populations (Factor E).
    Beardless chinchweed needs to have multiple resilient populations 
distributed throughout its range to provide for redundancy. Beardless 
chinchweed needs multiple resilient populations spread over their range 
that are distributed in such a way that a catastrophic event will not 
result in the loss of all populations. With the known extant 
populations being separated by as much as 35 km (21.8 mi) in southern 
Arizona and even farther in northern Mexico, there is little connection 
potential between known disjunct populations. Therefore, a localized 
stressor such as grazing during flowering would impact only those 
groups of plants nearby the activity. However, repeated, large-scale, 
moderate- and high-severity fires, nonnative plant invasion, and 
climatic changes occur across the region and could impact all 
populations now or in the near future. The distance among populations 
reduces connectivity among populations and mountain ranges, making it 
unlikely that a site that is extirpated can be naturally recolonized by 
another population (Factor E).
    We find that beardless chinchweed is presently in danger of 
extinction throughout its entire range based on the severity and 
immediacy of stressors currently impacting the species. The overall 
range has been significantly reduced (nine populations extirpated), and 
the remaining habitat and populations are threatened by a variety of 
factors acting in combination to reduce the overall viability of the 
species. The risk of extinction is high because the remaining 
populations are small, isolated, and have limited potential for natural 
recolonization. Therefore, on the basis of the best available 
scientific and commercial information, we propose listing beardless 
chinchweed as endangered in accordance with sections 3(6) and 4(a)(1) 
of the Act. We find that a threatened species status is not appropriate 
for beardless chinchweed because of the species's current precarious 
condition due to its contracted range, because the stressors are severe 
and occurring rangewide, and because the stressors are ongoing and 
expected to continue into the future.
    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 
beardless chinchweed is endangered throughout all of its range, we find 
it unnecessary to proceed to an evaluation of potentially significant 
portions of the range. Where the best available information allows the 
Service to determine a status for the species rangewide, that 
determination should be given conclusive weight because a rangewide 
determination of status more accurately reflects the species' degree of 
imperilment and better promotes the purposes of the statute. Under this 
reading, we should first consider whether listing is appropriate based 
on a rangewide analysis and proceed to conduct a ``significant portion 
of its range'' analysis if, and only if, a species does not qualify for 
listing as either endangered or threatened according to the ``all'' 
language. We note that the court in Desert Survivors v. Department of 
the Interior, No. 16-cv-01165-JCS, 2018 WL 4053447 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 24, 
2018), did not address this issue, and our conclusion is therefore 
consistent with the opinion in that case.
    Therefore, on the basis of the best available scientific and 
commercial information, we propose to list beardless chinchweed as an 
endangered species across its entire range in accordance with sections 
3(6) and 4(a)(1) of the Act.
Bartram's Stonecrop
    Bartram's stonecrop has experienced population declines and four 
populations have been lost entirely. Currently, there are 29 extant 
populations. All Bartram's stonecrop populations contain or are near 
nonnative grasses resulting in habitat loss in the future (Factor A). 
Further, altered fire regime (Factors A and E), which is currently and 
in the future impacting all populations, drives the spread of 
nonnatives (Factor A), exacerbating the encroachment of nonnative 
grasses. Consequently, all populations of Bartram's stonecrop will be 
impacted by nonnative grasses in the future. Altered precipitation 
(Factors A and E), increased temperatures (Factors A and E), and 
decreased annual precipitation (Factors A and E) are current and 
ongoing regional conditions that are impacting all populations of 
Bartram's stonecrop. These environmental conditions exacerbate an 
altered fire regime, which, in turn, drives the spread of nonnatives. 
In addition, nonnative grasses have competitive advantage over native 
grasses during periods of drought. Many currently undeveloped areas of 
locatable mineral deposits may be explored or mined in the future 
(Factors A and E). The range of current and projected mining activities 
varies from 1 to 10 per sky island mountain range containing Bartram's 
stonecrop (USFS 2012, entire). One population, Sycamore Canyon (115 
adult individuals), will be affected by groundwater drawdown due to the 
Rosemont Mine, which will impact the shade and moist microclimate this 
species needs (Factor A). This species is known to be collected and 
sold (Factor B), and plants in close proximity to trails or roads have 
higher discovery potential and are, therefore, more likely to be 
collected. In addition, because approximately 47 percent of the extant 
Bartram's stonecrop populations contain 50 or fewer individuals (Factor 
E), loss due to erosion (Factors A and E), trampling (Factor E), 
collection (Factor B), predation (Factor C), and fire (Factors A and E) 
has the potential to seriously damage or completely remove these small 
populations. Synergistic interactions among wildfire, nonnative 
grasses, decreased precipitation, and increased temperatures 
cumulatively and cyclically impact Bartram's stonecrop, and all 
stressors are exacerbated in small populations (Factor E). No 
conservation efforts have been implemented for this species.
    We consider Bartram's stonecrop to have poor representation in the 
form of potential genetic diversity. Sky island populations on 
different mountain ranges are widely separated (ranging from roughly 14 
to 42 km (8.7 to 26 mi) apart), making genetic exchange highly 
unlikely. There is likely genetic diversity among mountain ranges, but 
reduced genetic diversity within populations. Further, overall genetic 
diversity is likely reduced given that four populations are extirpated. 
However, it is likely that the species' genetic representation will be 
lost given the impacts to populations through the reduction in the 
number of individuals per population and the loss of populations 
(Factor E). In addition, it is likely that ecological representation 
will continue to decline as those populations at lower elevations are 
lost due to reduced precipitation and increased temperatures (Factor 
E).
    The Bartram's stonecrop populations in the United States and Mexico 
are naturally fragmented between mountain ranges. Currently, 29 extant 
Bartram's stonecrop populations are spread across 12 different mountain 
ranges in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Although this may imply 
redundancy

[[Page 67084]]

across its range, note that 24 of the 29 extant populations contain 
fewer than 150 total individual plants. Further, 14 of the 29 
populations have 50 individuals or less, and 4 populations have been 
extirpated. Five mountain ranges (Baboquivari, Chiricahua, Mule, 
Whetstone, and Patagonia Mountains) have only one or two populations 
each, have only one subpopulation per population, or have low numbers 
of individuals per population. These sky island mountain ranges are 
several miles away from the other sky island mountain ranges, so 
natural gene exchange or re-establishment following extirpation is 
unlikely. In addition, the Mule Mountains contain large number of 
Bartram's stonecrop individuals, but there is only one population, and 
it is approximately 38 km (23.6 mi) away from the nearest population, 
making natural re-establishment of populations unlikely. In addition, 
this population has contracted in size due to drying of habitat (The 
Nature Conservancy 1987, p. 2; Rawoot 2017, pers. comm.).
    The overall range of the species has not been significantly 
reduced, although four populations are extirpated due to habitat 
drying. Currently, 29 extant populations are spread across 12 mountain 
ranges, providing protection from catastrophic events in the near 
future (approximately 10 years). While there are multiple stressors to 
the remaining populations, these stressors are not immediately 
impacting all populations such that Bartram's stonecrop is in danger of 
extinction. The stressors that pose the largest risk to future species 
viability are primarily related to habitat changes: Groundwater 
extraction from mining, long-term drought, and alteration in wildfire 
regime. These are stressors that we have high confidence in occurring 
and impacting Bartram's stonecrop within the next 40 years. We chose a 
foreseeable future of 40 years (approximately 2060) because this is 
within the range of predictions of available hydrological and climate 
change model forecasts, is within the time period of the Rosemont Mine 
effects, and represents eight generations of the Bartram's stonecrop, 
which allows us to assess reproductive effects on the species and 
allows the species opportunities to rebound after poor water years. The 
primary sources we examined in determining foreseeable future include 
the IPCC (2013 and 2014 entire) and Garfin et al. 2013 entire. The IPCC 
emission scenarios projections are for 2025 to 2049 and 2050--2074, or 
approximately mid-century, under RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. This is 6 
to 30 and 31 to 55 years, respectively, in the future. The IPCC has 
high confidence for climate projections of increased temperature during 
this interval. In addition, we examined literature pertaining to 
wildfire frequency and severity, including Westerling et al. 2006, 
FireScape 2016, and Fire Management Information System 2016. An 
increase in temperature results in increased evapotranspiration rates 
and soil drying, resulting in the effects of future droughts becoming 
more severe (Garfin 2013, pp. 137-138) and wildfires becoming more 
frequent and of increased intensity. Given that climate change 
projections are for mid-century and that wildfire is influenced by a 
drying climate, we used 40 years as the foreseeable future for this 
species. We find that Bartram's stonecrop is likely to become an 
endangered species within the foreseeable future (approximately 40 
years) throughout all of its range based on the severity and immediacy 
of stressors.
    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 the 
Bartram's stonecrop is likely to become an endangered species within 
the foreseeable future throughout its range, we find it unnecessary to 
proceed to an evaluation of potentially significant portions of the 
range. Where the best available information allows the Service to 
determine a status for the species rangewide, that determination should 
be given conclusive weight because a rangewide determination of status 
more accurately reflects the species' degree of imperilment and better 
promotes the purposes of the statute. Under this reading, we should 
first consider whether listing is appropriate based on a rangewide 
analysis and proceed to conduct a ``significant portion of its range'' 
analysis if, and only if, a species does not qualify for listing as 
either endangered or threatened according to the ``all'' language. We 
note that the court in Desert Survivors v. Department of the Interior, 
No. 16-cv-01165-JCS, 2018 WL 4053447 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 24, 2018), did not 
address this issue, and our conclusion is therefore consistent with the 
opinion in that case.
    Therefore, on the basis of the best available scientific and 
commercial information, we propose to list Bartram's stonecrop as a 
threatened species across its entire range in accordance with sections 
3(20) and 4(a)(1) of the Act.
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 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. Section 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 stressors 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. Revisions of the plan may be done to address 
continuing or new stressors to the species, as new substantive 
information becomes available. The recovery plan also identifies 
recovery criteria for review of when a species may be ready for 
downlisting (reclassification from endangered to threatened) or 
delisting (removal from listed status), 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. When completed, the recovery outline, draft

[[Page 67085]]

recovery plan, and the final recovery plan will be available on our 
website (http://www.fws.gov/endangered), or from our Arizona Ecological 
Services Field 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 these species are 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 Arizona would be 
eligible for Federal funds to implement management actions that promote 
the protection or recovery of beardless chinchweed and Bartram's 
stonecrop. Information on our grant programs that are available to aid 
species recovery can be found at: http://www.fws.gov/grants.
    Although beardless chinchweed and Bartram's stonecrop are 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 
species. Additionally, we invite you to submit any new information on 
this species 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.
Beardless Chinchweed
    Federal agency actions within the species' habitat that may require 
conference or consultation or both as described in the preceding 
paragraph include management and any other landscape-altering 
activities on Federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service 
(Coronado National Forest), Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, and National Park Service (Coronado National 
Memorial).
    With respect to endangered plants, prohibitions at section 9 of the 
Act and 50 CFR 17.61 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 to remove 
and reduce to possession any such plant species from areas under 
Federal jurisdiction. In addition, for endangered plants, the Act 
prohibits malicious damage or destruction of any such species on any 
area under Federal jurisdiction, and the removal, cutting, digging up, 
or damaging or destroying of any such species on any other area in 
knowing violation of any State law or regulation, or in the course of 
any violation of a State criminal trespass law. Exceptions to these 
prohibitions are set forth at 50 CFR 17.62 and 17.63.
    We may issue permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities 
involving endangered plants under certain circumstances. Regulations 
governing permits are codified at 50 CFR 17.62 and 17.63. With regard 
to endangered plants, the Service may issue a permit authorizing any 
activity otherwise prohibited by 50 CFR 17.61 for scientific purposes, 
for enhancing the propagation or survival of endangered plants, or for 
economic hardship. At this time, we are unable to identify specific 
activities that would not be considered to result in a violation of 
section 9 of the Act because beardless chinchweed occurs in a variety 
of habitat conditions across its range.
    Based on the best available information, the following activities 
may potentially result in a violation of section 9 of the Act; this 
list is not comprehensive:
    (1) Unauthorized handling or collecting of the species;
    (2) Ground-disturbing activities within 30 m (98 ft) of individual 
beardless chinchweed plants;
    (3) Dislodging and trampling by livestock;
    (4) Livestock grazing during April through October where the 
species occurs; and
    (5) Herbicide applications within 30 m (98 ft) of individual 
beardless chinchweed plants.
Bartram's Stonecrop
    Federal agency actions within the species' habitat that may require 
conference or consultation or both as described in the preceding 
paragraph include management and any other landscape-altering 
activities on Federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service 
(Coronado National Forest), Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, and National Park Service (Chiricahua National 
Monument and Saguaro National Park).
    With respect to threatened plants, the Act allows the Secretary to 
promulgate regulations to prohibit activities to provide for the 
conservation of the species. Under II. Proposed Section 4(d) Rule for 
Bartram's stonecrop, below, we explain what activities we are proposing 
to prohibit.
    We may issue permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities 
involving threatened plants under certain circumstances. Regulations 
governing permits are codified at 50 CFR 17.72. With regard to 
threatened plants, a permit issued under this section must be for one 
of the following: Scientific purposes, the enhancement of the 
propagation or survival of threatened species, economic hardship, 
botanical or horticultural exhibition, educational purposes, or other 
activities consistent with the purposes and policy of the Act.
    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 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. At this time, we are unable to identify specific 
activities that would not be considered to result in a violation of the 
Act because the Bartram's stonecrop occurs in a variety of habitat 
conditions across its range.

[[Page 67086]]

    Based on the best available information, the following activities 
may potentially result in a violation of the Act; this list is not 
comprehensive:
    (1) Unauthorized handling or collecting of the species;
    (2) Ground-disturbing activities within 30 m (98 ft) of individual 
Bartram's stonecrop plants;
    (3) Herbicide applications within 30 m (98 ft) of individual 
Bartram's stonecrop plants; and
    (4) Dislodging and trampling by livestock.
    Questions regarding whether specific activities would constitute a 
violation of the Act should be directed to the Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

II. Proposed Section 4(d) Rule for Bartram's Stonecrop

Background

    Section 4(d) of the Act states that the ``Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable to provide for the 
conservation'' of species listed as threatened. In Webster v. Doe, 486 
U.S. 592 (1988), the U.S. Supreme Court noted that similar ``necessary 
or advisable'' language ``fairly exudes deference'' to the agency. 
Conservation is defined in section 3 of the Act as the use of all 
methods and procedures which are necessary to bring any endangered 
species or threatened species to the point at which the measures 
provided pursuant to the Act are no longer necessary. Additionally, 
section 4(d) of the Act states that the Secretary ``may by regulation 
prohibit with respect to any threatened species any act prohibited'' 
under section 9(a)(2) of the Act. Thus, regulations promulgated under 
section 4(d) of the Act provide the Secretary with wide latitude of 
discretion to select appropriate provisions tailored to the specific 
conservation needs of the threatened species. The statute grants 
particularly broad discretion to the Service when adopting the 
prohibitions under section 9.
    The courts have recognized the extent of the Secretary's discretion 
under this standard to develop rules that are appropriate for the 
conservation of a species. For example, the Secretary may decide not to 
include a taking prohibition for threatened wildlife, or to include a 
limited taking prohibition. See Alsea Valley Alliance v. Lautenbacher, 
2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 60203 (D. Or. 2007); Washington Environmental 
Council v. National Marine Fisheries Service, and 2002 U.S. Dist. Lexis 
5432 (W.D. Wash. 2002). In addition, as affirmed in State of Louisiana 
v. Verity, 853 F.2d 322 (5th Cir. 1988), the rule need not address all 
the stressors to the species. As noted by Congress when the Act was 
initially enacted, ``once an animal is on the threatened list, the 
Secretary has an almost infinite number of options available to him 
with regard to the permitted activities for those species. He may, for 
example, permit taking, but not importation of such species,'' or he 
may choose to forbid both taking and importation but allow the 
transportation of such species, as long as the prohibitions, and 
exceptions to those prohibitions, will ``serve to conserve, protect, or 
restore the species concerned in accordance with the purposes of the 
Act'' (H.R. Rep. No. 412, 93rd Cong., 1st Sess. 1973).
    The Service has developed a species-specific 4(d) rule that is 
designed to address Bartram's stonecrop's specific stressors and 
conservation needs. Although the statute does not require the Service 
to make a ``necessary and advisable'' finding with respect to the 
adoption of specific prohibitions under section 9, we find that this 
regulation is necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation 
of Bartram's stonecrop. As discussed under Summary of Biological Status 
and Stressors, above, the Service has concluded that Bartram's 
stonecrop is at risk of extinction within the foreseeable future 
primarily due to groundwater extraction and prolonged drought that may 
reduce nearby water levels and humidity within Bartram's stonecrop's 
microenvironment, and altered fire regimes leading to erosion of 
Bartram's stonecrop that could dislodge plants, sedimentation that 
could cover individuals, and loss of overstory shade trees. In 
addition, collection, trampling, predation, flooding, and dislodging 
and burial from recreationists, cross-border violators, and domestic 
and wild animals contribute to the risk of extinction within the 
foreseeable future due to the majority of populations being small and 
isolated. The provisions of this proposed 4(d) rule would promote 
conservation of Bartram's stonecrop by encouraging management of the 
landscape in ways that meet land management needs while meeting the 
conservation needs of Bartram's stonecrop. The provisions of this rule 
are one of many tools that the Service would use to promote the 
conservation of Bartram's stonecrop. This proposed 4(d) rule would 
apply only if and when the Service makes final the listing of Bartram's 
stonecrop as a threatened species.

Provisions of the Proposed Protective Regulation

    This proposed 4(d) rule would provide for the conservation of the 
Bartram's stonecrop by applying all of the prohibitions applicable to 
an endangered plant, except as otherwise authorized or permitted: 
Import or export; certain acts related to removing, damaging, and 
destroying; delivery, receipt, transport, or shipment in interstate or 
foreign commerce in the course of commercial activity; or sale or 
offering for sale in interstate or foreign commerce. Bartram's 
stonecrop is an attractive and small plant that can be easily collected 
by gardeners and succulent enthusiasts. We have confirmed collection 
from the wild and sale in interstate commerce. Because Bartram's 
stonecrop is difficult to propagate and maintain in captivity, it is 
more vulnerable to collection than other plants in this genus. Small 
populations may not be able to recover from collection, especially if 
the mature, reproductive plants are removed.
    As discussed under Summary of Biological Status and Stressors, 
above, multiple factors are affecting the status of Bartram's 
stonecrop. A range of activities have the potential to impact Bartram's 
stonecrop, including:
    (1) Unauthorized handling or collecting of the species;
    (2) Ground-disturbing activities where the species occurs;
    (3) Activities that would affect pollinators where the species 
occurs and in the surrounding area;
    (4) Activities that would promote high-severity wildfires where the 
species occurs;
    (5) Activities that would reduce shade, reduce proximity to water, 
and lower the water table such that the cooler, humid microenvironment 
is affected; and
    (6) Herbicide applications where the species occurs.
    Regulating these activities will help conserve the species' 
remaining populations; slow their rate of decline; and decrease 
synergistic, negative effects from other stressors.
    We may issue permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities, 
including those described above, involving threatened plants under 
certain circumstances. Regulations governing permits are codified at 50 
CFR 17.72. With regard to threatened plants, a permit may be issued for 
the following purposes: For scientific purposes, to enhance propagation 
or survival (control of nonnatives and fuel load), for economic 
hardship, for botanical or horticultural exhibition, for

[[Page 67087]]

educational purposes, or other activities consistent with the purposes 
of the Act. There are also certain statutory exemptions from the 
prohibitions, which are found in sections 9 and 10 of the Act.
    The Service recognizes the special and unique relationship with our 
State natural resource agency partners in contributing to conservation 
of listed species. State agencies often possess scientific data and 
valuable expertise on the status and distribution of endangered, 
threatened, and candidate species of wildlife and plants. State 
agencies, because of their authorities and their close working 
relationships with local governments and landowners, are in a unique 
position to assist the Services in implementing all aspects of the Act. 
In this regard, section 6 of the Act provides that the Services shall 
cooperate to the maximum extent practicable with the States in carrying 
out programs authorized by the Act. Therefore, under this proposed 4(d) 
rule, any qualified employee or agent of a State conservation agency 
which is a party to a cooperative agreement with the Service in 
accordance with section 6(c) of the Act, who is designated by his or 
her agency for such purposes, would be able to conduct activities 
designed to conserve Bartram's stonecrop that may result in otherwise 
prohibited activities without additional authorization.
    Nothing in this proposed 4(d) rule would change in any way the 
recovery planning provisions of section 4(f) of the Act, the 
consultation requirements under section 7 of the Act, or the ability of 
the Service to enter into partnerships for the management and 
protection of Bartram's stonecrop. However, interagency cooperation may 
be further streamlined through planned programmatic consultations for 
the species between Federal agencies and the Service. We ask the 
public, particularly State agencies and other interested stakeholders 
that may be affected by the proposed 4(d) rule, to provide comments and 
suggestions regarding additional guidance and methods that the Service 
could provide or use, respectively, to streamline the implementation of 
this proposed 4(d) rule (see Information Requested, above).

III. Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for Beardless Chinchweed and 
Prudency Determination for Bartram's Stonecrop

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 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.
    Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.02 define the geographical area 
occupied by the species as an area that may generally be delineated 
around species' occurrences, as determined by the Secretary of the 
Interior (i.e., range). Such areas may include those areas used 
throughout all or part of the species' life cycle, even if not used on 
a regular basis (e.g., migratory corridors, seasonal habitats, and 
habitats used periodically, but not solely by vagrant individuals).
    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.
    Under the first prong of the Act's definition of critical habitat, 
areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time 
it was listed are included in a critical habitat designation if they 
contain physical or biological features (1) which are essential to the 
conservation of the species and (2) which may require special 
management considerations or protection. For these areas, critical 
habitat designations identify, to the extent known using the best 
scientific and commercial data available, those physical or biological 
features that are essential to the conservation of the species (such as 
space, food, cover, and protected habitat). In identifying those 
physical or biological features that occur in specific areas, we focus 
on the specific features that are essential to support the life-history 
needs of the species, including but not limited to, water 
characteristics, soil type, geological features, prey, vegetation, 
symbiotic species, or other features. A feature may be a single habitat 
characteristic, or a more complex combination of habitat 
characteristics. Features may include habitat characteristics that 
support ephemeral or dynamic habitat conditions. Features may also be 
expressed in terms relating to principles of conservation biology, such 
as patch size, distribution distances, and connectivity.
    Under the second prong of the Act's definition of critical habitat, 
we can designate critical habitat in 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. When designating critical habitat, the Secretary will first 
evaluate areas occupied by the species. The Secretary will only 
consider unoccupied areas to be essential where a critical habitat 
designation limited to geographical areas occupied by the species would 
be inadequate to ensure the conservation of the species. In addition, 
for an unoccupied area to be considered essential, the Secretary must 
determine that there is a reasonable certainty both that the area will 
contribute to the conservation of the species and that the area 
contains one or more of those physical or biological

[[Page 67088]]

features essential to the conservation of the species.
    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 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.
    When we are determining which areas should be designated as 
critical habitat, our primary source of information is generally the 
information from the SSA report and information developed during the 
listing process for the species. Additional information sources may 
include any generalized conservation strategy, criteria, or outline 
that may have been developed for the species; the recovery plan for the 
species; articles in peer-reviewed journals; conservation plans 
developed by States and counties; scientific status surveys and 
studies; biological assessments; other unpublished materials; or 
experts' opinions or personal knowledge.
    Habitat is dynamic, and species may move from one area to another 
over time. We recognize that critical habitat designated at a 
particular point in time may not include all of the habitat areas that 
we may later determine are necessary for the recovery of the species. 
For these reasons, a critical habitat designation does not signal that 
habitat outside the designated area is unimportant or may not be needed 
for recovery of the species. Areas that are important to the 
conservation of the species, both inside and outside the critical 
habitat designation, will continue to be subject to: (1) Conservation 
actions implemented under section 7(a)(1) of the Act; (2) regulatory 
protections afforded by the requirement in section 7(a)(2) of the Act 
for Federal agencies to ensure their actions are not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened 
species; and (3) the Act's prohibitions on taking any individual of the 
species, including taking caused by actions that affect habitat. 
Federally funded or permitted projects affecting listed species outside 
their designated critical habitat areas may still result in jeopardy 
findings in some cases. These protections and conservation tools will 
continue to contribute to recovery of this species. Similarly, critical 
habitat designations made on the basis of the best available 
information at the time of designation will not control the direction 
and substance of future recovery plans, habitat conservation plans 
(HCPs), or other species conservation planning efforts, if new 
information available at the time of these planning efforts calls for a 
different outcome.

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 shall designate critical 
habitat at the time the species is determined to be an endangered or 
threatened species. Our regulations (50 CFR 424.12(a)(1)) state that 
the Secretary may, but is not required to, determine that a designation 
would not be prudent in the following circumstances:
    (i) The species is threatened by taking or other human activity and 
identification of critical habitat can be expected to increase the 
degree of such threat to the species;
    (ii) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of a species' habitat or range is not a threat to the 
species, or threats to the species' habitat stem solely from causes 
that cannot be addressed through management actions resulting from 
consultations under section 7(a)(2) of the Act;
    (iii) Areas within the jurisdiction of the United States provide no 
more than negligible conservation value, if any, for a species 
occurring primarily outside the jurisdiction of the United States;
    (iv) No areas meet the definition of critical habitat; or
    (v) The Secretary otherwise determines that designation of critical 
habitat would not be prudent based on the best scientific data 
available.
Beardless Chinchweed
    We did not identify any of the factors above to apply to the 
beardless chinchweed. Therefore, we find designation of critical 
habitat is prudent for the species.
Bartram's Stonecrop
    As described above, there is currently an imminent threat of take 
attributed to collection or vandalism identified under Factor B for 
this species, and identification and mapping of critical habitat is 
expected to increase such threat because when we designate critical 
habitat, we publish detailed maps and descriptions of species' 
occurrences in the Federal Register, which in this case, could make 
this species more vulnerable to the threats identified under Factor B. 
Because we have determined that the designation of critical habitat 
will likely increase the degree of threat to the species, we find that 
designation of critical habitat is not prudent for Bartram's stonecrop.

Critical Habitat Determinability for Beardless Chinchweed

    Having determined that designation is prudent for beardless 
chinchweed, 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) Data sufficient to perform required analyses are lacking, or
    (ii) The biological needs of the species are not sufficiently well 
known to identify any area that meets the definition of ``critical 
habitat.''
    When critical habitat is not determinable, the Act allows the 
Service an additional year to publish a critical habitat designation 
(16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(6)(C)(ii)).
    We reviewed the available information pertaining to the biological 
needs of the species and habitat characteristics where this species is 
located. This and other information represent the best scientific data 
available and led us to conclude that the designation of critical 
habitat is determinable for beardless chinchweed.

Physical or Biological Features for Beardless Chinchweed

    In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at 
50 CFR 424.12(b), in determining which areas within the geographical 
area occupied by the species at the time of listing to designate as 
critical habitat, we consider the physical or biological features that 
are essential to the conservation of the species and which may require 
special management considerations or protection. For example, physical 
features might include gravel of a particular size required for 
spawning, alkali soil for seed germination, protective cover for 
migration, or susceptibility to flooding or fire that maintains 
necessary early-successional habitat characteristics. Biological 
features might include prey species,

[[Page 67089]]

forage grasses, specific kinds or ages of trees for roosting or 
nesting, symbiotic fungi, or a particular level of nonnative species 
consistent with conservation needs of the listed species. The features 
may also be combinations of habitat characteristics and may encompass 
the relationship between characteristics or the necessary amount of a 
characteristic needed to support the life history of the species. In 
considering whether features are essential to the conservation of the 
species, the Service may consider an appropriate quality, quantity, and 
spatial and temporal arrangement of habitat characteristics in the 
context of the life-history needs, condition, and status of the 
species. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, space 
for individual and population growth and for normal behavior; food, 
water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or physiological 
requirements; cover or shelter; sites for breeding, reproduction, or 
rearing (or development) of offspring; and habitats that are protected 
from disturbance.
Summary of Essential Physical or Biological Features
    We derive the specific physical or biological features essential to 
the conservation of beardless chinchweed from studies of this species' 
habitat, ecology, and life history, as described below. We have 
determined that the following physical or biological features are 
essential to the conservation of beardless chinchweed:
    (1) Native-dominated plant communities, consisting of:
    (a) Plains, great basin, and semi-desert grasslands, oak savanna, 
or Madrean evergreen woodland;
    (b) Communities dominated by bunchgrasses with open spacing 
(adjacent to and within 10 m (33 ft) of individual beardless 
chinchweed) and with little competition from other plants; and
    (c) Communities with plants for pollinator foraging and nesting 
within 1 km (0.62 mi) of beardless chinchweed populations.
    (2) 1,158 to 1,737 m (3,799 to 5,699 ft) elevation.
    (3) Eroding limestone or granite bedrock substrate.
    (4) Steep, south-facing, sunny to partially shaded hillslopes.
    (5) The presence of pollinators (i.e., flies, bees, and 
butterflies).
    Space for individual and population growth is needed for beardless 
chinchweed, including sites for germination, pollination, reproduction, 
pollen and seed dispersal, and seed banks in the form of open, native-
dominated desert grasslands, oak savannas, and oak woodlands at 1,158 
to 1,737 m (3,799 to 5,699 ft) in elevation (SEINet, entire). In 
addition, plants need space on steep, south-facing, sunny to partially 
shaded hillslopes, with eroding bedrock and open areas with little 
competition from other plants. Native-dominated habitats have diverse 
assemblages of vegetation, each with different-shaped and -sized canopy 
and root system, which creates heterogeneity of form, height, and 
patchiness and provides openness. Beardless chinchweed is presumed to 
be a poor competitor due to its preference for this open habitat and 
inability to find the species under dense vegetation conditions. 
Pollination is necessary for effective fertilization, out-crossing, and 
seed production in beardless chinchweed. Beardless chinchweed, like 
other yellow-flowered composites, is most likely pollinated by bees, 
flies, and butterflies. Many bees and butterflies can travel a distance 
of 1 km (0.62 mi); consequently, adequate space for pollinators is 
needed around beardless chinchweed populations to support pollinators 
and, therefore, cross-pollination within and among populations and 
subpopulations. In addition, open space is needed in the form of 
seedbanks for population growth. Further, beardless chinchweed 
populations need space with soil moisture and nutrients for individual 
and population growth.
    Beardless chinchweed needs multiple populations distributed across 
its range that are large enough to withstand stochastic events, and 
connectivity to reestablish extirpated populations. Species that are 
widely-distributed are considered less susceptible to extinction and 
more likely to be viable than species confined to small ranges (Carroll 
et al. 2010, entire). Historically, there were 21 populations across 
seven mountain ranges. Nine populations (and one subpopulation) have 
been extirpated in the United States, and all populations are 
extirpated from the Patagonia Mountains in the United States. This 
leaves six populations across four mountains ranges covering an 
occupied area of about 2 ha (5 ac) in the United States and six small 
populations in Mexico. Further, two mountain ranges only have one 
population each with fewer than 50 individuals. In addition, the other 
two mountain ranges have only two populations each, both with fewer 
than 50 individuals each. The current distribution of this species does 
not represent its historical geographical distribution. Additional 
populations are needed to increase the redundancy of the species to 
secure the species from catastrophic events like wildfire and nonnative 
grass encroachment. Increased representation in the form of ecological 
environments are needed to secure the species against environmental 
changes like increase temperatures, increase drought, and increased 
evapotranspiration. Specifically, populations at higher altitudes are 
likely needed to secure the species viability.
    All populations need protection from wildfires of high severity and 
of greater frequency than was known historically and from nonnative 
grass encroachment. Further, all populations need protection from 
stressors related to one or more of the following activities: 
Recreation, road and trail maintenance, grazing, trampling, and mining. 
As discussed above, these stressors are currently, or will in the near 
future, impact all populations. Protection is needed from these 
stressors to ensure the conservation of the species.
    The minimum viable population size for this species is unknown. 
General conservation biology indicates that at least 500 individual are 
needed for a minimum viable population. Currently, 11 of the 12 
populations have fewer than 50 individuals. In Arizona, there are 
currently 387 individual beardless chinchweed spread across less than 2 
ha (5 ac) within six extant populations spread across the four mountain 
ranges. Space, in the form of habitat described above, is needed for an 
increase in the number of populations and the number of individuals per 
population.
    Specific details about the physical or biological features 
essential to this species are described above in the background section 
and in the SSA report (Service 2018a).

Special Management Considerations or Protection for Beardless 
Chinchweed

    When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the specific 
areas within the geographical area occupied by the species at the time 
of listing contain features which are essential to the conservation of 
the species and which may require special management considerations or 
protection. The features essential to the conservation of this species 
may require special management considerations or protection to reduce 
the following stressors: Altered fire regime, nonnative grass 
encroachment, grazing, erosion, and burial (see Table 11 below). 
Special management considerations or protection are required within 
critical habitat areas to address these stressors. Management 
activities that could

[[Page 67090]]

ameliorate these stressors include (but are not limited to): Prescribed 
fire, fire breaks, reduction of nonnative grasses, promotion or 
introduction of native forbs and grasses, clean equipment, exclosure 
fences, and protection from erosion and burial. These management 
activities will protect the physical or biological features for the 
species by reducing or avoiding the encroachment or expansion of 
nonnative grass species, promoting native vegetation, and preventing 
the succession of vegetation such that open space and sun exposure are 
reduced or eliminated.

                             Table 11--Features That May Require Special Management
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Special management or
Features that may  require special  Stressors to features     protection to address      Features protected by
             management                                             stressor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Native-dominated plant communities  Altered fire regime;   Fire breaks around          Avoidance of encroachment
                                     nonnative grasses;     populations; prescribed     of nonnatives from
                                     grazing; road and      fires; reduction of         wildfires and drought;
                                     trail maintenance.     nonnative grasses; clean    promotion of native
                                                            equipment to limit the      species through natural
                                                            spread of nonnatives;       fire regime; avoidance
                                                            promotion or introduction   of introducing nonnative
                                                            of native forbs and         species.
                                                            grasses.
Plants for pollinators............  Altered fire regime;   Fire breaks around          Avoidance of encroachment
                                     nonnative grasses.     populations; prescribed     of nonnatives from
                                                            fires; reduction of         wildfires and drought;
                                                            nonnative grasses;          promotion of native
                                                            promotion or introduction   species through natural
                                                            of native forbs and         fire regime; avoidance
                                                            grasses.                    of introducing nonnative
                                                                                        species.
Open, sunny sites.................  Altered fire regime;   Prescribed fires;           Elimination or reduction
                                     nonnative grasses.     reduction of nonnative      of the loss of open
                                                            grasses; promotion or       space and sun exposure.
                                                            introduction of native
                                                            forbs and grasses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat for Beardless Chinchweed

    As required by section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we use the best 
scientific data available to designate critical habitat. Sources of 
data for this species include multiple databases maintained by the 
Arizona Natural Heritage Program, existing endangered species reports, 
and interviews with species experts. We have also reviewed available 
information that pertains to the habitat requirements of this species.
    In accordance with the Act and our implementing regulations at 50 
CFR 424.12(b), we review available information pertaining to the 
habitat requirements of the species and identify specific areas within 
the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing 
and any specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the 
species to be considered for designation as critical habitat. We are 
proposing to designate critical habitat in areas within the 
geographical area currently occupied by the species (i.e., at the time 
of proposed listing). We also are proposing to designate specific areas 
outside the geographical area currently occupied by the species that 
were historically occupied, but are presently unoccupied, because we 
have determined that a designation limited to occupied areas would be 
inadequate to ensure the conservation of the species.
    The current distribution of beardless chinchweed is reduced from 
its historical distribution to a level where it is in danger of 
extinction. We anticipate that recovery will require continued 
protection of existing populations and habitat, as well as 
reestablishment of populations at a subset of previously occupied 
habitats throughout the species' historical range in the United States. 
Reestablishment of additional populations will help to ensure that 
catastrophic events, such as wildfire, cannot simultaneously affect all 
known populations. We have determined that it is reasonably certain 
that the unoccupied areas will contribute to the conservation of the 
species and contain one or more of the physical or biological features 
that are essential to the conservation of the species.
Areas Occupied at the Time of Listing
    The proposed critical habitat designation does not include all 
populations known to have been occupied by the species historically; 
instead, it includes all currently occupied areas within the historical 
range that have retained the necessary physical or biological features 
that will allow for the maintenance and expansion of these existing 
populations. The following populations meet the definition of areas 
occupied by the species at the time of listing: McCleary Canyon, 
Audubon Research Ranch, Scotia Canyon, Coronado National Memorial, and 
Ruby Road.
Areas Outside of the Geographic Range at the Time of Listing
    Pena Blanca Lake, Summit Motorway, Copper Mountain, Lampshire Well, 
Harshaw Creek, Flux Canyon, Washington Camp, Box Canyon, and Joe's 
Canyon are within the historical range of beardless chinchweed, but are 
not within the geographic range currently occupied by the species. We 
consider these sites to be extirpated. For areas not occupied by the 
species at the time of listing, we must demonstrate that these areas 
are essential to the conservation of the species in order to include 
them in our critical habitat designation. To determine if these areas 
are essential for the conservation of beardless chinchweed, we 
considered the life history, status, and conservation needs of the 
species such as: (1) The importance of the site to the overall status 
of the species to prevent extinction and contribute to future recovery 
of beardless chinchweed; (2) whether the area could be restored to 
support beardless chinchweed; (3) whether the site provides 
connectivity between occupied sites for genetic exchange; and (4) 
whether a population of the species could be reestablished in the area.
    Of the unoccupied areas, Lampshire Well, Harshaw Creek, and 
Washington Camp on U.S. Forest Service lands contain a mixture of 
native and nonnative grasses that could be restored to native 
conditions, thus making them suitable for reestablishment of the 
species, and they are important to the overall status of the species. 
The reestablishment of the Washington Camp population would reintroduce 
the species into the Patagonia Mountains, where currently it is 
extirpated. The reestablishment of beardless chinchweed into the 
Patagonia Mountains would restore the historical range of the species 
in terms of occupied mountain ranges. This area would provide key 
representation and redundancy needed for conservation of

[[Page 67091]]

the species. Further, the addition of two reestablished populations in 
the Canelo Hills would increase the redundancy of the species in this 
area and reduce the chance that a catastrophic event would eliminate 
all populations in this area. Currently, there is only one population 
with 37 individuals in the Canelo Hills.
    Of the remaining historical populations in the United States, Pena 
Blanca Lake, Summit Motorway, Copper Mountain, Box Canyon, Joe's 
Canyon, and Flux Canyon are heavily infested with nonnative grasses to 
an extent where restoration of native vegetation is not likely 
feasible. Reestablishment of the species to these historical sites is 
not likely to be successful and, therefore, not likely to contribute to 
the recovery of the species. Therefore, these remaining historical 
sites are not included in the proposed designation of critical habitat.
    In summary, for areas within the geographic area occupied by the 
species at the time of listing (i.e., currently occupied), we 
delineated critical habitat unit boundaries by evaluating the habitat 
suitability of areas within the geographic area occupied at the time of 
listing, and retaining those units that contain some or all of the 
physical or biological features to support life-history functions 
essential for conservation of the species.
    For areas outside the geographic area occupied by the species at 
the time of listing, we delineated critical habitat unit boundaries by 
evaluating areas not known to have been occupied at listing (i.e., that 
are not currently occupied) but that are within the historical range of 
the species to determine if they are essential to the survival and 
recovery of the species. Essential areas are those that: (1) Serve to 
extend an occupied unit; and (2) expand the geographic distribution 
within areas not occupied at the time of listing across the historical 
range of the species.
    We conclude that the areas we are proposing for critical habitat 
provide for the conservation of beardless chinchweed because they 
include habitat for all extant populations and include habitat for 
connectivity and dispersal opportunities within units. Such 
opportunities for dispersal assist in maintaining the population 
structure and distribution of the species. In addition, the unoccupied 
units each contain one or more of the physical or biological features 
and are likely to provide for the conservation of the species. Each of 
the unoccupied areas are on lands managed by the Coronado National 
Forest. The Forest Plan for the Coronado contains several important 
guidelines that would contribute to the conservation of beardless 
chinchweed including control of nonnative vegetation, promotion of 
native grasses, and protections for species listed under the Endangered 
Species Act (USDA Forest Service 2018). Designation of critical habitat 
would facilitate the application of this guidance where it would do the 
most good for the beardless chinchweed.
    As a final step, we evaluated occupied units and refined the area 
by evaluating the presence or absence of appropriate physical or 
biological features. We selected the boundary of a unit to include 1 km 
(0.62 mi) of foraging and reproductive habitat for pollinators that are 
necessary for beardless chinchweed. We then mapped critical habitat 
units using ArcMap version 10 (Environmental Systems Research 
Institute, Inc.), a geographic information systems (GIS) program.
    The areas we are proposing for designation as critical habitat 
provide sufficient habitat for recruitment, pollinators, seed bank, and 
seed dispersal. In general, the physical or biological features of 
critical habitat are contained within 1 km (0.62 mi) of beardless 
chinchweed plants within the population.
    When determining proposed critical habitat boundaries, we made 
every effort to avoid including developed areas such as lands covered 
by buildings, pavement, and other structures because such lands lack 
the physical or biological features necessary for beardless chinchweed. 
The scale of the maps we prepared under the parameters for publication 
within the Code of Federal Regulations may not reflect the exclusion of 
such developed lands. Any such lands inadvertently left inside critical 
habitat boundaries shown on the maps of this proposed rule have been 
excluded by text in the proposed rule and are not proposed for 
designation as critical habitat. Therefore, if the critical habitat is 
made final as proposed, a Federal action involving these lands would 
not trigger section 7 consultation with respect to critical habitat and 
the requirement of no adverse modification unless the specific action 
would affect the physical or biological features in the adjacent 
critical habitat.
    We are proposing for designation as critical habitat lands that we 
have determined are occupied at the time of listing (i.e., currently 
occupied) and contain one or more of the physical or biological 
features that are essential to support life-history processes of the 
species. We have determined that occupied areas are inadequate to 
ensure the conservation of the species. Therefore, we have also 
identified, and are proposing for designation of critical habitat, 
unoccupied areas that are essential for the conservation of the 
species.
    Units are proposed for designation based on one or more of the 
physical or biological features being present to support beardless 
chinchweed life-history processes. Some units contain all of the 
identified physical or biological features and support multiple life-
history processes. Some units contain only some of the physical or 
biological features necessary to support beardless chinchweed' 
particular use of that habitat.
    The critical habitat designation is defined by the map, as modified 
by any accompanying regulatory text, presented at the end of this 
document under Proposed Regulation Promulgation. We include more 
detailed information on the boundaries of the critical habitat 
designation in the preamble of this document. We will make the 
coordinates or plot points or both on which the map is based available 
to the public on http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-
2018-0104, on our internet site at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Docs_Species.htm, and at the field office responsible for the 
designation (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above).

Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for Beardless Chinchweed

    We are proposing to designate approximately 10,604 ac (4,291 ha) in 
eight units as critical habitat for beardless chinchweed. The critical 
habitat areas we describe below constitute our current best assessment 
of areas that meet the definition of critical habitat for beardless 
chinchweed. The eight units we propose as critical habitat are listed 
in Table 12.

                 Table 12--Proposed Critical Habitat Units and Occupancy of Beardless Chinchweed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Occupied at the time of                            Size of unit in acres
        Critical habitat unit                  listing                 Ownership                (hectares)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1--McCleary Canyon...................  Yes....................  Forest Service.........  1,686 ac (682 ha).

[[Page 67092]]

 
2--Audubon Research Ranch............  Yes....................  Bureau of Land           1,170 ac (474 ha) BLM;
                                                                 Management (BLM),        817 ac (331 ha) Forest
                                                                 Forest Service,          Service; 300 ac (121
                                                                 Private (Audubon         ha) private.
                                                                 Research Ranch).
3--Scotia Canyon.....................  Yes....................  Forest Service.........  855 ac (346 ha).
4--Coronado National Memorial........  Yes....................  National Park Service..  2,109 ac (853 ha).
5--Lampshire Well....................  No.....................  Forest Service.........  939 ac (380 ha).
6--Harshaw Creek.....................  No.....................  Forest Service.........  1,013 ac (410 ha).
7--Washington Camp...................  No.....................  Forest Service.........  939 ac (380 ha).
8--Ruby Road.........................  Yes....................  Forest Service.........  776 ac (314 ha).
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total............................  .......................  .......................  10,604 ac (4,291 ha).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Area sizes may not sum due to rounding.

    We present brief descriptions of all units, and reasons why they 
meet the definition of critical habitat for beardless chinchweed, 
below.
Unit 1: McCleary Canyon
    The McCleary Canyon unit occurs in the northeastern portion of the 
Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County, Arizona, and is managed by the 
U.S. Forest Service. This unit is 1,686 ac (682 ha) in size and is 
currently occupied. The unit contains two extant populations: Gunsight 
Pass and Wasp Canyon. Each population within the McCleary Canyon unit 
supports 32 individual beardless chinchweed plants. The proposed 
Rosemont Copper Mine occurs in this unit, and there is ongoing and 
historical mining activity throughout the Santa Rita Mountains. This 
unit also receives significant recreational pressure and livestock 
grazing. The Gunsight Pass population is one of the few populations 
within the range of beardless chinchweed where native grass species 
dominate the site. The Wasp Canyon population has a mixture of native 
and nonnative grass species. The McCleary Canyon unit provides at least 
one of the following essential physical and biological features needed 
for this species: Appropriate native plant communities (despite the 
presence of some nonnative species), elevation, substrates, and slope 
aspect. The physical and biological features in this unit may require 
special management considerations including reduction in nonnative 
grass presence, promotion of native forbs and grasses, removal of 
livestock between April and October, and the creation of exclosures. 
This unit includes habitat for species already listed under the Act, 
including the jaguar (Panthera onca); ocelot (Leopardus (=Felis) 
pardalis); Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida); yellow-
billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus); and Chiricahua leopard frog 
(Lithobates chiricahuensis). This proposed unit would overlap with 
designated critical habitat for jaguar.
Unit 2: Audubon Research Ranch
    The Audubon Research Ranch unit occurs in the northern portion of 
the Canelo Hills in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, and is managed by the 
Audubon Society and some plants occur on the Coronado National Forest. 
This unit is 2,287 ac (926 ha) in size and is currently occupied. The 
O'Donnell Canyon population is currently extant but there was one 
additional population, Post Canyon that occurred here historically. The 
Audubon Research Ranch unit supports 37 individual beardless chinchweed 
plants and is dominated by native grass species. The Audubon Research 
Ranch unit provides the physical and biological features in this unit 
may require special management considerations, including reduction in 
nonnative grass presence, promotion of native forbs and grasses. This 
unit includes habitat for species already listed under the Act: Jaguar, 
ocelot, Mexican spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard 
frog, Gila chub (Gila intermedia), northern Mexican gartersnake 
(Thamnophis eques megalops), and Huachuca water-umbel (Lilaeopsis 
schaffneriana var. recurva). In addition, this unit includes designated 
critical habitat for Chiricahua leopard frog, Gila chub, and Huachuca 
water-umbel, and proposed critical habitat for northern Mexican 
gartersnake.
Unit 3: Scotia Canyon
    The Scotia Canyon unit occurs on the western slopes of the Huachuca 
Mountains in Cochise County, Arizona, and is managed by the U.S. Forest 
Service. This unit is 855 ac (346 ha) in size and is currently occupied 
by beardless chinchweed. There is one extant population that is 
estimated to contain 100 individual beardless chinchweed plants. This 
unit has been impacted by historical mining, grazing, and wildfire. 
High recreational use also occurs in this unit. The Scotia Canyon unit 
is one of the few sites within the range of beardless chinchweed where 
native grass species dominate the site. The Scotia Canyon unit provides 
at least one of the following essential physical and biological 
features needed for this species: Appropriate native plant communities, 
elevation, substrates, and slope aspect. The physical and biological 
features in this unit may require special management considerations, 
including reduction in nonnative grass presence, promotion of native 
forbs and grasses, reduction in road maintenance activity, removal of 
livestock between April and October, and the creation of exclosures. 
This unit includes habitat for species already listed under the Act: 
Jaguar, ocelot, Mexican spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo, Chiricahua 
leopard frog, northern Mexican gartersnake, and Huachuca water-umbel. 
In addition, this unit includes designated critical habitat for jaguar 
and Huachuca water-umbel, and proposed critical habitat for northern 
Mexican gartersnake.
Unit 4: Coronado National Memorial
    The Coronado National Memorial unit occurs in the southern portion 
of the Huachuca Mountains in Cochise County, Arizona, and is managed by 
the National Park Service. This unit is 2,109 ac (853 ha) in size and 
is occupied. The unit contains two extant subpopulations: The visitor's 
center and the State of Texas mine. The area around the visitor's 
center supports approximately 180 individual beardless chinchweed 
plants. Another 61 plants have been documented in the vicinity of the 
State of Texas mine. Additionally, the historical subpopulation, Joe's 
Canyon Trail, occurs within this unit and is not currently occupied. 
This unit supports a high level of recreational use,

[[Page 67093]]

historical mining use, and ongoing impacts from wildfire. Portions of 
the Coronado National Memorial unit are dominated by native grass 
species, while other areas are a mixture of native and nonnative 
grasses. The Coronado National Memorial unit provides at least one of 
the following essential physical and biological features needed for 
this species: Appropriate native plant communities (although there is a 
nonnative presence), elevation, substrates, and slope aspect. The 
physical and biological features in this unit may require special 
management considerations, including reduction in nonnative grass 
presence and promotion of native forbs and grasses. This unit includes 
habitat for species already listed under the Act: Jaguar, ocelot, 
Mexican spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard frog, 
northern Mexican gartersnake, and Huachuca water-umbel. In addition, 
this unit includes designated critical habitat for jaguar and Mexican 
spotted owl.
Unit 5: Lampshire Well
    The Lampshire Well unit occurs in the Canelo Hills in Santa Cruz 
County, Arizona, and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This unit 
is 939 ac (380 ha) in size and is currently unoccupied. Historically, 
beardless chinchweed populations occurred on this unit. This unit is 
characterized by communities of mixed native and nonnative grasses, and 
is subject to border activities (foot traffic and increased fire 
ignition) and wildfire. This unit includes habitat for species already 
listed under the Act: Jaguar, ocelot, Mexican spotted owl, yellow-
billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard frog, northern Mexican gartersnake, 
Huachuca water-umbel, and Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes 
delitescens). In addition, this unit includes designated critical 
habitat for jaguar and proposed critical habitat northern Mexican 
gartersnake.
    Although it is considered unoccupied, this unit contains all of the 
physical or biological features essential for the conservation of the 
species. This unit consists of a mix of native and nonnative grasses, 
with scattered Quercus and Juniperus, at an elevation of 1,646 m (5,400 
ft), on granitic substrate with steep slopes facing the southwest. 
There are areas in this unit with more native grasses than nonnative 
grasses. This unit is in Federal ownership managed by the U.S. Forest 
Service. The U.S. Forest Service is committed to managing for the 
recovery of listed species, reducing nonnative invasive species, and 
managing fuel loads to reduce potential for high intensity wildfire 
(USDA Forest Service 2018). The Lampshire Well unit is essential to the 
conservation of the species because it provides for habitat and 
population restoration opportunities, as well as provides habitat 
connectivity for beardless chinchweed and its pollinators. Recovery of 
this species will require new and expanded populations, and this unit 
provides for this needed recovery habitat that will contribute to the 
species' resiliency (larger and more populations), redundancy (more 
populations across the range), and representation (opportunities for 
increased genetic and environmental variation). We have determined that 
this unoccupied unit contains one or more of the physical or biological 
features that are essential to the conservation of the species and that 
it is reasonably certain that it will contribute to the conservation of 
the species.
Unit 6: Harshaw Creek
    The Harshaw Creek unit occurs in the Canelo Hills in Santa Cruz 
County, Arizona, and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This unit 
is 1,013 ac (410 ha) in size and is currently unoccupied. Historically, 
beardless chinchweed populations occurred on this unit. This unit is 
characterized by communities of mixed native and nonnative grasses, and 
is subject to border activities and wildfire. This unit includes 
habitat for species already listed under the Act: Jaguar, ocelot, 
Mexican spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard frog, 
northern Mexican gartersnake, Huachuca water-umbel, and Canelo Hills 
ladies'-tresses. In addition, this unit includes designated critical 
habitat for jaguar and proposed critical habitat for northern Mexican 
gartersnake.
    Although it is considered unoccupied, portions of this unit contain 
all of the physical or biological features essential for the 
conservation of the species. This unit consists of a mix of native and 
nonnative grasses, with scattered Quercus and Juniperus, at an 
elevation of 1,494 m (4,900 ft), on granitic, rocky substrate with 
steep slopes facing the southwest. There are areas in this unit with 
more native grasses than nonnative grasses. This unit is in Federal 
ownership managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The U.S. Forest Service 
is committed to managing for the recovery of listed species, reducing 
nonnative invasive species, and managing fuel loads to reduce potential 
for high intensity wildfire (USDA Forest Service 2018). The Harshaw 
Creek unit is essential to the conservation of the species because it 
provides for habitat and population restoration opportunities, as well 
as provides habitat connectivity for beardless chinchweed and its 
pollinators. Recovery of this species will require new and expanded 
populations, and this unit provides for this needed recovery habitat 
that will contribute to the species' resiliency (larger and more 
populations), redundancy (more populations across the range), and 
representation (opportunities for increased genetic and environmental 
variation). We have determined that this unoccupied unit contains one 
or more of the physical or biological features that are essential to 
the conservation of the species and that it is reasonably certain that 
it will contribute to the conservation of the species.
Unit 7: Washington Camp
    The Washington Camp unit occurs in the northeastern portion of the 
Patagonia Mountains in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, and is managed by 
the U.S. Forest Service. This unit is 939 ac (380 ha) in size and is 
currently unoccupied. This unit is the location of a number of proposed 
mining activities and is also subject to border activities, recreation, 
and wildfire. This unit is characterized by a mixture of native and 
nonnative grass species. This unit includes habitat for species already 
listed under the Act: Jaguar, ocelot, Mexican spotted owl, yellow-
billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard frog, and northern Mexican 
gartersnake. In addition, this unit includes designated critical 
habitat for jaguar and Mexican spotted owl, and proposed critical 
habitat for northern Mexican gartersnake.
    Although it is considered unoccupied, portions of this unit contain 
all of the physical or biological features essential for the 
conservation of the species. This unit consists of a mix of native and 
nonnative grasses, with scattered Quercus and Juniperus, at an 
elevation of 1,646 m (5,400 ft), on granitic substrate with steep 
slopes facing the southwest. There are areas in this unit with more 
native grasses than nonnative grasses. This unit is in Federal 
ownership managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The U.S. Forest Service 
is committed to managing for the recovery of listed species, reducing 
nonnative invasive species, and managing fuel loads to reduce potential 
for high intensity wildfire (USDA Forest Service 2018). The Washington 
Camp unit is essential to the conservation of the species because it 
provides for habitat and population restoration opportunities, as well 
as provides habitat connectivity for beardless chinchweed and its 
pollinators.

[[Page 67094]]

Recovery of this species will require new and expanded populations, and 
this unit provides for this needed recovery habitat that will 
contribute to the species' resiliency (larger and more populations), 
redundancy (more populations across the range), and representation 
(opportunities for increased genetic and environmental variation). We 
have determined that this unoccupied unit contains one or more of the 
physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation 
of the species and that it is reasonably certain that it will 
contribute to the conservation of the species.
Unit 8: Ruby Road
    The Ruby Road unit occurs in the Atascosa-Pajarito Mountains in 
Santa Cruz County, Arizona, and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. 
This unit is 776 ac (314 ha) in size and is currently occupied. There 
is one extant population, Ruby Road, within this unit that supports 
approximately 10 individual beardless chinchweed plants. Despite the 
fact that nonnative grasses dominate this unit, beardless chinchweed is 
able to overcome this competition by occurring in areas along a 
roadside that is regularly maintained, which removes much of the 
nonnative grass cover. This unit is subject to past mining activities, 
border activities, recreation, grazing, and wildfire. The Ruby Road 
unit currently provides at least one of the following essential 
physical and biological features needed for this species: Appropriate 
native plant communities (although there is a nonnative presence), 
elevation, substrates, and slope aspect. The physical and biological 
features in this unit may require special management considerations, 
including reduction in nonnative grass presence, promotion of native 
forbs and grasses, reduction in road maintenance activity, removal of 
livestock between April and October, and creation of exclosures. This 
unit includes habitat for species already listed under the Act: Jaguar, 
ocelot, Mexican spotted owl, yellow-billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard 
frog, and northern Mexican gartersnake. In addition, this unit includes 
designated critical habitat for critical habitat for jaguar, Mexican 
spotted owl, and Chiricahua leopard frog.

Effects of Critical Habitat Designation

Section 7 Consultation
    Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies, including the 
Service, to ensure that any action they fund, authorize, or carry out 
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered 
species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of designated critical habitat of such species. In 
addition, section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to 
confer with the Service on any agency action which is likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of any species proposed to be listed 
under the Act or result in the destruction or adverse modification of 
proposed critical habitat.
    We published a final regulation with a revised definition of 
destruction or adverse modification on August 27, 2019 (84 FR 44976). 
Destruction or adverse modification means a direct or indirect 
alteration that appreciably diminishes the value of critical habitat as 
a whole for the conservation of a listed species.
    If a Federal action may affect a listed species or its critical 
habitat, the responsible Federal agency (action agency) must enter into 
consultation with us. Examples of actions that are subject to the 
section 7 consultation process are actions on State, tribal, local, or 
private lands that require a Federal permit (such as a permit from the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or a permit from the Service under section 10 
of the Act) or that involve some other Federal action (such as funding 
from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation 
Administration, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency). Federal 
actions not affecting listed species or critical habitat, and actions 
on State, tribal, local, or private lands that are not federally 
funded, authorized, or carried out by a Federal agency, do not require 
section 7 consultation.
    Compliance with the requirements of section 7(a)(2) is documented 
through our issuance of:
    (1) A concurrence letter for Federal actions that may affect, but 
are not likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat; 
or
    (2) A biological opinion for Federal actions that may affect, and 
are likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat.
    When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species and/or 
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat, we provide reasonable and 
prudent alternatives to the project, if any are identifiable, that 
would avoid the likelihood of jeopardy and/or destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat. We define ``reasonable and prudent 
alternatives'' (at 50 CFR 402.02) as alternative actions identified 
during consultation that:
    (1) Can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended 
purpose of the action,
    (2) Can be implemented consistent with the scope of the Federal 
agency's legal authority and jurisdiction,
    (3) Are economically and technologically feasible, and
    (4) Would, in the Service Director's opinion, avoid the likelihood 
of jeopardizing the continued existence of the listed species and/or 
avoid the likelihood of destroying or adversely modifying critical 
habitat.
    Reasonable and prudent alternatives can vary from slight project 
modifications to extensive redesign or relocation of the project. Costs 
associated with implementing a reasonable and prudent alternative are 
similarly variable.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require Federal agencies to reinitiate 
formal consultation on previously reviewed actions. These requirements 
apply when the Federal agency has retained discretionary involvement or 
control over the action (or the agency's discretionary involvement or 
control is authorized by law) and, subsequent to the previous 
consultation, we have listed a new species or designated critical 
habitat that may be affected by the Federal action, or the action has 
been modified in a manner that affects the species or critical habitat 
in a way not considered in the previous consultation. In such 
situations, Federal agencies sometimes may need to request reinitiation 
of consultation with us, but the regulations also specify some 
exceptions to the requirement to reinitiate consultation on specific 
land management plans after subsequently listing a new species or 
designating new critical habitat. See the regulations for a description 
of those exceptions.
Application of the ``Adverse Modification'' Standard
    The key factor related to the destruction or adverse modification 
determination is whether implementation of the proposed Federal action 
directly or indirectly alters the designated critical habitat in a way 
that appreciably diminishes the value of the critical habitat as a 
whole for the conservation of the listed species. As discussed above, 
the role of critical habitat is to support physical or biological 
features essential to the conservation of a listed species and provide 
for the conservation of the species.
    Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us to briefly evaluate and 
describe, in any

[[Page 67095]]

proposed or final regulation that designates critical habitat, 
activities involving a Federal action that may violate 7(a)(2) of the 
Act by destroying or adversely modifying such designation.
    Activities that the Services may, during a consultation under 
section 7(a)(2) of the Act, find are likely to destroy or adversely 
modify critical habitat include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Actions that would remove native bunchgrass communities. Such 
activities could include, but are not limited to, livestock grazing; 
fire management; trails construction and maintenance; infrastructure 
and road construction and maintenance; recreation management; minerals 
extraction and restoration; visitor use and management; and 
construction and maintenance of border roads, fences, barriers, and 
towers. These activities could eliminate or reduce open habitat 
necessary for growth, seed production, seedbank, and pollinators of 
beardless chinchweed.
    (2) Actions that would result in the introduction, spread, or 
augmentation of nonnative grass species. Such activities could include, 
but are not limited to, livestock grazing; fire management; trails 
construction and maintenance; infrastructure and road construction and 
maintenance; recreation management; minerals extraction and 
restoration; visitor use and management; and construction and 
maintenance of border roads, fences, barriers, and towers. These 
activities could increase the amount of nonnative grasses or introduce 
nonnative grasses, which eliminate or reduce open habitat necessary for 
growth, seed production, seedbank, and pollinators of beardless 
chinchweed.
    (3) Actions that would promote high-severity wildfires. Such 
activities could include, but are not limited to, recreation and 
encouraging the encroachment of nonnative grasses. These activities 
could eliminate or reduce open habitat necessary for growth, seed 
production, seedbank, and pollinators of beardless chinchweed.

Exemptions

Application of Section 4(a)(3) of the Act
    Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)(i)) 
provides that: ``The Secretary shall not designate as critical habitat 
any lands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by the 
Department of Defense, or designated for its use, that are subject to 
an integrated natural resources management plan [INRMP] prepared under 
section 101 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if the Secretary 
determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit to the species 
for which critical habitat is proposed for designation.'' There are no 
Department of Defense lands within the proposed critical habitat 
designation.

Consideration of Impacts Under Section 4(b)(2) of the Act

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary shall 
designate and make revisions to critical habitat on the basis of the 
best available scientific data after taking into consideration the 
economic impact, national security impact, and any other relevant 
impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. The 
Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat if he determines 
that the benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying 
such area as part of the critical habitat, unless he determines, based 
on the best scientific data available, that the failure to designate 
such area as critical habitat will result in the extinction of the 
species. In making that determination, the statute on its face, as well 
as the legislative history, are clear that the Secretary has broad 
discretion regarding which factor(s) to use and how much weight to give 
to any factor. At this time, we are not proposing any exclusions from 
critical habitat.

Consideration of Economic Impacts

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act and its implementing regulations require 
that we consider the economic impact that may result from a designation 
of critical habitat. To assess the probable economic impacts of a 
designation, we must first evaluate specific land uses or activities 
and projects that may occur in the area of the critical habitat. We 
then must evaluate the impacts that a specific critical habitat 
designation may have on restricting or modifying specific land uses or 
activities for the benefit of the species and its habitat within the 
areas proposed. We then identify which conservation efforts may be the 
result of the species being listed under the Act versus those 
attributed solely to the designation of critical habitat for this 
particular species. The probable economic impact of a proposed critical 
habitat designation is analyzed by comparing scenarios both ``with 
critical habitat'' and ``without critical habitat.'' The ``without 
critical habitat'' scenario represents the baseline for the analysis, 
which includes the existing regulatory and socio-economic burden 
imposed on landowners, managers, or other resource users potentially 
affected by the designation of critical habitat (e.g., under the 
Federal listing as well as other Federal, State, and local 
regulations). The baseline, therefore, represents the costs of all 
efforts attributable to the listing of the species under the Act (i.e., 
conservation of the species and its habitat incurred regardless of 
whether critical habitat is designated). The ``with critical habitat'' 
scenario describes the incremental impacts associated specifically with 
the designation of critical habitat for the species. The incremental 
conservation efforts and associated impacts would not be expected 
without the designation of critical habitat for the species. In other 
words, the incremental costs are those attributable solely to the 
designation of critical habitat, above and beyond the baseline costs. 
These are the costs we use when evaluating the benefits of inclusion 
and exclusion of particular areas from the final designation of 
critical habitat should we choose to conduct a discretionary section 
4(b)(2) exclusion analysis.
    For this particular designation, we developed an incremental 
effects memorandum (IEM) considering the probable incremental economic 
impacts that may result from this proposed designation of critical 
habitat. The information contained in our IEM was then used to develop 
a screening analysis of the probable effects of the designation of 
critical habitat for beardless chinchweed (IEc 2018, entire). We began 
by conducting a screening analysis of the proposed designation of 
critical habitat in order to focus our analysis on the key factors that 
are likely to result in incremental economic impacts. The purpose of 
the screening analysis is to filter out the geographic areas in which 
the critical habitat designation is unlikely to result in probable 
incremental economic impacts. In particular, the screening analysis 
considers baseline costs (i.e., absent critical habitat designation) 
and includes probable economic impacts where land and water use may be 
subject to conservation plans, land management plans, best management 
practices, or regulations that protect the habitat area as a result of 
the Federal listing status of the species. The screening analysis 
filters out particular areas of critical habitat that are already 
subject to such protections and are, therefore, unlikely to incur 
incremental economic impacts. Ultimately, the screening analysis allows 
us to focus our analysis on evaluating the specific areas or sectors 
that may incur probable incremental economic impacts as a result of the 
designation. The screening analysis also assesses whether units are 
unoccupied by the species and may

[[Page 67096]]

require additional management or conservation efforts as a result of 
the critical habitat designation for the species that may incur 
incremental economic impacts. This screening analysis, combined with 
the information contained in our IEM, is what we consider our draft 
economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation for 
beardless chinchweed and is summarized in the narrative below.
    Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563 direct Federal agencies to 
assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives in 
quantitative (to the extent feasible) and qualitative terms. Consistent 
with the E.O. regulatory analysis requirements, our effects analysis 
under the Act may take into consideration impacts to both directly and 
indirectly affected entities, where practicable and reasonable. If 
sufficient data are available, we assess to the extent practicable the 
probable impacts to both directly and indirectly affected entities.
    As part of our screening analysis, we considered the types of 
economic activities that are likely to occur within the areas likely 
affected by the critical habitat designation. In our evaluation of the 
probable incremental economic impacts that may result from the proposed 
designation of critical habitat for beardless chinchweed, first we 
identified, in the IEM dated August 28, 2018 (Service 2018, entire), 
probable incremental economic impacts associated with the following 
categories of activities: (1) Federal lands management (National Park 
Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management); (2) grazing 
(U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management); (3) wild and 
prescribed fire (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of 
Land Management); (4) groundwater pumping (U.S. Forest Service); (5) 
mining (U.S. Forest Service); (6) fuels management (National Park 
Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management); (7) 
transportation (road construction and maintenance; National Park 
Service, U.S. Forest Service); and (8) trampling and dust creation from 
recreation and border protection activities (U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service). We considered 
each industry or category individually. Additionally, we considered 
whether their activities have any Federal involvement. Critical habitat 
designation generally will not affect activities that do not have any 
Federal involvement; under the Act, the designation of critical habitat 
only affects activities conducted, funded, permitted, or authorized by 
Federal agencies. In areas where beardless chinchweed is present, 
Federal agencies already are required to consult with the Service under 
section 7 of the Act on activities they fund, permit, or implement that 
may affect the species. If we finalize this proposed critical habitat 
designation, consultations to avoid the destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat would be incorporated into the 
existing consultation process.
    In our IEM, we clarified the distinction between the effects that 
would result from the species being listed and those attributable to 
the critical habitat designation (i.e., difference between the jeopardy 
and adverse modification standards) for beardless chinchweed critical 
habitat. For species where the designation of critical habitat is 
proposed concurrently with the listing, like beardless chinchweed, it 
has been our experience that it is more difficult to discern which 
conservation efforts are attributable to the species being listed and 
those which would result solely from the designation of critical 
habitat. However, the following specific circumstances in this case 
help to inform our evaluation: (1) The essential physical or biological 
features identified for critical habitat are the same features 
essential for the life requisites of the species, and (2) any actions 
that would result in sufficient harm or harassment to constitute 
jeopardy to beardless chinchweed would also likely adversely affect the 
essential physical or biological features of critical habitat. The IEM 
outlines our rationale concerning this limited distinction between 
baseline conservation efforts and incremental impacts of the 
designation of critical habitat for this species. This evaluation of 
the incremental effects has been used as the basis to evaluate the 
probable incremental economic impacts of this proposed designation of 
critical habitat.
    The proposed critical habitat designation for beardless chinchweed 
totals approximately 7,713 ac (3,121 ha, or 73 percent of the total 
proposed critical habitat designation) of currently occupied habitat 
and 2,891 ac (1,170 ha, or 27 percent of the total proposed critical 
habitat designation) of unoccupied habitat (see Table 12, above). Every 
unit of proposed critical habitat for beardless chinchweed overlaps 
with the ranges of a number of currently listed species and designated 
critical habitats. Therefore, the actual number of section 7 
consultations is not expected to increase; however, the analysis within 
these consultations would expand to consider effects to critical 
habitat for the bearded chinchweed. Consequently, there would likely be 
a small increase in the time needed to complete the consultation to 
include the assessment of beardless chinchweed critical habitat units 
(IEc 2018, entire). Section 7 consultations involving third parties 
(State, Tribal, or private lands) are limited.
    Based on the locations of the proposed critical habitat units and 
the types of projects we typically evaluate for the Coronado National 
Forest and the Coronado National Memorial, we estimate that there would 
likely be 4 to 6 consultations annually that would include beardless 
chinchweed. The entities that would incur incremental costs are Federal 
agencies, because 97 percent of critical habitat is on Federal land.
    In the 7,713 ac (3,121 ha) of occupied proposed critical habitat 
(Units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8), any actions that may affect the species or 
its habitat would also affect proposed designated critical habitat. 
Consequently, it is unlikely that any additional conservation efforts 
would be recommended to address the adverse modification standard over 
and above those recommended as necessary to avoid jeopardizing the 
continued existence of beardless chinchweed. Therefore, only 
administrative costs are expected in these occupied units. While this 
additional analysis will require time and resources by the Federal 
action agency, the Service, and third parties, it is believed that, in 
most circumstances, these costs would predominantly be administrative 
in nature and would not be significant (IEc 2018, entire). In these 
unoccupied areas, any conservation efforts or associated probable 
impacts would be considered incremental effects attributed to the 
critical habitat designation. In units occupied by the chinchweed, we 
assume the additional administrative cost to address chinchweed 
critical habitat in the consultation is minor, costing approximately 
$5,100 per consultation (2017 dollars). For the proposed critical 
habitat units that are currently occupied by beardless chinchweed 
(Units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8), we have not identified any ongoing or future 
projects or actions that would warrant additional recommendations or 
modifications to avoid adversely modifying critical habitat above those 
that we would recommend for avoiding jeopardy. Therefore, project 
modifications resulting from section 7 consultations in occupied units 
are unlikely to be affected by the designation of critical habitat.
    In unoccupied units, (units 5, 6, and 7) we assume the incremental 
administrative effort will be greater on

[[Page 67097]]

a per consultation basis. Thus, we assume an incremental per 
consultation administrative cost of $15,000 in unoccupied units (2017 
dollars).
    In unoccupied units, incremental project modifications are 
possible. No known projects are currently scheduled to occur within the 
areas proposed for designation; however, U.S. Forest Service staff 
suggests there is always a possibility of future projects related to 
grazing, transportation, mining, and recreation activities in this 
region. We discuss potential costs resulting from these activities 
below.
    There are grazing allotments that overlap with unoccupied critical 
habitat. However, only one allotment overlaps with unoccupied critical 
habitat by more than 5 percent of the allotment's land area and two 
allotments with less than 5 percent of unoccupied critical habitat. In 
unoccupied units, the Service suggests alterations in amount or timing 
of grazing activities are not required because the species is not 
present. However, U.S. Forest Service may undertake range improvements 
to reduce the loss of native plant communities (e.g., bunchgrass) in 
the unoccupied critical habitat overlapping with grazing allotment 
units. It estimates that range improvement projects in a given year may 
cost the agency from $1,000 to $250,000.
    During the improvement project, electric fencing (included in the 
U.S. Forest Service cost estimate) would be installed temporarily to 
exclude cattle. During this period, there could be a loss of forage, 
depending on the extent of overlap with existing grazing allotments, 
resulting in a temporary reduction in the number of animal unit months 
(AUMs; a measure of the amount of forage consumed by one cow and calf 
during one month) associated with the relevant allotment. The value of 
grazing permits associated with allotments on Federal land can be used 
to estimate the potential loss to ranchers during exclusion period. We 
estimated a range of potential costs related to grazing, based on two 
scenarios. In the low-end scenario, we assumed that AUM reductions 
would only occur in allotments where proposed critical habitat accounts 
for greater than 5 percent of the total allotment area. Otherwise, 
ranchers are likely to be able to implement changes in practices that 
avoid the need to reduce the amount of cattle grazed on the allotment, 
and thus they avoid costs associated with lost AUMs. In the high-end 
scenario, we assume that ranchers are unable to change practices, and 
the loss in AUMs is proportional to the amount of overlap between 
proposed critical habitat and the relevant allotment.
    To identify the allotments overlapping proposed unoccupied units 
and the number of AUMs permitted in each allotment, data was obtained 
from U.S. Forest Service. That data was then used to calculate 
potential AUM reduction for each allotment unit overlapping with 
unoccupied critical habitat. Only one allotment (San Rafael) overlaps 
with unoccupied critical habitat by more than 5 percent of the 
allotment's land area. In this allotment, a temporary reduction of 402 
AUMs is possible. For the remaining allotments, we assume no impact on 
permitted AUMs in the low-end scenario. In the high-end scenario, a 
temporary reduction of 747 AUMs is possible if all of the unoccupied 
units are fenced to exclude cattle during range improvement efforts.
    The cost of reducing AUMs from occupied critical habitat during 
range improvement activities is unlikely to exceed $41,000 in the low-
end scenario or $76,000 in the high-end scenario (2017 dollars). 
Impacts associated with reduced AUMs could be greatest in Unit 7 
($27,000), followed by Unit 6 ($25,000) and Unit 5 ($24,000). These 
estimates represent perpetuity values, thus the single year loss would 
be a fraction of this amount.
    Other activities that could overlap with unoccupied critical 
habitat include mining, and road and trail construction. To avoid 
adverse effects to critical habitat, U.S. Forest Service might 
recommend moving these projects, if feasible, to avoid the proposed 
units. This could result in the need to construct additional linear 
miles of road. If projects can easily be moved to other areas, U.S. 
Forest Service estimates total, on-time costs to the agency, as well as 
the project proponents, in the range of $0 to $500,000. Where avoidance 
of critical habitat is prohibitively expensive, U.S. Forest Service 
states that it would instead recommend monitoring and subsequent 
treatment for the introduction or spread of invasive plants due to 
project activities. The costs to U.S. Forest Service and project 
proponents of these activities might range from $1,000 to $500,000. For 
projects that result in a significant amount of vegetation that would 
not regrow in a timely manner (e.g., 2 years), U.S. Forest Service 
might require more all-inclusive restoration, reclamation, and 
revegetation of the disturbed project footprints. In these cases, costs 
to U.S. Forest Service and project proponents might range from $10,000 
to $1,000,000.
    The Service estimates a total of four to six consultations are 
likely to occur in a given year in areas proposed for designation. As a 
conservative estimate (i.e., more likely to overestimate than 
underestimate costs), we assume that six consultations will occur and 
all of the consultations will be formal. The total administrative cost 
of these consultations is estimated to be $48,000 (IEc 2018, p. 16), 
including costs to the Service, the Federal action agency, and third 
parties. Incremental project modifications resulting solely from the 
designation of critical habitat are unlikely in occupied critical 
habitat. In unoccupied units, which are all managed by the U.S. Forest 
Service, projects associated with grazing, mining, road or trail 
construction and maintenance, and range improvements are possible. The 
costs per project, including costs to the U.S. Forest Service and 
State, local, or private project proponents, might range from $0 
(simply moving a project to avoid critical habitat where the overlap 
between the project and critical habitat is minor) to $1,000,000 
(projects that result in a significant amount of surface disturbance, 
such as a new mining proposal in an unoccupied unit); however, it is 
very difficult to accurately predict these potential costs as often 
they are significantly reduced through the section 7 consultation 
process. Assuming that no more than six consultations, and therefore 
projects, are likely in a given year, the section 7 impacts of the 
proposed regulation are unlikely to exceed $10 million in a given year 
(IEc 2018, p. 16). However, as stated above, no known projects are 
currently scheduled to occur within the unoccupied areas proposed for 
designation, thus these estimated impacts are meant to capture a 
conservative high-end estimate of potential impacts. Therefore, our 
economic screening analysis indicates the incremental costs associated 
with critical habitat are unlikely to exceed $100 million in any single 
year, and, therefore, would not be significant.
    As we stated earlier, we are soliciting data and comments from the 
public on the draft economic analysis, as well as all aspects of the 
proposed rule. We may revise the proposed rule or supporting documents 
to incorporate or address information we receive during the public 
comment period. In particular, we may exclude an area from critical 
habitat if we determine that the benefits of excluding the area 
outweigh the benefits of including the area, provided the exclusion 
will not result in the extinction of this species.

[[Page 67098]]

Exclusions

Exclusions Based on Economic Impacts
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we consider the economic impacts 
of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. In order to 
consider economic impacts, we prepared an analysis of the probable 
economic impacts of the proposed critical habitat designation and 
related factors. The following land use sectors potentially occur in 
one or more of the proposed critical habitat units for beardless 
chinchweed: Border protection, conservation/restoration, fire 
management, forest management, grazing, mining, recreation, and 
transportation (road and trail construction and maintenance). The 
majority of proposed critical habitat units are on federally owned or 
managed lands.
    During the development of a final designation, we will consider any 
additional economic impact information we receive through the public 
comment period, and as such areas may be excluded from the final 
critical habitat designation under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and our 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.19.
Exclusions Based on National Security Impacts
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we consider whether there are 
lands where a national security impact might exist. In preparing this 
proposal, we have determined that the lands within the proposed 
designation of critical habitat for beardless chinchweed are not owned 
or managed by the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland 
Security. In addition, we did not find any potential national security 
impacts resulting from this proposed designation; therefore, we 
anticipate no impact on national security. However, during the 
development of a final designation, we will consider any additional 
information on any potential national security impacts we receive 
through the public comment period, and as such areas may be excluded 
from the final critical habitat designation under section 4(b)(2) of 
the Act and our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.19.
Exclusions Based on Other Relevant Impacts
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we consider any other relevant 
impacts, in addition to economic impacts and impacts on national 
security. We consider a number of factors, including whether there are 
permitted conservation plans covering the species in the area such as 
HCPs, safe harbor agreements, or candidate conservation agreements with 
assurances, or whether there are non-permitted conservation agreements 
and partnerships that would be encouraged by designation of, or 
exclusion from, critical habitat. In addition, we look at the existence 
of tribal conservation plans and partnerships and consider the 
government-to-government relationship of the United States with tribal 
entities. We also consider any social impacts that might occur because 
of the designation. In preparing this proposal, we have determined that 
there are currently no HCPs or other management plans for beardless 
chinchweed, and the proposed designation does not include any tribal 
lands or trust resources. We anticipate no impact on tribal lands, 
partnerships, or HCPs from this proposed critical habitat designation. 
During the development of a final designation, we will consider any 
additional information on any impacts to tribal resources, 
partnerships, or conservation plans that we receive through the public 
comment period, and as such areas may be excluded from the final 
critical habitat designation under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and our 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.19.

IV. 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 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 Act. We published a notice outlining our 
reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 
1983 (48 FR 49244).
    It is our position that, outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court 
of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, we do not need to prepare 
environmental analyses pursuant to NEPA in connection with designating 
critical habitat under the Act. We published a notice outlining our 
reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 
1983 (48 FR 49244). This position was upheld by the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495 
(9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied 516 U.S. 1042 (1996)). Because neither 
species occurs within the jurisdiction of the Tenth Circuit, we are not 
preparing any additional NEPA analysis.
Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes
    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994 
(Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments; 59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and 
Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments), and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with recognized Federal 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with 
Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997 (American Indian Tribal Rights, 
Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act), 
we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work directly with 
tribes in developing programs for healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge 
that tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as Federal 
public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to make 
information available to tribes.
    We are not aware of any tribally owned lands that are currently 
occupied by beardless chinchweed or Bartram's stonecrop or that are 
unoccupied lands that are essential to the conservation of beardless 
chinchweed. Therefore, we are not proposing to designate critical 
habitat for beardless chinchweed on tribal lands. While there are no 
tribally owned lands within the proposed designation of critical 
habitat, certain lands proposed for designation may include areas that 
are culturally

[[Page 67099]]

significant to the Tohono O'odam Tribe. We have sought government-to-
government consultation (government-to-government consultation, not 
section 7 consultation) with the tribe during the development of the 
SSA report and this proposed rule. This may result in the modification 
of some actions to conserve and protect areas of cultural significance. 
On October 23, 2017, we sent a letter to the Tohono O'odam Tribe 
requesting information, explaining the SSA process, describing the 
upcoming rulemaking, and inviting the Tribe to participate in the SSA 
process. To date, we have not received a response from the Tohono 
O'odam Tribe. Upon publication of the proposed rule, we will notify the 
Tohono O'odam Tribe of its availability.
Executive Order 13771
    We do not believe this proposed rule is an E.O. 13771 (``Reducing 
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs'') (82 FR 9339, February 3, 
2017) regulatory action because we believe this rule is not significant 
under E.O. 12866; however, the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs has waived their review regarding their E.O. 12866 significance 
determination of this proposed rule.
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
    Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review all significant rules. The Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs has waived their review regarding 
their significance determination of this proposed rule.
    Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while 
calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote 
predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most 
innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends. 
The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches 
that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for 
the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and 
consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further 
that regulations must be based on the best available science and that 
the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open 
exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent 
with these requirements.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), 
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 (SBREFA; 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), whenever an agency is required to 
publish a notice of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must 
prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the effects of the rule on small entities 
(i.e., small businesses, small organizations, and small government 
jurisdictions). However, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required 
if the head of the agency certifies the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The SBREFA amended the RFA to require Federal agencies to provide a 
certification statement of the factual basis for certifying that the 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    According to the Small Business Administration, small entities 
include small organizations such as independent nonprofit 
organizations; small governmental jurisdictions, including school 
boards and city and town governments that serve fewer than 50,000 
residents; and small businesses (13 CFR 121.201). Small businesses 
include manufacturing and mining concerns with fewer than 500 
employees, wholesale trade entities with fewer than 100 employees, 
retail and service businesses with less than $5 million in annual 
sales, general and heavy construction businesses with less than $27.5 
million in annual business, special trade contractors doing less than 
$11.5 million in annual business, and agricultural businesses with 
annual sales less than $750,000. To determine if potential economic 
impacts to these small entities are significant, we considered the 
types of activities that might trigger regulatory impacts under this 
designation as well as types of project modifications that may result. 
In general, the term ``significant economic impact'' is meant to apply 
to a typical small business firm's business operations.
    The Service's current understanding of the requirements under the 
RFA, as amended, and following recent court decisions, is that Federal 
agencies are only required to evaluate the potential incremental 
impacts of rulemaking on those entities directly regulated by the 
rulemaking itself, and, therefore, are not required to evaluate the 
potential impacts to indirectly regulated entities. The regulatory 
mechanism through which critical habitat protections are realized is 
section 7 of the Act, which requires Federal agencies, in consultation 
with the Service, to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or 
carried out by the agency is not likely to destroy or adversely modify 
critical habitat. Therefore, under section 7, only Federal action 
agencies are directly subject to the specific regulatory requirement 
(avoiding destruction and adverse modification) that would be imposed 
by critical habitat designation. Consequently, it is our position that 
only Federal action agencies would be directly regulated by this 
designation. There is no requirement under the RFA to evaluate the 
potential impacts to entities not directly regulated. Moreover, Federal 
agencies are not small entities. Therefore, because no small entities 
would be directly regulated by this rulemaking, the Service certifies 
that, if adopted, the proposed critical habitat designation will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    In summary, we have considered whether the proposed designation 
would result in a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities. For the above reasons and based on currently 
available information, we certify that, if adopted, the proposed 
critical habitat designation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small business entities. Therefore, 
an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use--Executive Order 13211
    Executive Order 13211 (Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use) requires 
agencies to prepare statements of energy effects when undertaking 
certain actions. In our draft economic analysis, we did not find that 
the designation of this proposed critical habitat would significantly 
affect energy supplies, distribution, or use due to the absence of any 
energy supply or distribution lines in the proposed critical habitat 
designation. Therefore, this action is not a significant energy action, 
and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)
    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.), we make the following findings:
    (1) This rule would not produce a Federal mandate. In general, a 
Federal mandate is a provision in legislation,

[[Page 67100]]

statute, or regulation that would impose an enforceable duty upon 
State, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector, and 
includes both ``Federal intergovernmental mandates'' and ``Federal 
private sector mandates.'' These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-
(7). ``Federal intergovernmental mandate'' includes a regulation that 
``would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or tribal 
governments'' with two exceptions. It excludes ``a condition of Federal 
assistance.'' It also excludes ``a duty arising from participation in a 
voluntary Federal program,'' unless the regulation ``relates to a then-
existing Federal program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided 
annually to State, local, and tribal governments under entitlement 
authority,'' if the provision would ``increase the stringency of 
conditions of assistance'' or ``place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, 
the Federal Government's responsibility to provide funding,'' and the 
State, local, or tribal governments ``lack authority'' to adjust 
accordingly. At the time of enactment, these entitlement programs were: 
Medicaid; Aid to Families with Dependent Children work programs; Child 
Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social Services Block Grants; Vocational 
Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and 
Independent Living; Family Support Welfare Services; and Child Support 
Enforcement. ``Federal private sector mandate'' includes a regulation 
that ``would impose an enforceable duty upon the private sector, except 
(i) a condition of Federal assistance or (ii) a duty arising from 
participation in a voluntary Federal program.''
    The designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally 
binding duty on non-Federal Government entities or private parties. 
Under the Act, the only regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must 
ensure that their actions do not destroy or adversely modify critical 
habitat under section 7. While non-Federal entities that receive 
Federal funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require 
approval or authorization from a Federal agency for an action, may be 
indirectly impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally 
binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat rests squarely on the Federal agency. Furthermore, to the 
extent that non-Federal entities are indirectly impacted because they 
receive Federal assistance or participate in a voluntary Federal aid 
program, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would not apply, nor would 
critical habitat shift the costs of the large entitlement programs 
listed above onto State governments.
    (2) We do not believe that this rule would significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments because the lands proposed for 
critical habitat designation are primarily Federal lands, with a small 
amount of private land; small governments would be affected only to the 
extent that any programs having Federal funds, permits, or other 
authorized activities must ensure that their actions would not 
adversely affect the designated critical habitat. The designation of 
critical habitat imposes no obligations on State or local governments. 
Therefore, a Small Government Agency Plan is not required.
Takings--Executive Order 12630
    In accordance with E.O. 12630 (Government Actions and Interference 
with Constitutionally Protected Private Property Rights), we have 
analyzed the potential takings implications of designating critical 
habitat for beardless chinchweed in a takings implications assessment. 
The Act does not authorize the Service to regulate private actions on 
private lands or confiscate private property as a result of critical 
habitat designation. Designation of critical habitat does not affect 
land ownership, or establish any closures of, or restrictions on use of 
or access to, the designated areas. Furthermore, the designation of 
critical habitat does not affect landowner actions that do not require 
Federal funding or permits, nor does it preclude development of habitat 
conservation programs or issuance of incidental take permits to permit 
actions that do require Federal funding or permits to go forward. 
However, Federal agencies are prohibited from carrying out, funding, or 
authorizing actions that would destroy or adversely modify designated 
critical habitat. A takings implications assessment has been completed 
and concludes that this proposed designation of critical habitat for 
beardless chinchweed would not pose significant takings implications 
for lands within or affected by the designation.
Federalism--Executive Order 13132
    In accordance with E.O. 13132 (Federalism), this proposed rule does 
not have significant federalism effects. A federalism summary impact 
statement is not required. In keeping with Department of the Interior 
and Department of Commerce policy, we requested information from, and 
coordinated development of this proposed critical habitat designation 
with, appropriate State resource agencies in Arizona. From a federalism 
perspective, the designation of critical habitat directly affects only 
the responsibilities of Federal agencies. The Act imposes no other 
duties with respect to critical habitat, either for States and local 
governments, or for anyone else. As a result, the rule does not have 
substantial direct effects either on the States, or on the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution 
of powers and responsibilities among the various levels of government. 
The designation may have some benefit to these governments because the 
areas that contain the features essential to the conservation of the 
species are more clearly defined, and the physical or biological 
features of the habitat necessary to the conservation of the species 
are specifically identified. This information does not alter where and 
what federally sponsored activities may occur. However, it may assist 
these local governments in long-range planning (because these local 
governments no longer have to wait for case-by-case section 7 
consultations to occur).
    Where State and local governments require approval or authorization 
from a Federal agency for actions that may affect critical habitat, 
consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Act would be required. While 
non-Federal entities that receive Federal funding, assistance, or 
permits, or that otherwise require approval or authorization from a 
Federal agency for an action, may be indirectly impacted by the 
designation of critical habitat, the legally binding duty to avoid 
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat rests squarely 
on the Federal agency.
Civil Justice Reform--Executive Order 12988
    In accordance with Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform), 
the Office of the Solicitor has determined that the rule does not 
unduly burden the judicial system and that it meets the requirements of 
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Order. We have proposed designating 
critical habitat in accordance with the provisions of the Act. To 
assist the public in understanding the habitat needs of the species, 
this proposed rule identifies the elements of physical or biological 
features essential to the conservation of the species. The proposed 
areas of critical habitat are presented on a map, and the proposed rule 
provides several options for the interested public to obtain more 
detailed location information, if desired.

[[Page 67101]]

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
    This rule does not contain any new collections of information that 
require approval by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). An agency may 
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

References Cited

    A complete list of references cited in this rulemaking is available 
on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov and upon request from the 
Arizona Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this proposed rule are the staff members of 
the Arizona Ecological Services Field Office.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

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

V. 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(h), the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants, 
by adding entries for ``Graptopetalum bartramii'' and ``Pectis 
imberbis'' in alphabetical order under FLOWERING PLANTS to read as set 
forth below:


Sec.  17.12  Endangered and threatened plants.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Listing citations
         Scientific name              Common name        Where listed           Status          and applicable
                                                                                                     rules
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Flowering Plants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Graptopetalum bartramii.........  Bartram's           Wherever found....  T.................  [Federal Register
                                   stonecrop.                                                  citation when
                                                                                               published as a
                                                                                               final rule]
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Pectis imberbis.................  Beardless           Wherever found....  E.................  [Federal Register
                                   chinchweed.                                                 citation when
                                                                                               published as a
                                                                                               final rule]
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
3. Add Sec.  17.73 to read as follows:


Sec.  17.73  Special rules--flowering plants.

    (a) Graptopetalum bartramii (Bartram's stonecrop).
    (1) Prohibitions. The following prohibitions apply to Graptopetalum 
bartramii, except as provided under paragraph (a)(2) of this section:
    (i) Import or export. It is unlawful to import or to export any 
Graptopetalum bartramii. Any shipment in transit through the United 
States is an importation and an exportation, whether or not it has 
entered the country for customs purposes.
    (ii) Remove and reduce to possession. It is unlawful to remove and 
reduce to possession the species from areas under Federal jurisdiction; 
maliciously damage or destroy the species on any such area; or remove, 
cut, dig up, or damage or destroy the species on any other area in 
knowing violation of any law or regulation of any State or in the 
course of any violation of a State criminal trespass law.
    (iii) Interstate or foreign commerce. It is unlawful to deliver, 
receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce, 
by any means whatsoever, and in the course of a commercial activity, 
any Graptopetalum bartramii.
    (iv) Sale or offer for sale. (A) It is unlawful to sell or to offer 
for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any Graptopetalum bartramii.
    (B) An advertisement for the sale of any Graptopetalum bartramii 
which carries a warning to the effect that no sale may be consummated 
until a permit has been obtained from the Service, shall not be 
considered an offer for sale within the meaning of this paragraph.
    (v) It is unlawful to attempt to commit, solicit another to commit, 
or cause to be committed, any of the acts described in paragraph (a)(1) 
of this section.
    (2) Exceptions from prohibitions. The following exceptions from 
prohibitions apply to Graptopetalum bartramii:
    (i) A person may apply for a permit in accordance with 50 CFR 17.72 
that authorizes an activity otherwise prohibited by this paragraph for 
Graptopetalum bartramii.
    (ii)(A) Any employee or agent of the Service, any other Federal 
land management agency, or a State conservation agency, who is 
designated by that agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the 
course of official duties, remove and reduce to possession 
Graptopetalum bartramii from areas under Federal jurisdiction without a 
permit if such action is necessary to:
    (1) Care for a damaged or diseased specimen;
    (2) Dispose of a dead specimen; or
    (3) Salvage a dead specimen which may be useful for scientific 
study.
    (B) Any removal and reduction to possession pursuant to this 
paragraph must be reported in writing to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Division of Law Enforcement, P.O. Box 28006, Washington, DC 
20005, within 5 days. The specimen may only be retained, disposed of, 
or salvaged in accordance with written directions from the Service.
    (iii) Any qualified employee or agent of the Service or of a State 
conservation agency which is a party to a cooperative agreement with 
the Service in accordance with section 6(c) of the Act, who is 
designated by that agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the 
course of official duties, remove, cut, dig up, damage, or destroy 
Graptopetalum bartramii on areas under Federal jurisdiction.

[[Page 67102]]

    (b) [Reserved].
0
4. In Sec.  17.96, amend paragraph (a) by adding an entry for ``Pectis 
imberbis (beardless chinchweed),'' in alphabetical order under Family 
Asteraceae, to read as follows:


Sec.  17.96  Critical habitat--plants.

    (a) Flowering plants.
* * * * *
Family Asteraceae: Pectis imberbis (beardless chinchweed)
    (1) Critical habitat units are depicted for Cochise, Pima, and 
Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, on the map below.
    (2) Within these areas, the physical or biological features 
essential to the conservation of Pectis imberbis consist of the 
following components:
    (i) Native-dominated plant communities, consisting of:
    (A) Plains, great basin, and semi-desert grasslands, oak savanna, 
or Madrean evergreen woodland;
    (B) Communities dominated by bunchgrasses with open spacing 
(adjacent to and within 10 meters (33 feet) of individual Pectis 
imberbis plants) and with little competition from other plants; and
    (C) Communities with plants for pollinator foraging and nesting 
within 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) of Pectis imberbis populations.
    (ii) 1,158 to 1,737 meters (3,799 to 5,699 feet) elevation.
    (iii) Eroding limestone or granite bedrock substrate.
    (iv) Steep, south-facing, sunny to partially shaded hillslopes.
    (v) The presence of pollinators (i.e., flies, bees, and 
butterflies).
    (3) Critical habitat does not include manmade structures (such as 
buildings, aqueducts, runways, roads, and other paved areas) and the 
land on which they are located existing within the legal boundaries on 
the effective date of this rule.
    (4) Critical habitat map units. Data layers defining map units were 
created using ArcMap version 10 (Environmental Systems Research 
Institute, Inc.), a Geographic Information Systems program on a base of 
USA Topo Maps. Critical habitat units were then mapped using NAD 1983, 
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 12N coordinates. The map in 
this entry, as modified by any accompanying regulatory text, 
establishes the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. The 
coordinates or plot points or both on which the map is based are 
available to the public at the Service's internet site at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Docs_Species.htm, at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2018-0104, and at the field 
office responsible for this designation. You may obtain field office 
location information by contacting one of the Service regional offices, 
the addresses of which are listed at 50 CFR 2.2.
    (5) Unit 1: McCleary Canyon, Pima County, Arizona. Unit 1 consists 
of 682 hectares (1,686 acres) of U.S. Forest Service lands.
    (6) Unit 2: Audubon Research Ranch, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. 
Unit 2 consists of 926 hectares (2,287 acres) of land, of which 331 
hectares (817 acres) are owned by the U.S. Forest Service, 474 hectares 
(1,686 acres) by the Bureau of Land Management, and 121 hectares (300 
acres) by the Audubon Research Ranch.
    (7) Unit 3: Scotia Canyon, Cochise County, Arizona. Unit 3 consists 
of 346 hectares (855 acres) of U.S. Forest Service lands.
    (8) Unit 4: Coronado National Memorial, Cochise County, Arizona. 
Unit 4 consists of 853 hectares (2,109 acres) of National Park Service 
lands.
    (9) Unit 5: Lampshire Well, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Unit 5 
consists of 380 hectares (939 acres) of U.S. Forest Service lands.
    (10) Unit 6: Harshaw Creek, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Unit 6 
consists of 410 hectares (1,013 acres) of U.S. Forest Service lands.
    (11) Unit 7: Washington Camp, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Unit 7 
consists of 380 hectares (939 acres) of U.S. Forest Service lands.
    (12) Unit 8: Ruby Road, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Unit 8 consists 
of 314 hectares (776 acres) of U.S. Forest Service lands.
    (13) Map of Units 1 through 8 follows:

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* * * * *

    Dated: November 26, 2019
Margaret E. Everson
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising 
the Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26210 Filed 12-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P