[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 96 (Monday, May 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29689-29691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10630]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


National Wetland Plant List

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), as part of an 
interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is 
announcing the availability of the final 2018 National Wetland Plant 
List (NWPL). The NWPL provides plant species indicator status ratings, 
which are used in determining whether the hydrophytic vegetation factor 
is met when conducting wetland delineations under the Clean Water Act 
and wetland determinations under the Wetland Conservation Provisions of 
the Food Security Act. Other applications of the NWPL include wetland 
restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects. The list will 
become effective on May 18, 2020 and will be used in any wetland 
delineations performed after this date. Delineations completed prior to 
this date may still use the 2016 NWPL. Completed wetland delineation/
determination forms should reference the version of the NWPL used to 
complete the form.

DATES: The 2018 NWPL will become effective on May 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CO-R, 441 G Street 
NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brianne McGuffie, Headquarters, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Regulatory Community of 
Practice, Washington, DC 20314-1000, by phone at 202-761-4750 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) administers the National 
Wetland Plant List (NWPL) for the United States (U.S.) and its 
territories. Responsibility for the NWPL was transferred to the Corps 
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 2006. The NWPL has 
undergone several revisions since its inception in 1988. Additions or 
deletions to the NWPL represent new records, range extensions, 
nomenclatural and taxonomic changes, and newly proposed species. The 
latest review process began in 2018 and included review by Regional 
Panels (RPs), the National Panel (NP), and the public, who provided 
input on changes to the wetland indicator status of 20 species and 37 
individual ratings. The proposed indicator changes were announced in a 
Federal Register Notice, 84 FR 26824, June 10, 2019, with the comment 
period ending on August 9, 2019. Two comments were received during that 
time.

Wetland Indicator Status Ratings

    On the NWPL, there are five categories of wetland indicator status 
ratings, used to indicate a plant's likelihood for occurrence in 
wetlands versus non-wetlands: Obligate Wetland (OBL), Facultative 
Wetland (FACW), Facultative (FAC), Facultative Upland (FACU), and 
Upland (UPL). These rating categories are defined by the NP as follows: 
OBL--almost always occur in wetlands; FACW -- usually occur in 
wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands; FAC--occur in wetlands and 
non-wetlands; FACU--usually occur in non-wetlands, but may occur in 
wetlands; UPL--almost always occur in non-wetlands. These category 
definitions are qualitative descriptions that better reflect the 
qualitative supporting information, rather than numeric frequency 
ranges. The percentage frequency categories used in the older 
definitions are only used for testing problematic or contested species 
being recommended for indicator status changes. Plus and minus 
designations and wetland indicator designations such as No Indicator 
(NI), No Occurrence (NO), and No Agreement (NA) were removed in 2012 
and are no longer used on the NWPL. More information on the specifics 
of how to use these ratings is available on the NWPL website at http://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/.
    The NWPL is utilized in conducting wetland determinations under the 
authority of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) and 
wetland delineations under the authority of Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act 
of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). For the purposes of determining how 
often a species occurs in wetlands, wetlands are defined as either (1) 
those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water 
at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal 
circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted 
for life in saturated soil conditions (33 CFR 328.3) or (2) ``except 
when such term is part of the term `converted wetland,' means land that 
has a predominance of hydric soils; is inundated or saturated by 
surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to 
support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for 
life in saturated soil conditions; and under normal circumstances does 
support a prevalence of such vegetation.'' (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)(27) and 7 
CFR 12.2). Wetlands are identified using the three-factor approach. 
Because each species being evaluated occurs as part of a vegetation 
assemblage, examining the other species present in relation to their 
assigned wetland fidelity may be useful in assessing hydrophytic 
vegetation.

Discussion of Public Comments

    For the 2018 NWPL update, the NWPL NP and RPs reviewed proposed 
wetland rating changes or additions for 20 species and 37 regional 
ratings (some species were reviewed for multiple regions) submitted by 
the general public. Eight of these species were proposed for addition 
to the NWPL, and 12 species were submitted for a rating change request 
in one or more regions. Submitted information was reviewed by the NP 
and RPs, and proposed 2018 ratings for these species were determined. 
Along with soliciting information on the species being evaluated, we 
also solicited comments on the overall NWPL process. This information 
was detailed in the Federal Register Notice, 84 FR 26824, June 10, 2019 
and is provided in the table below.
    In response to the initial Federal Register notice, two comments 
were received, each relating to a particular species: One recommending 
Epilobium brachycarpum to be FACU in the Arid West and one recommending 
Hymenocallis occidentalis to be ``OBL, or FACW at a minimum'' in the 
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain and Great Plains. These recommendations 
were reviewed by the NWPL Regional Panels and National Panel, along 
with literature, specimen collection data, and professional experience 
and final ratings determined: FAC for Epilobium

[[Page 29690]]

brachycarpum (as originally proposed) and FACW for Hymenocallis 
occidentalis (FACW in the Great Plains and OBL in the Atlantic and Gulf 
Coastal Plain on the 2016 NWPL). Received comments, responses to those 
comments, and final ratings are detailed in the decision document. 
Three species were removed from this update. Bassia hyssopifolia and 
Pycnanthemum muticum were removed because in both cases, the requested 
indicator for the requested region, FACU in the Arid West and FAC in 
the Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, respectively, was already the 
existing indicator on the 2016 NWPL. Pleopeltis polypodioides is an 
epiphyte and upon additional review of its epiphytic nature and the 
position of epiphytes on the NWPL (Lichvar and Fertig 2011), it was 
determined that it should be removed from the NWPL.

                                      Species Reviewed for NWPL 2018 Update
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                                                                             Proposed 2018     Final 2018  NWPL
             Species                    Region         2016 NWPL  rating      NWPL rating           rating
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Aristida palustris..............  AGCP..............  NOL *.............  FACW..............  FACW.
Artemisia dracunculus...........  AW................  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Artemisia dracunculus...........  WMVC..............  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Bromus nottowayanus.............  MW................  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Bromus nottowayanus.............  NCNE..............  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Delairea odorata................  AW................  NOL...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Delairea odorata................  WMVC..............  NOL...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Dichanthelium wrightianum.......  AGCP..............  NOL...............  FACW..............  FACW.
Epilobium brachycarpum..........  AW................  NOL...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Epilobium brachycarpum..........  WMVC..............  NOL...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Hymenocallis latifolia..........  AGCP..............  FACW..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Hymenocallis latifolia..........  CB................  FACW..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Hymenocallis occidentalis.......  AGCP..............  OBL...............  FAC...............  FACW.
Hymenocallis occidentalis.......  EMP...............  OBL...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Hymenocallis occidentalis.......  GP................  FACW..............  FAC...............  FACW.
Hymenocallis occidentalis.......  MW................  OBL...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Ilex opaca......................  AGCP..............  FAC...............  FAC...............  FAC.
Iva axillaris...................  AW................  FAC...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Iva axillaris...................  WMVC..............  FAC...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Liriodendron tulipifera.........  AGCP..............  FACU..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Liriodendron tulipifera.........  EMP...............  FACU..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Penstemon rydbergii.............  AW................  FACU..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Penstemon rydbergii.............  WMVC..............  FACU..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Polymnia canadensis.............  EMP...............  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Polymnia canadensis.............  MW................  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Polymnia canadensis.............  NCNE..............  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Quercus michauxii...............  AGCP..............  FACW..............  FACW..............  FACW.
Tussilago farfara...............  NCNE..............  FACU..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Verbena brasiliensis............  AGCP..............  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Verbena brasiliensis............  EMP...............  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Verbena brasiliensis............  MW................  NOL...............  FACU..............  FACU.
Verbena incompta................  AGCP..............  FACW..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Verbena incompta................  EMP...............  FACW..............  FACU..............  FACU.
Verbena incompta................  MW................  FAC...............  FACU..............  FACU.
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* NOL = ``Not On List'' and indicates proposed additions.

    The Corps believes we have adequately reviewed the comments and 
allowed for public and agency input for the proposal. Future updates to 
the NWPL will occur biennially. The public may provide input on future 
NWPL updates by utilizing the following procedures. A change in 
indicator status may be requested at any time at http://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/ by clicking on the ``Submit a NWPL Change 
Request'' link and submitting the appropriate data. Data includes 
ecological data, literature reviews, frequency and abundance data, 
testing descriptions, and geographic data for the taxon in wetlands and 
non-wetlands in the Corps wetland region or subregion for which the 
change is proposed.
    In accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2006 (2006 
MOA),\1\ the Corps, endorsed by the EPA, FWS and NRCS, is publishing 
final wetland indicator statuses for the 2018 NWPL. The final NWPL is 
available at http://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. State, regional, 
and national lists can also be downloaded from this site. This 
completes the review of the NWPL. All comments received have been 
evaluated and final indicator statuses have been set.
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    \1\ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service. (December 12, 2006). Memorandum of 
Agreement Among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 
and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the Purpose of 
Transferring Responsibility for Updating and Maintaining the 
National List of Vascular Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands.
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    Detailed information on the update process, protocol, and technical 
issues can be found in the following documents (available on the NWPL 
Publications web page):
     Lichvar, Robert W. and Minkin, Paul. Concepts and 
Procedures for Updating the National Wetland Plant List. Sept 2008. 
ERDC/CRREL TN-08-3. Hanover, NH: U.S. Army Engineer Research and 
Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
     Lichvar, Robert W. and Gillrich, Jennifer J. Final 
Protocol for Assigning Wetland Indicator Status Ratings during National 
Wetland Plant List Update. Sept 2011. ERDC/CRREL TN-11-1. Hanover, NH: 
U.S. Army Engineer

[[Page 29691]]

Research and Development Center, Cold Regions Research and Engineering 
Laboratory.
    Additional cited literature:

Lichvar R.W., N.C. Melvin, M.L. Butterwick, and W.N. Kirchner. 2012. 
National Wetland Plant List Indicator Rating Definitions. ERDC/CRREL 
TN-12-1. Hanover, NH: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development 
Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory
Lichvar R. and W. Fertig. Epiphytes and the National Wetland Plant 
List. Phytoneuron 2011-17:1-31

Environmental Documentation

    A decision document has been prepared for this action after all 
comments received were evaluated. The decision document is available 
through Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and 
Regulatory Community of Practice, 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 
20314-1000.

Authority

    The NWPL is utilized in conducting wetland determinations under the 
authority of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) and 
wetland delineations under the authority of Section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act 
of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). The Corps has responsibility for 
issuing this update pursuant to the 2006 MOA.

R.D. James,
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
[FR Doc. 2020-10630 Filed 5-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P