Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Texas Coastal Bend Shortgrass Prairie Multi-Species Recovery Plan: Including Slender Rush-Pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella) and South Texas Ambrosia (Ambrosia cheiranthifolia), 25299-25302 [2017-11305]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 104 / Thursday, June 1, 2017 / Notices
DATES:
Comments Due Date: July 3,
2017.
Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to
the proposal by name and/or OMB
Control Number and should be sent to:
HUD Desk Officer, Office of
Management and Budget, New
Executive Office Building, Washington,
DC 20503; fax: 202–395–5806, Email:
OIRA Submission@omb.eop.gov.
ADDRESSES:
Inez
C. Downs, Reports Management Officer,
QMAC, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20410; email Inez C.
Downs@hud.gov, or telephone 202–402–
8046. This is not a toll-free number.
Person with hearing or speech
impairments may access this number
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
through TTY by calling the toll-free
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Downs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
Section A.
The Federal Register notice that
solicited public comment on the
information collection for a period of 60
days was published on December 8,
2016 at 81 FR 88700.
A. Overview of Information Collection
Title of Information Collection:
American Healthy Homes Survey II.
OMB Approval Number: 2539—New.
Type of Request: New collection.
Form Number: None.
Number of
respondents
×
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: The
information collected through this
survey will be used to estimate existing
levels of key environmental
contaminants in the nation’s housing,
including lead levels in paint, dust, soil
and water, and mold and pesticide
levels in dust. Two procedures to
determine mold present in homes will
be compared. For the first time, data
will be collected to estimate
formaldehyde concentrations in indoor
air in a nationally representative sample
of homes. The survey is particularly
important for allowing the tracking of
progress in reducing the prevalence of
lead-based paint hazards in U.S.
housing. This is a collaboration between
HUD and EPA.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Annual
responses
Hours per
response
×
=
Burden hours
Initial Recruitment Only .............................................................
Initial Recruitment and Full Survey Participants Reporting
Burden ...................................................................................
764
1
0.25
191
600
1
3.75
2,250
Total ...................................................................................
........................
........................
........................
2,441
Total Estimated Burden Hours: 2,441.
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond: including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
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C. Authority: Section 3507 of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44
U.S.C. Chapter 35
Dated: May 23, 2017.
Inez C. Downs,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017–11397 Filed 5–31–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–ES–2017–N004;
FXES11130200000C2–112–FF02ENEH00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Draft Texas Coastal Bend
Shortgrass Prairie Multi-Species
Recovery Plan: Including Slender
Rush-Pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella)
and South Texas Ambrosia (Ambrosia
cheiranthifolia)
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our draft Texas Coastal
Bend Shortgrass Prairie Multi-Species
Recovery Plan that includes the slender
SUMMARY:
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rush-pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella) and
South Texas ambrosia (Ambrosia
cheiranthifolia). Both species are listed
as endangered under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
Slender rush-pea and South Texas
ambrosia are currently found in remnant
patches of shortgrass prairie within the
Texas Coastal Bend in Nueces and
Kleberg Counties, Texas. The draft
recovery plan includes specific recovery
objectives and criteria that, when
achieved, will enable us to remove both
species from the list of endangered and
threatened plants. We request review
and comment on this plan from local,
State, and Federal agencies; tribes; and
the public. We will also accept any new
information on the status of the slender
rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia
throughout their ranges to assist in
finalizing the recovery plan.
To ensure consideration, we
must receive written comments on or
before July 31, 2017. However, we will
accept information about any species at
any time.
DATES:
If you wish to review the
draft recovery plan, you may obtain a
copy by any one of the following
methods:
Internet: Download the file at
www.fws.gov/southwest/es/
ElectronicLibrary_Main.cfm.
ADDRESSES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 104 / Thursday, June 1, 2017 / Notices
Texas. Both species are geographically
restricted to open grasslands where they
occur in Nueces and Kleberg Counties,
Texas. Populations of both species grow
within the fine, calcareous clays
associated with Pleistocene deltas.
Primary threats stem from the present or
threatened destruction, modification,
and curtailment of habitat or range.
Specifically, habitat loss results from
conversion of native prairie to row
crops, improved pastures, residential
development, and commercial
development. Ongoing and significant
habitat degradation has resulted in the
encroachment of nonnative, invasive
pasture grasses; some localized
disturbance from management
techniques (mowing); and minimal
damage from herbicide drift incidents
onto highway right-of-ways (ROWs).
Drought conditions associated with
climate change may exacerbate these
impacts.
Background
Species History
Recovery of endangered or threatened
animals and plants to the point where
they are again secure, self-sustaining
members of their ecosystems is a
primary goal of our endangered species
program and the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.). Recovery means improvement of
the status of listed species to the point
at which listing is no longer appropriate
under the criteria set out in section
4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the
development of recovery plans for listed
species, unless such a plan would not
promote the conservation of a particular
species. The recovery plan discussed in
this notice is designed to recover (delist)
two endangered plants: The slender
rush-pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella) and
the South Texas ambrosia (Ambrosia
cheiranthifolia). The Service approved a
recovery plan for slender rush-pea in
1988 (Service 1988) but has not
previously published a recovery plan for
South Texas ambrosia. Therefore, this
plan will serve as an update for the 1988
recovery plan for the slender rush-pea
and the first recovery plan for the South
Texas ambrosia. This recovery plan uses
an ecosystem-based approach because
both species currently inhabit patches of
shortgrass prairie and primary threats
stem from the present destruction,
modification, and curtailment of habitat
or range.
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U.S. mail: Send a request to U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 17629 El Camino
Real Suite 211, Houston, TX 77058; or
Telephone: (281) 286–8282.
If you wish to comment on the draft
recovery plan, you may submit your
comments in writing by any one of the
following methods:
• U.S. mail: Project Leader, at the
above address;
• Hand-delivery: Texas Coastal
Ecological Services Office, at the above
address;
• Fax: (281) 488–5882; or
• Email: amber_miller@fws.gov.
For additional information about
submitting comments, see Request for
Public Comments, below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amber Miller, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above address and
phone number, or by email at amber_
miller@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Slender rush-pea
The slender rush-pea was federally
listed as endangered throughout its
range on November 1, 1985 (50 FR
45614). Critical habitat was not
designated at the time of listing due to
a potential increase in the vulnerability
of collection and vandalism pressures.
With a Recovery Priority Number of 2,
the Service recommended high-priority
activities to evaluate the best
management practices at existing sites
and to determine the best methods of
controlling nonnative, invasive plants
(i.e., introduced grasses) (USFWS 2010).
Slender rush-pea is an herbaceous
perennial plant, first collected in 1922
by L.J. Bottimer, but described as a valid
taxon by F.E. Clements in 1931. Slender
rush-pea has a long, woody taproot,
capable of forming colonies (Poole 1988,
p. 2), but often the plant will grow in
clusters. A single plant has spreading
stems and alternate bipinnately (divided
into smaller leaflets) compound leaves,
ranging from 5–12 centimeters (cm) (2–
4.7 inches (in)) (Poole et al. 2007, p.
266). There are five small, yellow-pink
to reddish orange petals per flower,
which bloom in the spring and summer
months from April to November (Poole
et al. 2007, p. 266) but may flower as
late as December (Cobb 2013, pers.
comm.). Slender rush-pea flowering and
fruiting are linked to the bimodal
rainfall episodes occurring in South
Texas. Effective pollinators of slender
rush-pea have not been observed in the
field or in a greenhouse setting.
Evidence suggests that slender rush-pea
can self-fertilize. Abundant fruits and
viable seed are produced in the wild
Summary of Habitat
Texas Coastal Bend Shortgrass Prairie
Ecosystem
South Texas ambrosia and slender
rush-pea are both perennial herbaceous
plant species found in historically firedependent prairie habitat in South
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and in propagated populations at the
San Antonio Botanical Gardens, Bexar
County, Texas, and the Kika de la Garza
Plant Materials Center, Kleberg County,
Texas. The species has been introduced
at one site at the North American
Butterfly Association’s National
Butterfly Center, Hidalgo County, Texas.
There are eight extant populations of
slender rush-pea, all occurring on native
remnants of shortgrass prairie habitat
along drainage areas near creeks and
streams. Victoria-associated soils that
are loam, fine sandy loam, or sand clay
loam support buffalograss-dominated
vegetation (USFWS 2012, p. 5) at the
known population sites. Extant
populations of slender rush-pea include
those found on unplowed and
undisturbed remnant stands of
shortgrass prairie, with known sites
found within railroad and highway
ROWs, cemeteries, mowed park fields,
and erosional areas along creek systems.
The extant sites include: Two sites on
State land (Petronila Creek and U.S.
Highway 77 ROW); two sites on city or
county-owned lands (Bishop City Park
and Sablatura County Park); and four
privately owned sites, one at the St.
James Cemetery in Bishop, a private
residence near Bishop, a formerly leased
habitat on the National Guard training
area known as the King Ranch Training
Area, and an introduced site at the
North American Butterfly Association—
National Butterfly Center. There are no
verified occurrences of slender rush-pea
in Mexico.
South Texas ambrosia
The South Texas ambrosia was
federally listed as endangered
throughout its range on August 24, 1994
(59 FR 43648). Critical habitat was not
designated at the time of listing due to
a potential increase in the vulnerability
of collection and vandalism pressures.
With a Recovery Priority Number of 8,
the Service recommended high-priority
activities to evaluate the best
management practices at existing sites
and to determine the best methods of
controlling nonnative, invasive plants
(i.e., introduced grasses) (USFWS 2010).
South Texas ambrosia is an
herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial that
stands erect at approximately 10 cm (3.9
in) to 60 cm (23.6 in) tall. Leaves are
opposite below, alternate above, sessile,
oblanceolate (widest at leaf tip and
tapering to the base) to oblonglanceolate, and up to 4 cm long (Poole
et al. 2007, p. 76). Flowers are
dioecious, where male and female
flowers occur on different plants.
Flower heads are raceme-like
(unbranched, indeterminate type of
inflorescence bearing flowers with
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pedicels (short floral stalks) along its
axis) terminal inflorescences (complete
flower head of a plant including stems,
stalks, bracts, and flowers) with
yellowish florets. South Texas ambrosia
is distinguished from a similar-looking
species, the false ragweed (Parthenium
confertum), by its distinctive ashy-bluegray color (Maher 2012, pers. comm.).
Even given the distinctive color, South
Texas ambrosia can be difficult to locate
because taller native and introduced
grasses easily obscure this species
(Turner 1983, p. 4). Flowering occurs in
late summer or fall depending on
rainfall, and lasts until lack of water or
cold temperature curtails growth. The
pollination mechanisms of South Texas
ambrosia remain largely unknown,
although at one site stems produced a
terminal inflorescence of staminate
(male) heads that released abundant
wind-dispersed pollen. The species
responds well to propagation and
reintroduction efforts. Root cuttings
were used as the source for a pilot
reintroduction and research plot at
Nueces County Park. This
reintroduction project showed that
watering seedlings is essential to
sustaining plants and that removal and
maintenance of nonnative grasses is
important.
More often than not, South Texas
ambrosia is seen reproducing
vegetatively by underground stem
(rhizomatous) regrowth in the upper
portion of the soil. As a result, a single
individual plant may be represented by
several-to-hundreds of stems, depending
on the age of the plant (Turner 1983, p.
4). Current and ongoing reproductive
studies suggest that this might be the
case for a population found on the
Naval Air Station Kingsville, Kleberg
County, Texas, that had little genetic
variation among other South Texas
ambrosia samples collected and genetic
markers; this determination implies that
patches of plants on this site are likely
part of one larger population, or a
metapopulation.
There are seven extant, or presumed
extant, South Texas ambrosia
populations from north-central Kleberg
County through central Nueces County.
These populations occupy habitats
consisting of open prairies, savannas,
and grassland habitats scattered with
mesquite. These populations are known
to occur on soils derived primarily from
the Beaumont clay series, ranging from
heavy clays to lighter textured sandy
loams typical of the Texas Coastal Plain
(Turner 1983, p. 6; Poole et al. 2007, pp.
76–77). Plant associates are composed of
native prairie species and can include
honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa),
huisache (Acacia), huisachillo (Acacia
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schaffneri), brasil (Condalia hookeri),
granjeno (Celtis llida), and lotebush
(Ziziphus obtusifolia) (USFWS 1994, in
USFWS 2010, p. 18). Slender rush-pea
co-occurs at three sites with South
Texas ambrosia (Poole et al. 2007, pp.
76–77), but it is not a dominant species.
South Texas ambrosia is typically
found on unplowed but managed
remnant stands of shortgrass prairie,
with known sites found within railroad
and highway ROWs, cemeteries, mowed
park fields, and erosional areas along
creek systems. The extant South Texas
ambrosia sites occur on State lands, on
both the north and southbound ROWs of
U.S. Highway 77; Federal land at the
Naval Air Station Kingsville; two sites
on city or county-owned lands (Bishop
City Park and the Nueces County Park
in Robstown); two privately owned
sites, one at the St. James Cemetery in
Bishop and a small group of plants on
a lot in Kingsville (General Cavazos
Boulevard); and a formerly leased
habitat on the National Guard training
area known as the King Ranch Training
Area.
Although all known extant
populations of South Texas ambrosia
are concentrated in the northern part of
the species’ range, historic records show
that the range extended from Nueces
County, Texas, south to San Fernando,
Mexico. However, numerous South
Texas ambrosia occurrences are now
considered historic and have not been
re-located in more than 20 years or lack
a confirmation of identification (or a
voucher).
Recovery Strategy
The strategy to recover South Texas
ambrosia and slender rush-pea by
restoring and maintaining their
shortgrass prairie habitat and its unique
native flora includes the long-term
protection, management, monitoring,
and creation of shortgrass prairie
habitat. Areas of sufficient size, number,
composition (i.e., quality of habitat),
and juxtaposition will support the
continued existence of both species in
the wild.
Recovery Plan Goals
The objective of an agency recovery
plan is to provide a framework for the
recovery of a species so that protection
under the Act is no longer necessary. A
recovery plan includes scientific
information about the species and
provides criteria and actions necessary
for us to be able to reclassify the species
to threatened status or remove it from
the lists of endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants. Recovery plans help
guide our recovery efforts by describing
actions we consider necessary for the
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25301
species’ and their habitats’ conservation,
and by estimating time and costs for
implementing needed recovery
measures. A primary objective of this
plan is to ensure that there are
shortgrass prairie areas of sufficient size,
number (20 populations of slender rushpea and 15 populations of South Texas
ambrosia), composition, and
juxtaposition, determined by the most
current biological information known
for the species to support the continued
existence of their populations, that are
able to persist and thrive in the wild. To
achieve the plan’s recovery goals and
objectives, this draft recovery plan
identifies the following action:
• Minimize further loss or
fragmentation of native shortgrass
prairie habitat within Nueces and
Kleberg Counties, such that there is
sufficient habitat to support slender
rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia at
levels that meet recovery goals.
• Actively manage shortgrass prairie
conditions at all extant population (or
subpopulation) sites of slender rush-pea
and South Texas ambrosia to sustain
both species at Minimum Viable
Population levels or higher.
• Develop reintroduction sites within
the geographic range of slender rush-pea
and South Texas ambrosia to help
increase the number of protected
populations.
• Determine the extent and prevent
depletion of rush-pea and ambrosia seed
banks.
• Promote landowner relations and
habitat management throughout the
occupied and historical ranges of
slender rush-pea and South Texas
ambrosia in the United States.
• Determine the genetic diversity
within and among populations of rushpea and ambrosia, and prevent its loss.
• Determine optimal habitat
requirements for slender rush-pea and
South Texas ambrosia.
• Determine and implement best
management practices where possible
and monitor the response of slender
rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia
populations to these practices.
• Monitor long-term viability of all
populations of slender rush-pea and
South Texas ambrosia.
• Increase knowledge of slender rushpea and South Texas ambrosia
abundance, distribution, and ecology.
• Acquire long-term conservation
easements where feasible, or
conservation agreements, for occupied
sites of slender rush-pea and South
Texas ambrosia within each watershed
from which the species are known.
The draft recovery plan contains
recovery criteria based on maintaining
and increasing population numbers and
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 104 / Thursday, June 1, 2017 / Notices
habitat quality and quantity and
mitigating significant threats to slender
rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia.
The draft recovery plan focuses on
protecting populations, managing
threats, maintaining and creating
appropriate habitat, monitoring
progress, and building partnerships to
facilitate recovery. When the recovery of
the slender rush-pea and/or South Texas
ambrosia approaches these criteria, we
will review the species’ status and
consider downlisting on, and,
ultimately, removal from the list of
federally endangered and threatened
plants.
Request for Public Comments
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to
provide public notice and an
opportunity for public review and
comment during recovery plan
development. It is also our policy to
request peer review of recovery plans
(July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). In an
appendix to the approved recovery plan,
we will summarize and respond to the
issues raised by the public and peer
reviewers. Substantive comments may
or may not result in changes to the
recovery plan; comments regarding
recovery plan implementation will be
forwarded as appropriate to Federal or
other entities so that they can be taken
into account during the course of
implementing recovery actions.
Responses to individual commenters
will not be provided, but we will
provide a summary of how we
addressed substantive comments in an
appendix to the approved recovery plan.
We invite written comments on the
draft recovery plan. In particular, we are
interested in additional information
regarding the current threats to the
species, ongoing beneficial management
efforts, and the costs associated with
implementing the recommended
recovery actions.
Before we approve our final recovery
plan, we will consider all comments we
receive by the date specified in DATES,
above. Methods of submitting comments
are described in ADDRESSES, above.
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Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
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18:32 May 31, 2017
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Comments and materials we receive
will be available, by appointment, for
public inspection during normal
business hours at our office (see
ADDRESSES).
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited
herein is available upon request from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Branch of Recovery (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authority
We developed our draft recovery plan
and publish this notice under the
authority of section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: January 17, 2017.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–11305 Filed 5–31–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2017–N053]; [FF08ESMF00–
FXES11140800000–178]
Joint Draft Environmental Impact
Statement and Environmental Impact
Report, Joint Draft Habitat
Conservation Plan and Natural
Community Conservation Plan; Yolo
County, California
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of permit
application; request for comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of a joint draft
environmental impact statement and
draft environmental impact report (draft
EIS/EIR) under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as
amended. We also announce receipt of
applications for an incidental take
permit under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended, and receipt of
a draft habitat conservation plan and
natural community conservation plan.
DATES: Submitting Comments: To ensure
consideration, written comments must
be received by August 30, 2017.
Public Meetings: Two public meetings
will be held:
1. Tuesday, June 27, 2017; 1:00–3:00
p.m., Yolo County Board of Supervisors
Chambers, 625 Court Street, Room 206,
Woodland, California, 95695.
SUMMARY:
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2. Thursday, June 29, 2017; 6:30–8:30
p.m., Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street,
Davis, California, 95616.
ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments:
Please address written comments to
Mike Thomas, Chief, Conservation
Planning Division; or Eric Tattersall,
Assistant Field Supervisor, by mail/
hand-delivery at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W–2605,
Sacramento, California 95825; or by
facsimile to (916) 414–6713. You may
telephone (916) 414–6600 to make an
appointment during regular business
hours to drop off comments at the
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office.
Please send comments related
specifically to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
process to Petrea Marchand, Executive
Director, Yolo Habitat Conservancy, 611
North Street, Woodland, CA 95695.
Reviewing Documents: You may
obtain electronic copies of the draft
habitat conservation plan and natural
community conservation plan and draft
EIS/EIR from the Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office Web site at https://
www.fws.gov/sacramento or the Yolo
Habitat Conservancy’s Web site at
https://www.yolohabitatconservancy.org.
Copies of these documents are also
available for public inspection, by
appointment, during regular business
hours, at the Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office and at the following
libraries: Mary L. Stephens Davis
Library, 315 E. 14th Street, Davis,
California 95616; Arthur F. Turner
Community Library, 1212 Merkley
Avenue, West Sacramento, California
95691; Woodland Public Library, 250
1st Street, Woodland, California 95695;
Winters Community Library, 708
Railroad Avenue, Winters, California
95694; and the Yolo Branch Library,
37750 Sacramento Street, Yolo,
California 95697.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Thomas, Chief, Conservation
Planning Division; or Eric Tattersall,
Assistant Field Supervisor, at the
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office
address above or at (916) 414–6600
(telephone). If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf,
please call the Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice advises the public that we, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
announce the availability of a draft EIS/
EIR, prepared pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.;
NEPA), and its implementing
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 104 (Thursday, June 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25299-25302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11305]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-ES-2017-N004; FXES11130200000C2-112-FF02ENEH00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Texas
Coastal Bend Shortgrass Prairie Multi-Species Recovery Plan: Including
Slender Rush-Pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella) and South Texas Ambrosia
(Ambrosia cheiranthifolia)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our draft Texas Coastal Bend Shortgrass Prairie Multi-
Species Recovery Plan that includes the slender rush-pea
(Hoffmannseggia tenella) and South Texas ambrosia (Ambrosia
cheiranthifolia). Both species are listed as endangered under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Slender rush-pea and
South Texas ambrosia are currently found in remnant patches of
shortgrass prairie within the Texas Coastal Bend in Nueces and Kleberg
Counties, Texas. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery
objectives and criteria that, when achieved, will enable us to remove
both species from the list of endangered and threatened plants. We
request review and comment on this plan from local, State, and Federal
agencies; tribes; and the public. We will also accept any new
information on the status of the slender rush-pea and South Texas
ambrosia throughout their ranges to assist in finalizing the recovery
plan.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments on or
before July 31, 2017. However, we will accept information about any
species at any time.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the draft recovery plan, you may
obtain a copy by any one of the following methods:
Internet: Download the file at www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ElectronicLibrary_Main.cfm.
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U.S. mail: Send a request to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 17629
El Camino Real Suite 211, Houston, TX 77058; or
Telephone: (281) 286-8282.
If you wish to comment on the draft recovery plan, you may submit
your comments in writing by any one of the following methods:
U.S. mail: Project Leader, at the above address;
Hand-delivery: Texas Coastal Ecological Services Office,
at the above address;
Fax: (281) 488-5882; or
Email: amber_miller@fws.gov.
For additional information about submitting comments, see Request
for Public Comments, below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Miller, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above address and phone number, or by email at
amber_miller@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program and the
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status
of listed species to the point at which listing is no longer
appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the Act.
The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed species,
unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular
species. The recovery plan discussed in this notice is designed to
recover (delist) two endangered plants: The slender rush-pea
(Hoffmannseggia tenella) and the South Texas ambrosia (Ambrosia
cheiranthifolia). The Service approved a recovery plan for slender
rush-pea in 1988 (Service 1988) but has not previously published a
recovery plan for South Texas ambrosia. Therefore, this plan will serve
as an update for the 1988 recovery plan for the slender rush-pea and
the first recovery plan for the South Texas ambrosia. This recovery
plan uses an ecosystem-based approach because both species currently
inhabit patches of shortgrass prairie and primary threats stem from the
present destruction, modification, and curtailment of habitat or range.
Summary of Habitat
Texas Coastal Bend Shortgrass Prairie Ecosystem
South Texas ambrosia and slender rush-pea are both perennial
herbaceous plant species found in historically fire-dependent prairie
habitat in South Texas. Both species are geographically restricted to
open grasslands where they occur in Nueces and Kleberg Counties, Texas.
Populations of both species grow within the fine, calcareous clays
associated with Pleistocene deltas. Primary threats stem from the
present or threatened destruction, modification, and curtailment of
habitat or range. Specifically, habitat loss results from conversion of
native prairie to row crops, improved pastures, residential
development, and commercial development. Ongoing and significant
habitat degradation has resulted in the encroachment of nonnative,
invasive pasture grasses; some localized disturbance from management
techniques (mowing); and minimal damage from herbicide drift incidents
onto highway right-of-ways (ROWs). Drought conditions associated with
climate change may exacerbate these impacts.
Species History
Slender rush-pea
The slender rush-pea was federally listed as endangered throughout
its range on November 1, 1985 (50 FR 45614). Critical habitat was not
designated at the time of listing due to a potential increase in the
vulnerability of collection and vandalism pressures. With a Recovery
Priority Number of 2, the Service recommended high-priority activities
to evaluate the best management practices at existing sites and to
determine the best methods of controlling nonnative, invasive plants
(i.e., introduced grasses) (USFWS 2010).
Slender rush-pea is an herbaceous perennial plant, first collected
in 1922 by L.J. Bottimer, but described as a valid taxon by F.E.
Clements in 1931. Slender rush-pea has a long, woody taproot, capable
of forming colonies (Poole 1988, p. 2), but often the plant will grow
in clusters. A single plant has spreading stems and alternate
bipinnately (divided into smaller leaflets) compound leaves, ranging
from 5-12 centimeters (cm) (2-4.7 inches (in)) (Poole et al. 2007, p.
266). There are five small, yellow-pink to reddish orange petals per
flower, which bloom in the spring and summer months from April to
November (Poole et al. 2007, p. 266) but may flower as late as December
(Cobb 2013, pers. comm.). Slender rush-pea flowering and fruiting are
linked to the bimodal rainfall episodes occurring in South Texas.
Effective pollinators of slender rush-pea have not been observed in the
field or in a greenhouse setting. Evidence suggests that slender rush-
pea can self-fertilize. Abundant fruits and viable seed are produced in
the wild and in propagated populations at the San Antonio Botanical
Gardens, Bexar County, Texas, and the Kika de la Garza Plant Materials
Center, Kleberg County, Texas. The species has been introduced at one
site at the North American Butterfly Association's National Butterfly
Center, Hidalgo County, Texas.
There are eight extant populations of slender rush-pea, all
occurring on native remnants of shortgrass prairie habitat along
drainage areas near creeks and streams. Victoria-associated soils that
are loam, fine sandy loam, or sand clay loam support buffalograss-
dominated vegetation (USFWS 2012, p. 5) at the known population sites.
Extant populations of slender rush-pea include those found on unplowed
and undisturbed remnant stands of shortgrass prairie, with known sites
found within railroad and highway ROWs, cemeteries, mowed park fields,
and erosional areas along creek systems. The extant sites include: Two
sites on State land (Petronila Creek and U.S. Highway 77 ROW); two
sites on city or county-owned lands (Bishop City Park and Sablatura
County Park); and four privately owned sites, one at the St. James
Cemetery in Bishop, a private residence near Bishop, a formerly leased
habitat on the National Guard training area known as the King Ranch
Training Area, and an introduced site at the North American Butterfly
Association--National Butterfly Center. There are no verified
occurrences of slender rush-pea in Mexico.
South Texas ambrosia
The South Texas ambrosia was federally listed as endangered
throughout its range on August 24, 1994 (59 FR 43648). Critical habitat
was not designated at the time of listing due to a potential increase
in the vulnerability of collection and vandalism pressures. With a
Recovery Priority Number of 8, the Service recommended high-priority
activities to evaluate the best management practices at existing sites
and to determine the best methods of controlling nonnative, invasive
plants (i.e., introduced grasses) (USFWS 2010).
South Texas ambrosia is an herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial that
stands erect at approximately 10 cm (3.9 in) to 60 cm (23.6 in) tall.
Leaves are opposite below, alternate above, sessile, oblanceolate
(widest at leaf tip and tapering to the base) to oblong-lanceolate, and
up to 4 cm long (Poole et al. 2007, p. 76). Flowers are dioecious,
where male and female flowers occur on different plants. Flower heads
are raceme-like (unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence
bearing flowers with
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pedicels (short floral stalks) along its axis) terminal inflorescences
(complete flower head of a plant including stems, stalks, bracts, and
flowers) with yellowish florets. South Texas ambrosia is distinguished
from a similar-looking species, the false ragweed (Parthenium
confertum), by its distinctive ashy-blue-gray color (Maher 2012, pers.
comm.). Even given the distinctive color, South Texas ambrosia can be
difficult to locate because taller native and introduced grasses easily
obscure this species (Turner 1983, p. 4). Flowering occurs in late
summer or fall depending on rainfall, and lasts until lack of water or
cold temperature curtails growth. The pollination mechanisms of South
Texas ambrosia remain largely unknown, although at one site stems
produced a terminal inflorescence of staminate (male) heads that
released abundant wind-dispersed pollen. The species responds well to
propagation and reintroduction efforts. Root cuttings were used as the
source for a pilot reintroduction and research plot at Nueces County
Park. This reintroduction project showed that watering seedlings is
essential to sustaining plants and that removal and maintenance of
nonnative grasses is important.
More often than not, South Texas ambrosia is seen reproducing
vegetatively by underground stem (rhizomatous) regrowth in the upper
portion of the soil. As a result, a single individual plant may be
represented by several-to-hundreds of stems, depending on the age of
the plant (Turner 1983, p. 4). Current and ongoing reproductive studies
suggest that this might be the case for a population found on the Naval
Air Station Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas, that had little genetic
variation among other South Texas ambrosia samples collected and
genetic markers; this determination implies that patches of plants on
this site are likely part of one larger population, or a
metapopulation.
There are seven extant, or presumed extant, South Texas ambrosia
populations from north-central Kleberg County through central Nueces
County. These populations occupy habitats consisting of open prairies,
savannas, and grassland habitats scattered with mesquite. These
populations are known to occur on soils derived primarily from the
Beaumont clay series, ranging from heavy clays to lighter textured
sandy loams typical of the Texas Coastal Plain (Turner 1983, p. 6;
Poole et al. 2007, pp. 76-77). Plant associates are composed of native
prairie species and can include honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa),
huisache (Acacia), huisachillo (Acacia schaffneri), brasil (Condalia
hookeri), granjeno (Celtis llida), and lotebush (Ziziphus obtusifolia)
(USFWS 1994, in USFWS 2010, p. 18). Slender rush-pea co-occurs at three
sites with South Texas ambrosia (Poole et al. 2007, pp. 76-77), but it
is not a dominant species.
South Texas ambrosia is typically found on unplowed but managed
remnant stands of shortgrass prairie, with known sites found within
railroad and highway ROWs, cemeteries, mowed park fields, and erosional
areas along creek systems. The extant South Texas ambrosia sites occur
on State lands, on both the north and southbound ROWs of U.S. Highway
77; Federal land at the Naval Air Station Kingsville; two sites on city
or county-owned lands (Bishop City Park and the Nueces County Park in
Robstown); two privately owned sites, one at the St. James Cemetery in
Bishop and a small group of plants on a lot in Kingsville (General
Cavazos Boulevard); and a formerly leased habitat on the National Guard
training area known as the King Ranch Training Area.
Although all known extant populations of South Texas ambrosia are
concentrated in the northern part of the species' range, historic
records show that the range extended from Nueces County, Texas, south
to San Fernando, Mexico. However, numerous South Texas ambrosia
occurrences are now considered historic and have not been re-located in
more than 20 years or lack a confirmation of identification (or a
voucher).
Recovery Strategy
The strategy to recover South Texas ambrosia and slender rush-pea
by restoring and maintaining their shortgrass prairie habitat and its
unique native flora includes the long-term protection, management,
monitoring, and creation of shortgrass prairie habitat. Areas of
sufficient size, number, composition (i.e., quality of habitat), and
juxtaposition will support the continued existence of both species in
the wild.
Recovery Plan Goals
The objective of an agency recovery plan is to provide a framework
for the recovery of a species so that protection under the Act is no
longer necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about
the species and provides criteria and actions necessary for us to be
able to reclassify the species to threatened status or remove it from
the lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. Recovery
plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we consider
necessary for the species' and their habitats' conservation, and by
estimating time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures. A
primary objective of this plan is to ensure that there are shortgrass
prairie areas of sufficient size, number (20 populations of slender
rush-pea and 15 populations of South Texas ambrosia), composition, and
juxtaposition, determined by the most current biological information
known for the species to support the continued existence of their
populations, that are able to persist and thrive in the wild. To
achieve the plan's recovery goals and objectives, this draft recovery
plan identifies the following action:
Minimize further loss or fragmentation of native
shortgrass prairie habitat within Nueces and Kleberg Counties, such
that there is sufficient habitat to support slender rush-pea and South
Texas ambrosia at levels that meet recovery goals.
Actively manage shortgrass prairie conditions at all
extant population (or subpopulation) sites of slender rush-pea and
South Texas ambrosia to sustain both species at Minimum Viable
Population levels or higher.
Develop reintroduction sites within the geographic range
of slender rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia to help increase the
number of protected populations.
Determine the extent and prevent depletion of rush-pea and
ambrosia seed banks.
Promote landowner relations and habitat management
throughout the occupied and historical ranges of slender rush-pea and
South Texas ambrosia in the United States.
Determine the genetic diversity within and among
populations of rush-pea and ambrosia, and prevent its loss.
Determine optimal habitat requirements for slender rush-
pea and South Texas ambrosia.
Determine and implement best management practices where
possible and monitor the response of slender rush-pea and South Texas
ambrosia populations to these practices.
Monitor long-term viability of all populations of slender
rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia.
Increase knowledge of slender rush-pea and South Texas
ambrosia abundance, distribution, and ecology.
Acquire long-term conservation easements where feasible,
or conservation agreements, for occupied sites of slender rush-pea and
South Texas ambrosia within each watershed from which the species are
known.
The draft recovery plan contains recovery criteria based on
maintaining and increasing population numbers and
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habitat quality and quantity and mitigating significant threats to
slender rush-pea and South Texas ambrosia. The draft recovery plan
focuses on protecting populations, managing threats, maintaining and
creating appropriate habitat, monitoring progress, and building
partnerships to facilitate recovery. When the recovery of the slender
rush-pea and/or South Texas ambrosia approaches these criteria, we will
review the species' status and consider downlisting on, and,
ultimately, removal from the list of federally endangered and
threatened plants.
Request for Public Comments
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an
opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan
development. It is also our policy to request peer review of recovery
plans (July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). In an appendix to the approved
recovery plan, we will summarize and respond to the issues raised by
the public and peer reviewers. Substantive comments may or may not
result in changes to the recovery plan; comments regarding recovery
plan implementation will be forwarded as appropriate to Federal or
other entities so that they can be taken into account during the course
of implementing recovery actions. Responses to individual commenters
will not be provided, but we will provide a summary of how we addressed
substantive comments in an appendix to the approved recovery plan.
We invite written comments on the draft recovery plan. In
particular, we are interested in additional information regarding the
current threats to the species, ongoing beneficial management efforts,
and the costs associated with implementing the recommended recovery
actions.
Before we approve our final recovery plan, we will consider all
comments we receive by the date specified in DATES, above. Methods of
submitting comments are described in ADDRESSES, above.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Comments and materials we receive will be available, by
appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at our
office (see ADDRESSES).
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited herein is available upon
request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of Recovery
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authority
We developed our draft recovery plan and publish this notice under
the authority of section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: January 17, 2017.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-11305 Filed 5-31-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
