National Wetland Plant List, 29689-29691 [2020-10630]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 96 / Monday, May 18, 2020 / Notices
the comments may not be provided to
or considered by the Board until a later
date. The DFO will compile all timely
submissions with the Board’s Chair and
ensure such submissions are provided
to Board Members before the meeting.
Dated: May 13, 2020.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2020–10628 Filed 5–15–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
National Wetland Plant List
Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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.
SUMMARY:
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
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
brianne.e.mcguffie@usace.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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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 nonwetlands; 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 https://
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
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Fmt 4703
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29689
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 threefactor 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
E:\FR\FM\18MYN1.SGM
18MYN1
29690
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 96 / Monday, May 18, 2020 / Notices
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
Species
Region
2016 NWPL
rating
Proposed 2018
NWPL rating
Aristida palustris ..................................................................................
Artemisia dracunculus .........................................................................
Artemisia dracunculus .........................................................................
Bromus nottowayanus ........................................................................
Bromus nottowayanus ........................................................................
Delairea odorata .................................................................................
Delairea odorata .................................................................................
Dichanthelium wrightianum .................................................................
Epilobium brachycarpum ....................................................................
Epilobium brachycarpum ....................................................................
Hymenocallis latifolia ..........................................................................
Hymenocallis latifolia ..........................................................................
Hymenocallis occidentalis ...................................................................
Hymenocallis occidentalis ...................................................................
Hymenocallis occidentalis ...................................................................
Hymenocallis occidentalis ...................................................................
Ilex opaca ............................................................................................
Iva axillaris ..........................................................................................
Iva axillaris ..........................................................................................
Liriodendron tulipifera .........................................................................
Liriodendron tulipifera .........................................................................
Penstemon rydbergii ...........................................................................
Penstemon rydbergii ...........................................................................
Polymnia canadensis ..........................................................................
Polymnia canadensis ..........................................................................
Polymnia canadensis ..........................................................................
Quercus michauxii ..............................................................................
Tussilago farfara .................................................................................
Verbena brasiliensis ............................................................................
Verbena brasiliensis ............................................................................
Verbena brasiliensis ............................................................................
Verbena incompta ...............................................................................
Verbena incompta ...............................................................................
Verbena incompta ...............................................................................
AGCP ................
AW ....................
WMVC ..............
MW ...................
NCNE ................
AW ....................
WMVC ..............
AGCP ................
AW ....................
WMVC ..............
AGCP ................
CB .....................
AGCP ................
EMP ..................
GP .....................
MW ...................
AGCP ................
AW ....................
WMVC ..............
AGCP ................
EMP ..................
AW ....................
WMVC ..............
EMP ..................
MW ...................
NCNE ................
AGCP ................
NCNE ................
AGCP ................
EMP ..................
MW ...................
AGCP ................
EMP ..................
MW ...................
NOL * ................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
FACW ...............
FACW ...............
OBL ...................
OBL ...................
FACW ...............
OBL ...................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
FACW ...............
FACU ................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
NOL ..................
FACW ...............
FACW ...............
FAC ...................
FACW ...............
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FACW ...............
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FAC ...................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACW ...............
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
FACU ................
Final 2018
NWPL rating
FACW.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FAC.
FAC.
FACW.
FAC.
FAC.
FACU.
FACU.
FACW.
FAC.
FACW.
FAC.
FAC.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACW.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
FACU.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
* 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 https://
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.
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Jkt 250001
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
https://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
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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and final indicator statuses have been
set.
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
E:\FR\FM\18MYN1.SGM
18MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 96 / Monday, May 18, 2020 / Notices
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
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2020–SCC–0041]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
RSA–509, Annual Protection and
Advocacy of Individual Rights Program
Performance Report
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS),
Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing an extension of an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before June 17,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:03 May 15, 2020
Jkt 250001
information collection requests should
be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection request by
selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’
under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then
check ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public
Comment’’ checkbox.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Samuel Pierre,
202–245–6488.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: RSA–509, Annual
Protection and Advocacy of Individual
Rights Program Performance Report.
OMB Control Number: 1820–0627.
Type of Review: An extension of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 57.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 912.
Abstract: The Annual Protection and
Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR)
Program Performance Report (Form
RSA–509) will be used to analyze and
evaluate the PAIR Program administered
by eligible systems in states. These
systems provide services to eligible
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29691
individuals with disabilities to protect
their legal and human rights. RSA uses
the form to meet specific data collection
requirements of Section 509 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(the Act), and its implementing federal
regulations at 34 CFR part 381. PAIR
programs must report annually using
the RSA–509, which is due on or before
December 30 each year.
The collection of information through
Form RSA–509 has enabled RSA to
furnish the President and Congress with
data on the provision of protection and
advocacy services and has helped to
establish a sound basis for future
funding requests. Data from the form
have been used to evaluate the
effectiveness of eligible systems within
individual states in meeting annual
priorities and objectives. These data also
have been used to indicate trends in the
provision of services from year-to-year.
The respondents to the RSA–509 is
the protection and advocacy system in
each state. These organizations are
private not-for-profit organizations. RSA
included the respondents and the
national organization that represents
them (National Disability Rights
Network (NDRN)) in the initial
development of this collection of
information in an effort to ensure that
the information requested could be
provided with minimal burden to the
respondents.
Dated: May 13, 2020.
Kate Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and
Clearance Governance and Strategy Division,
Office of Chief Data Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–10607 Filed 5–15–20; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Teacher
Quality Partnership Grant Program
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
is issuing a notice inviting applications
for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the Teacher
Quality Partnership Grant (TQP)
program, Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number 84.336S.
This notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB
control number 1894–0006.
DATES:
Applications Available: May 18, 2020.
Pre-Application Webinars: The Office
of Elementary and Secondary Education
intends to post pre-recorded
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18MYN1.SGM
18MYN1
]]>Agencies
[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
National Wetland Plant List
AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 https://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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2018 Final 2018 NWPL
Species Region 2016 NWPL rating NWPL rating rating
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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 https://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 https://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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
