55862 Federal Register I Vol. 56. No. 210 I Wednesday, October 30, 1991 / Proposed Rules rhylidosperma (no common name (NCN)), Die//ia laciniata (NCN), - Exocarpos luteolus (heau),~Hedyotis cookiana (‘awiwi), Hibiscus clay-i (Clay’s hibiscus), Lipochaeta fauriei (nehe), Lipochaeta rnicrantha (nehe), Lipochaeta wairneaensis (nehe), Lysimachia filifolla (NCN), Melicope haupuensis (alani), Melicope knudsenii (alani), Melicope pal/ida (alani), Melicope quadrangularis (alani) Munroidendron racemosum (NCN). Nothocestrum peltatum (‘aiea), Peucedanurn sandwicense (makou). Phyllostegia wairneae (NCN), Pteraiyxia kauaiensis (kaulu), Schiedea spergulina (NCN), and Solanurn sandwicense (popolo’aiakeakua). All but seven of the species are or were endemic to the island of Kauai, Hawaiian Islands; the exceptions are or were found on the islands of Niihau, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and/or Hawaii as well as Kauai. The 23 plant species and their habitats have been variously affected or are currently threatened by 1 or more of the following: Habitat degradation by wild, feral, or domestic animals (goats, pigs, mule deer, cattle, and red jungle fowl); competition for space, light, water, and nutrients by naturalized, introduced vegetation; erosion of substrate produced by weathering or human- or animal-caused disturbance; recreational and agricultural activities; habitat loss from fires; and predation by animals (goats and rats). Due to the small number of existing individuals and their very narrow distributions, these species and most of their populations are subject to an increased likelihood of extinction and/or reduced reproductive vigor from stochastic events. This proposal. if made final, would implement the Federal protection and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR recovery provisions provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service Act. Ifmade final, it would also implement State regulations protecting 50 CFR Part 17 these plants as endangered species. Comments and materials related to this RIN 1018—AB69 proposal are solicited. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife DATES: Comments from all interested and Plants; Proposed Endangered parties must be received by December Status for 23 Plants From the Island of 30, 1991. Public hearing requests must be KauaI, Hawaii received by December 16, 1991. AO~NCY:Fish and Wildlife Service, ADDRESSES: Comments and materials Interior. concerning this proposal should be sent to Robert P. Smith, Field Supervisor, ACTION: Proposed rule. Pacific Islands Office, U.S. Fish and SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Service (Service) proposes endangered Boulevard. room6307, P.O. Box 50167, status pursuant to the Endangered Honolulu, Hawaii 96850. Comments and Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), materials received will be available for for 23 plants: Brigharnia insignis (‘olulu), public inspection, by appointment, Cyanea asarifolia (haha), Cyrtandi-a during normal business hours at the limahuliensis (ha’iwale), Delissea above address. Federal Register I VoL 56, No. 210 I Wednesday, October 30, 1991 / Proposed Rules 55~63 FOR FURThER INFORMATION CONTACT flank formed Haupu Ridge (Macdonald Hibiscus clayi, Delissea rhytidosperma. Jierral R. Herbst. at the above address et a]. 1983). One of the island’s most and Mel/cope knudsen/i, are located (808/541—2749 or FTS 551—2749). famous features is the Na Pali coast, within lowland dry forests-~the latter SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: where stream and wave action have cut two extending into jimsic forests. deep valleys and eroded the northern Lowland dry forests ai~echaracterized Background coast to form precipitous cliffs as high by an annual rainfall of 20 to 80 in (50 to Brighamia insignis, Cyanea asarifolia, as 3.000 ft (910 m) (Joesting 1984). 200 cm), which falls between November Cyrtandra limohuliensis. Delissea Because of its age and relative and March, and a well-drained, highly rhytidospermo, Dieiia laciniota, isolation, levels of floristic diversity and weathered substrate rich in aluminum Exocarposluteolus, Hedyotis cookiona, endemism arehigher on Kauai than on (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990). Hibiscus clayi, Lipochaeta fauriei, any other island in the Hawaiian Eighteen of the 23 species have all or Lipochceta rnicrcntha, Lipochoeta archipelago. However, the vegetation of a significant number of their populations wairneaensis, Lysimachia filifolia, Kauai has undergone extreme in lowland mesic or wet forest Mel/cope haupuensis, Melicope alterations because of past and present communities. Lowland mesic forest knudsenii, Mel/copepal/ida, Mel/cope land use. Land with rich soils was communities he between 100 and 3,000 ft quadrangular/s. Munroidendron altered by the early Hawaiians and, (30 and 1,000 m) in elevation and are racemosum, Nothiicestrumpeltatom, more recently, converted to agricultural characterized by a 6.5 to 65 ft (2 to 20 m) Ptwcedanum sandwicense. Phyllostegia use (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990) or tall canopy and a diverse understory of waimeae, Pteralyxia kauaiensis, pasture. Intentional or inadvertent shrubs, herbs, and ferns. The annual Schiedea spergulina, and So/an urn introduction of alien plant and animal rainfall of 45 to 150 in (120 to 380 cm) sandwicense are endemic to or have the species has also contributed to the falls predominantly between October majority of their populations on the reduction of native vegetation on the and March (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990). island of Kauai, Hawaii. Sixteen of these island of Kauai. Native forests are now This mesic community often grades into species are endemic to the island of limited to the upper elevation mesic and lowland wet forests that are typically Kauai, Hawaii; two additional species wet regions within Kauai’s conservation found on the windward side of the are now found only on Kauai. One of district. The 23 species proposed in this island or in sheltered leeward situations these species is now or was previously rule occur in that district, between 400 between 330 and 3,940 ft (100 and 1,200 also known from Niihau, four from and 4,000 ft (120 and 1,200 in) in m) in elevation. The rainfall in this Oahu, two from Molokai, two from elevation in the western and lowland wet community may exceed 200 Maui, and one from the island of northwestern portions of the island in (500 cm) per year. These forests were Hawaii. within large State-owned tracts of once the predominant vegetation on The island of Kauai is the natural area reserves, forest reserves, Kauai but now exist only on steep rocky northernmost and oldest of the eight and parks. Most of the proposed species terrain or cliff faces. The substrate is major Hawaiian Islands (Foote et a]. persist on steep slopes, precipitous generally of well-drained soils that may 1972). This highly eroded island, cliffs, valley headwalls, and other support tree canopies up to 130 ft (40 m) characterized by deeply dissected regions where unsuitable topography in height (Cuddihy and Stone 1990, canyons and steep ridges, is 553 square has prevented agricultural development Gagne and Cuddihy 1990). miles (sqmi) (1,430 sq kilometers (km)) or where inaccessibility has limited The habitat of Solanum sondwicense in area (Dept. of Geography 1983). Kauai encroachment by alien animal and plant extends to the higherelevation and drier was formed about six million years ago species. portions of montane mesic forests, by a single shield volcano. Its caldera, The 23 species proposed in this rule whereas the habitat of Exocarpos once the largest in the Hawaiian are distributed throughout the island of luteolus extends into montane wet Islands, now extends about 10 mi (18 Kauai and grow in a variety of forests. Nothocestram peltatum and km) in diameter and comprises the vegetation communities (grassland, Phyllostegia woimeae arethe only extremely wet, elevated tableland of shrubland, and forests), elevational proposed species found strictly within Alakai Swamp (Dept. of Geography zones (coastal to montane), and these montane communities, which 1983). Because thehighest point of moisture regimes (dry to wet). Six typically occur above 3,000 ft (1,00Gm) Kauai, at Kawaildni Peak, is only 5,243 species are found in various lowland dry in elevation (HHP 1991}. The annual feet (ft) (1,598 meters (in)) in elevation communities. These once abundant rainfall in montane communities may (Walker 1990), it lacks the contrasting communities are now fragmented due to exceed 280 in (700 cm} (Gagne and leeward montane rainfall patterns found fire, development, and the ingression of Cuddihy 1990). on other islands that have higher alien plants and animals. The land that supports these 23 plant mountain systems. Rainfall is therefore Munroidendron racemosuin extends species is owned by various private distributed throughout the upper ffom coastal mesic vegetation parties, the City and County of elevations, especially at Mount communities to higher elevations in Honolulu, and the State of Hawaii Waialeale, Kauai’s second highest point lowland dry (Hawaii Heritage Program (including State parks, forest reserves, at 5,148 ft in elevation (1,569 m) (Walker (HFIP) 1990a) and mesic forests. natural area reserves, the Seabird 1990) and one of the wettest spots on Peucediinum sandwicensis is found Sanctuary, and land managed under a earth, where annual rainfall averages within a variety of vegetation cooperative agreement with the 450 inches (in) (1,140 centimeters (cm)) communities, ranging from coastal to National Park Service). (Honda et a!. 1967. besting 1984). To the lowland dry to mesic shrublands and west of the Alakai Swamp is the deeply forests. Only I of the 23 proposed Discussion of the 23 Species Proposed dissected Waimea Canyon, extending 10 species is found in grasslands: for Listing mi (18kmj in length and up to 1 mi (1.6 Brigham/a ins/gels grows within Kauai’s Asa Gray (in Mann 1868) described km) in width. Latervolcanic activity on lowland dry grassland and shrubland Brigharnia insignis based upon alcohol- the southeastern flank of the volcano communities in the Na Pall region, preserved flowers and fruits collected formed the smaller Haupu caldera. where the annual rainfall is usually less by William Tufts Brigham on Molokai Subsequent erosion and collapse of its than 65 in (170 cm).