Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 1995 / Proposed Rules 46569 Requested Action May Be Warranted
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 1995 / Proposed Rules 46569 requested action may be warranted. The been fenced to restrict access, and the ssp. verecunda in chaparral and mixed 90-day finding was published in the other two populations are expected to evergreen plant communities is an Federal Register on August 19, 1992 (57 be protected by fencing when indication that this taxon may be more FR 37513). A status review was ownership of the Presidio is transferred widely distributed and have broader continued for this category 2 candidate from the Department of Army to the habitat affinities than previously species (58 FR 51186; September 30, National Park Service. Invasive non- believed. Chaparral covers an extensive 1993). native vegetation is encroaching on portion of the Coast Ranges in the San Silene verecunda ssp. verecunda is a some populations of S. verecunda ssp. Francisco Bay area. Consequently, the perennial herb in the pink family verecunda. On the Presidio, however, unknown overall status of the taxon (Caryophyllaceae) that grows from 10 to there are ongoing efforts to remove the makes any assumptions about 70 centimeters (4 to 28 inches) tall. Each invasive species. There is no vulnerability of S. verecunda ssp. flower has five pink to rose colored quantitative trend data to assess the verecunda to current threats notched petals, and the purplish sepals extent to which S. verecunda ssp. unsupportable at this time. are united into a tube, making the verecunda has or will be impacted by The Service has reviewed the petition, flower look bell-shaped. non-native plants. Therefore, such other available literature and Silene verecunda ssp. verecunda threat to this species is not known to be information, and consulted with previously was reported to occupy open immediate or imminent. The known biologists and researchers familiar with grassy areas in sandy to rocky soils in populations of S. verecunda ssp. Silene verecunda ssp. verecunda. On coastal strand, coastal prairie, and verecunda that occur on the Presidio are the basis of the best scientific and coastal scrub plant communities ranging unlikely to be affected by toxic waste commercial information available from San Francisco south to Santa Cruz site studies and clean-up. This species regarding S. verecunda ssp. verecunda, County (Young 1979). Recently, S. does not occur near the area where these the Service finds that the petitioned verecunda ssp. verecunda has been activities most likely would occur (Peter action is not warranted at this time reported to occur in chaparral and Lacivita, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, because there is insufficient information mixed evergreen forest plant pers. comm. 1993). Neither disease, about the taxon's status and its communities (Skinner and Pavlik 1994; predation, or overutilization are known vulnerability to threats. The Service will Lion Baumgartner, Thomas Reid to be a threat to S. verecunda ssp. Associates, in litt. 1994). Historical continue to maintain S. verecunda ssp. verecunda. verecunda as a species of concern. The populations from Lake Merced and Stochastic (random) and natural Service encourages all interested parties Mission Dolores in San Francisco have events can cause population to investigate the population status of S. been extirpated due to commercial and fluctuations or even population verecunda ssp. verecunda and its residential development. Currently extirpations but are not usually a vulnerability to threats, with particular there are about 2,000 known individuals concern until the number of individuals reference to the southern and central of S. verecunda ssp. verecunda found or geographic distribution become primarily on private or non-Federal vulnerably small. A combination of portions of its range and populations land, including about 700 plants on San remnant small populations, a narrow occurring in chaparral and mixed Bruno Mountain (Lion Baumgartner, in range, and restricted habitat, could evergreen plant communities. If litt. 1994). Three populations, totaling make all or a significant part of any additional data becomes available in the seven hundred plants according to a population susceptible to destruction future, the Service may reassess the 1993 census, occur on the Presidio in from stochastic natural events, such as listing priority for this species or the San Francisco. It is not known how flood, drought, disease, or other natural need for listing. much potential habitat, or numbers of occurrences (Shaffer 1981, Primack Author individuals may occur from Montara 1993) such as genetics and reproductive Mountain in San Mateo County to success. The primary author of this document Rancho Del Oso in Santa Cruz County. No demographic studies exist to is Kirsten Tarp (see ADDRESSES section). The northern range of Silene indicate that the reproductive success of Authority verecunda ssp. verecunda overlaps a Silene verecunda ssp. verecunda is rapidly urbanizing portion of the San threatened, or is vulnerable to adverse The authority for this action is the Francisco Bay area. Most of the habitat impacts from random events. There is Endangered Species Act of 1973, as within the northern part of the range of no evidence at this time to suggest that amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) S. verecunda ssp. verecunda has been reproductive capacity is a factor posing Dated: July 24, 1995. disturbed or eliminated except for areas a threat to the survival of the species. John G. Rogers, on San Bruno Mountain that are Low seed production in perennial Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. protected for the conservation of the plants is not necessarily a trait that endangered mission blue butterfly makes a species vulnerable to [FR Doc. 95±22172 Filed 9±6±95; 8:45 am] (Icaricia icarioides missionensis). extinction. Huenneke (1986) indicates BILLING CODE 4310±55±P Implementation of the San Bruno that low genetic diversity in plants is Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan rarely seen as a threat to their survival. 50 CFR Part 17 (HCP) developed under sections Intrinsically, most rare plants are likely 10(a)(1)(B) and 10(a)(2)(A) of the Act has to have genetic systems enabling them Endangered and Threatened Wildlife conserved habitat for the butterfly, and to cope with the genetic consequences and Plants; 90-Day Finding for a indirectly benefits S. verecunda ssp. of rarity. Petition to List the Mohave Ground verecunda by maintaining the habitat in The population status of S. verecunda Squirrel as Threatened which both species occur. On federally ssp. verecunda and its vulnerability to owned land on the Presidio in San threats in the central part of its range AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Francisco, increased human access and (i.e., Montara Mountain in San Mateo Interior. activities potentially threatened three County to Rancho del Oso in Santa Cruz ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition populations of S. verecunda ssp. County) are not known at this time. finding. verecunda. One of these populations has Moreover, the discovery of S. verecunda 46570 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 1995 / Proposed Rules SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife not currently available indicating that found. Without precise habitat Service (Service) announces the 90-day listing as endangered or threatened is information, it is difficult to assess the finding on a petition to list the Mohave warranted. severity of habitat loss. In addition, ground squirrel (Spermophilus The Mohave ground squirrel ranges insufficient data are available on mohavensis) under the Endangered throughout the northwest portion of the specific habitat requirements to Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. Mojave Desert of California. The species precisely delineate the acreage of The Service finds that the petition did spends about 7 months a year, usually Mohave ground squirrel habitat. not present substantial information from August to February, estivating in Specific information on habitat indicating that the petitioned action burrows. Timing of estivation is requirements would also facilitate the may be warranted. presumably related to sufficient rating of areas based on habitat quality. DATES: The finding announced in this accumulation of fat reserves In making a finding as to whether a document was made on August 4, 1995. (Bartholomew and Hudson 1960, Ingles petition presents substantial commercial Comments and materials related to this 1965, Tomich 1982). Entrance into and scientific information to indicate petition finding may be submitted to the estivation may begin from June to the petitioned action may be warranted, Field Supervisor at the address listed September. In years with abundant food the Service must consider whether the below. supplies, adults may enter estivation in petition is accompanied by a detailed ADDRESSES: Information, data, late June and juveniles may enter in late narrative justification [50 CFR comments, or questions concerning the July. Adults are more likely than § 424.14(b)(2)(ii)]. The regulations status of the petitioned species should juveniles to enter estivation early require the Service to ``consider whether be submitted to the Field Supervisor, because adults do not need to gain as such petition * * * [p]rovides Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Field much weight as juveniles to survive the information regarding the status of the Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, long estivation underground (Gustafson species over all or a significant portion Ventura, California