DOCSLIB.ORG

How Politics Drowned out Science for Ten Endangered Species This Report Is a Distress Signal States, and Others Have Resisted for At-Risk Plants and Animals

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
How Politics Drowned out Science for Ten Endangered Species This Report Is a Distress Signal States, and Others Have Resisted for At-Risk Plants and Animals How Politics Drowned Out Science for Ten Endangered Species This report is a distress signal states, and others have resisted for at-risk plants and animals. federal management and adapting Introduction We can only successfully recover to climate change. States have If you were a 1970s biologist who studied declining ocelots or Hermes butterflies, you might them−under the Endangered Species tried to manage at-risk wildlife take action. You might write a bill. And if you wrote that bill, it might have looked very simi- Act−when we follow science. Yet, themselves, and then they kept us lar to the Endangered Species Act. And because it follows the science, it’s our nation’s most we’ve fallen down on the job in in the dark on their conservation effective law in preventing threatened and endangered species from going extinct. many ways. Special interests, state actions and population numbers. agencies, and even some members Thanks to the Act, when a biologist decides whether to list a species as endangered, the only of Congress have always applied As a result, species across the thing that the biologist can consider is science. Other matters, including economics, come pressure on species decisions. The country, on land and in our into play later. The science, however, stays central to every step. difference now is that the Trump waters, have suffered. This report Administration is itself infiltrated examines the lack of scientific But will that approach stand under the Trump Administration? Will U.S. Fish and Wildlife with special interest officials who decisions for: dunes sagebrush Executive Summary Service (FWS) biologists be allowed to follow the science? There are many reasons to fear completely disregard science. lizard, greater sage grouse, Hermes they are not and will not. copper butterfly, leatherback Science has not been followed sea turtle, Mexican wolf, North Due to incredible pressure from oil, gas, fishing, and other industries, and the states, previous in determining critical habitat, Atlantic right whale, ocelot, administrations struggled to hold the line on science. But the Trump Administration has gone adequate population numbers, pallid sturgeon, San Jacinto a step further and thrown science out the window. The administration has hired industry representatives to run its agencies. It pulled out of the Paris Climate Accords. It deemed a sci- and needed protections. Bad Valley crownscale, and wolverine. entific background unnecessary for positions that require scientific knowledge. And it’s trying practices continue—unsustainable Together these species are part of to slash science budgets at NASA, NOAA, EPA, and more. fishing, dams, development, oil a much larger story playing out and gas seismic surveys, and the in the United States right now—a The attack on science at the Department of Interior has mostly flown under the radar. But the border wall. Some highly imperiled turning back of the clock on threat here is just as real and dangerous. Science has been subverted to please special inter- species haven’t even been listed as science. This will harm not just ests—from extractive industries to states—for these vulnerable species. What these species endangered. Oil and gas industries, nature, but all of us. need is quick action to get their recovery back on track. And yet, they also serve as ambassa- dors to a larger story of species conservation concerns. Plants and animals need nothing less than a strong commitment to science. Without that, the forecast is dire for plants, wildlife, and humans. Kierán Suckling Erik Molvar Michael Beck Greg Costello Center for Biological Western Watersheds Endangered Habitats Wildlands Network Diversity Project League William Rossiter Todd Steiner Rhea Suh Cetacean Society Turtle Island Restoration Natural Resources International Network Defense Council Dr. Andrew Rosenberg Jamie Rappaport Clark Leda Huta Union of Concerned Scientists Defenders of Wildlife Endangered Species Coalition 3 Net Decline: Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) The Pacific leatherback is the only soft-shelled sea turtle and is one of the largest reptiles in the world, weighing up to 2,000 pounds. The leatherback can migrate over 10,000 miles from foraging grounds to nesting beaches. This beautiful species plays a key role in keep- In 2015, the Pacific Fishery Management Coun- ing its primary food source—jellyfish—in cil and the California Department of Fish and check. This helps protect important fisher- Wildlife approved a rule to protect the Pacific ies.1 With the loss of leatherbacks, jellyfish leatherback and other species from drift gillnet consume more fish eggs and larvae, making it fishing for swordfish. THE TRUMP ADMINIS- difficult for fish stocks to recover. When leath- TRATION UNEXPECTEDLY WITHDREW THIS erbacks migrate to nesting beaches, their eggs PROPOSED RULE IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. The transfer nutrients from ocean to land, helping withdrawal reflects the fishing industry’s pow- to rejuvenate beaches.2 erful lobbyists and the Trump Administration’s blatant disregard for recommendations of its own fishery advisors. SCIENCE IGNORED Current Range WESTERN PACIFIC LEATHERBACK POPULA- THREATS: Eastern and Western TIONS DECLINED BY MORE THAN 80 PER- Entanglement in fishing gear Pacific Ocean CENT AND EASTERN PACIFIC LEATHERBACK Illegal harvesting of eggs POPULATIONS DECLINED BY MORE THAN 97 Ingestion of trash (particularly PERCENT OVER THE LAST THREE GENERA- plastic bags) TIONS.3 They are decreasing because of bad Conservation Status fishing practices such as driftnets, the illegal Endangered - Endangered harvest of eggs, and ingestion of trash.4 These Species Act, Critically threats have continued even though leather- Endangered - IUCN Redlist backs have been listed since 1970. Remaining Population estimated 2,300 total; Eastern Pacific subpopulation = 633 and declining > Keystone Species 5 photo©Stephanie Rousseau / Shutterstock.com Rousseau photo©Stephanie photo©IrinaK / Shutterstock.com photo©IrinaK Science Snubbed: Mexican Wolf (Canis lupis baileyi) The Mexican wolf is one of the most endangered North American animals and the most endangered subspecies of gray wolf in the world. As an apex predator at the top of its food chain, a recovered Mexican wolf population should help restore damaged habitats. SCIENCE IGNORED Supporting the killing of wolves5 Denying permits and suing the federal gov- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) ernment to stop needed wolf releases6 assembled Recovery Teams in 2003 and 2010 If the Draft Plan is put in place, Mexican to develop up-to-date Mexican Wolf Recovery wolves will be delisted once they hit 320 in the Plans. These teams of scientists and experts United States. Based on science, and Arizona concluded that recovery requires THREE and New Mexico’s opposition to wolf recovery, INTERCONNECTED U.S. POPULATIONS, the Draft Plan is A RECIPE FOR EXTINCTION, each with at least 250 wolves for NOT RECOVERY. a MINIMUM TOTAL OF 750 ANIMALS.1 Unfortunately, FWS’ 2017 Draft Mexican Wolf OTHER wolves threatened Recovery Plan ignores the recommendations by human activities and falls far short of recovery, calling for: Current Range A RECOVERY GOAL OF 320 TO 380 Red Wolf – Critically Endangered – East-central AZ, West- WOLVES VS. 750 Fewer than 30-45 remain in the wild; central NM, and Northern ONE U.S. RECOVERY ZONE VS. THREE previously hunted to extinction and now Mexico ZONES neglected and mismanaged by FWS. The Colorado and Utah recovery zones were removed for political reasons, leaving just one Alexander Archipelago Wolf – Not zone crossing west-central New Mexico and Listed – Pressures from logging, road Conservation Status east-central Arizona.2 building, and overharvest are destroying Endangered subspecies this rare wolf, the deer it depends on, of gray wolf – Endangered The Draft Plan proposes giving Arizona and and the old-growth forest it calls home. Species Act New Mexico veto power over species manage- ment activities! Both states have a long record Remaining Wild Population of opposing conservation efforts, in spite of Approximately strong public support for the species. 3 The states’ efforts included: THREATS: 113 HUMANS - Special interest in the United States, Spending tax-payer money on anti-wolf and state government and approximately lobbyists4 interference in recovery plans 28 in Mexico 7 photo©Robin Silver photo©Robin Disappearing Dancers: Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) The greater sage-grouse is an umbrella species— protecting it protects over 350 other types of plants and wildlife—for sagebrush environments. When the sage- grouse is distressed, the entire landscape is likely ailing.5 Sage-grouse require large areas of unspoiled, miles of leks instead of 4 mile buffers healthy sagebrush habitat. PROTECTING A 5 percent surface disturbance maximum in SAGE-GROUSE POPULATIONS SAFEGUARDS Wyoming vs. the recommended 3 percent THE ENTIRE HABITAT, INCLUDING OTHER Exceptions, waivers, and modifications to WILDLIFE SUCH AS ELK, PRONGHORNS, the plan, creating loopholes for develop- PYGMY RABBITS, SAGEBRUSH SONGBIRDS, ment AND FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. Now, the Department of Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, on behalf of the Trump Admin- istration, favors ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY SCIENCE IGNORED CHANGES AND PLAN AMENDMENTS, THAT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO WEAKEN SAGE- Based on science, the greater sage-grouse GROUSE PROTECTIONS PROMISED UNDER should have been listed as endangered un- THE PLANS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service der the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Docket No. FWS–HQ–ES–2019–0009; FF09E21000 FXES11190900000 167]
    This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 10/10/2019 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2019-21478, and on govinfo.gov DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–HQ–ES–2019–0009; FF09E21000 FXES11190900000 167] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Domestic and Foreign Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notification of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of review. SUMMARY: In this candidate notice of review (CNOR), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), present an updated list of plant and animal species that we regard as candidates for or have proposed for addition to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Identification of candidate species can assist environmental planning efforts by providing advance notice of potential listings, and by allowing landowners and resource managers to alleviate threats and thereby possibly remove the need to list species as endangered or threatened. Even if we subsequently list a candidate species, the early notice provided here could result in more options for species management and recovery by prompting earlier candidate conservation measures to alleviate threats to the species. This document also includes our findings on resubmitted petitions and describes our 1 progress in revising the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists) during the period October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae
    DANIELLE WALKUP Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-2258 Email: [email protected] Education Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas Ph.D. – Wildlife and Fisheries Science – December 2018 Western New Mexico University - Silver City, New Mexico M.A.T. - Secondary Education - May 2010 B.S. - Forestry & Wildlife - May 2008 Research Experience Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Post-doctoral Research Associate Aug 2018 - Present Graduate Research Assistant Aug 2013 – Aug 2015; May 2016 – Dec 2016 Research Assistant Apr – Sept 2011; Apr 2012 – Aug 2013 • 2012-2016 – Led mark-recapture studies with project PIs, organized field operations, maintained equipment and schedules, analyzed data, prepared publications and technical reports, trained and supervised field technicians • 2011-13 - Led pitfall trapping studies with project PIs, conducted mark-recapture studies, supervised project logistics Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM Assistant to P.I Feb – Dec 2013 • Assisted in designing the post-fire plant survey protocol in comparative survey sites in the Gila National Forest • Collected, identified and preserved vegetation from established survey sites Biological Field Manager Oct 2012 – Apr 2013 • Analyzed data; writing reports and papers on Common Blackhawk data collected from 2010-2012 • Data entry and analysis of Cliff-Gila Valley bird surveys Biology Field Assistant May-Aug 2009; May- Aug 2010; Apr-Dec 2011 • In plots along the Gila River, used a GPS to mark locations of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers, Yellow-Billed Cuckoos, Common Blackhawks, and other birds • Surveyed and identified populations of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers, identifying breeding males and territories • Assisted in writing summary reports of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Common Blackhawk monitoring results for distribution to the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidelines for Determining Significance and Report Format and Content Requirements
    COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING SIGNIFICANCE AND REPORT FORMAT AND CONTENT REQUIREMENTS BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP Department of Planning and Land Use Department of Public Works Fourth Revision September 15, 2010 APPROVAL I hereby certify that these Guidelines for Determining Significance for Biological Resources, Report Format and Content Requirements for Biological Resources, and Report Format and Content Requirements for Resource Management Plans are a part of the County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group's Guidelines for Determining Significance and Technical Report Format and Content Requirements and were considered by the Director of Planning and Land Use, in coordination with the Director of Public Works on September 15, 2O1O. ERIC GIBSON Director of Planning and Land Use SNYDER I hereby certify that these Guidelines for Determining Significance for Biological Resources, Report Format and Content Requirements for Biological Resources, and Report Format and Content Requirements for Resource Management Plans are a part of the County of San Diego, Land Use and Environment Group's Guidelines for Determining Significance and Technical Report Format and Content Requirements and have hereby been approved by the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) of the Land Use and Environment Group on the fifteenth day of September, 2010. The Director of Planning and Land Use is authorized to approve revisions to these Guidelines for Determining Significance for Biological Resources and Report Format and Content Requirements for Biological Resources and Resource Management Plans except any revisions to the Guidelines for Determining Significance presented in Section 4.0 must be approved by the Deputy CAO.
    [Show full text]
  • Rin 1018–Bc57
    This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 01/08/2020 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2019-28461, and on govinfo.gov DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2017–0053; 4500030113] RIN 1018–BC57 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for the Hermes Copper Butterfly with 4(d) Rule and Designation of Critical Habitat AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Hermes copper butterfly (Lycaena [Hermelycaena] hermes), a butterfly species from San Diego County, California, and Baja California, Mexico, as a threatened species and propose to designate critical habitat for the species under the Endangered Species Act (Act). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act’s protections to this species as described in the proposed rule provisions issued under section 4(d) of the Act, and designate approximately 14,249 hectares (35,211 acres) of critical habitat in San Diego County, California. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Hermes copper butterfly. DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. We must receive requests for public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by [INSERT DATE 45 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
    [Show full text]
  • Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Habitat
    TECHNICAL NOTES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE NEW MEXICO September, 2011 BIOLOGY TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 53 CRITERIA FOR BRUSH MANAGEMENT (314) in Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Habitat Introduction NRCS policy requires that when providing technical and financial assistance NRCS will recommend only conservation treatments that will avoid or minimize adverse effects, and to the extent practicable, provide long-term benefit to federal candidate species (General Manual 190 Part 410.22(E)(7)). This technical note provides the criteria to ensure that the NRCS practice of Brush Management (314) will avoid or minimize any adverse effects to two Candidate Species for Federal listing: the lesser prairie chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (LEPC), and dunes sagebrush lizard Sceloporus arenicolus (DSL). Species Involved The lesser prairie chicken is a species of prairie grouse native to the southern high plains of the U.S.; including the sandhill rangelands of eastern New Mexico. The dunes sagebrush lizard is native only to a small area of southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, with a habitat range that overlaps the lesser prairie chicken range, but only occurs in the sand dune complexes associated with shinnery oak (Quercus havardii Rydb.). Both species’ habitat includes a component of brush: shinnery oak and/or sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia Torr.). See Appendix 1 and 2 for more details on each species. Geographic Area Covered by Technical Note No. 53 encompasses private and state lands within the range that supports the dunes sagebrush lizard and lesser prairie chicken habitat. This includes portions of seven counties in New Mexico: Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Roosevelt, and Quay counties.
    [Show full text]
  • Petition to List the Sand Dune Lizard, Sceloporus Arenicolus As A
    Petition to List the Sand Dune Lizard Sceloporus arenicolus as a Threatened or Endangered Species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act Center for Biological Diversity May, 2002 Ms. Gayle Norton Secretary of the Interior Office of the Secretary Department of the Interior 18th and "C" Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 The Center for Biological Diversity, Chihuahuan Desert Conservation Alliance and Noah Greenwald hereby formally petition to list the Sand Dune Lizard ( Sceloperus arenicolus) as endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. (hereafter referred to as "ESA"). This petition is filed under 5 U.S.C. 553(e) and 50 CFR 424.14 (1990), which grants interested parties the right to petition for issue of a rul e from the Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Petitioners also request that Critical Habitat be designated concurrent with the listing, as required by 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(6)(C) and 50 CFR 424.12, and pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 553). Petitioners understand that this petition action sets in motion a specific process placing definite response requirements on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and very specific time constraints upon those responses. See 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b). Petitioners: Center for Biological Diversity is a non-profit public interest organization dedicated to protecting the diverse life forms of western North America. It has offices in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Chihuahuan Desert Conservation Alliance works to encourage the understanding, appreciation and protection of all the elements of the Chihuahuan Desert.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 72/Thursday, April 14, 2011/Proposed Rules
    20918 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 72 / Thursday, April 14, 2011 / Proposed Rules not provide information indicating how require empirical proof of a threat. The DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR climate change might potentially impact combination of exposure and some the prairie chub. The prairie chub has corroborating evidence of how the Fish and Wildlife Service persisted for millennia with periods of species is likely impacted could suffice. extreme weather events, such as The mere identification of factors that 50 CFR Part 17 droughts and floods. If climate change could impact a species negatively may [Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2010–0031; MO causes more extreme weather events, not be sufficient to compel a finding 92210–0–0008–B2] there is no information to indicate that that listing may be warranted. The such events will have a negative impact information must contain evidence Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on the prairie chub. At this time, we sufficient to suggest that these factors and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a lack sufficient certainty to know may be operative threats that act on the Petition To List Hermes Copper specifically how climate change will species to the point that the species may Butterfly as Endangered or Threatened affect the species. We are not aware of meet the definition of threatened or any data at an appropriate scale to endangered under the Act. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, evaluate habitat or population trends for Interior. Because we have found that the the prairie chub within its range, make ACTION: Notice of 12-month petition petition presents substantial predictions about future trends, or finding.
    [Show full text]
  • Lycaena Hermes)
    RARE BUTTERFLY MANAGEMENT STUDIES ON CONSERVED LANDS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY: HERMES COPPER (LYCAENA HERMES) Translocation Final Report Prepared for: San Diego Association of Governments Contract: #5004388 Contract Manager: Keith Greer Prepared by: Dr. Daniel Marschalek and Dr. Douglas Deutschman, PI Department of Biology, San Diego State University 5 August 2016 Executive Summary The Hermes copper (Lycaena hermes) is a rare butterfly endemic to San Diego County and northern Baja California. This species is threatened by recent urbanization and wildfires throughout its range in the United States. In April of 2011 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a 12-month finding which concluded that listing the Hermes copper butterfly as threatened or endangered was warranted, and is currently on the USFWS list of candidate species (USFWS 2011). Our research has documented several extirpations due to the 2003 and 2007 wildfires, but few recolonizations despite what appears to be suitable habitat. Although a few small populations exist within and north of the city of San Diego, the majority of Hermes copper individuals are found to the east and southeast of the city between the footprints of 2003 and 2007 fires. Due to the extremely restricted distribution, the species is highly vulnerable since one large fire could push the species to the brink of extinction. Recolonization into post-wildfire habitats is essential for the long-term persistence of Hermes copper; however, it appears that habitat fragmentation is limiting dispersal and preventing recolonizations from occurring. For these reasons, we initiated a project to evaluate translocation as a management tool for establishing self-sustaining Hermes copper populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Monitoring the Status of Hermes Copper (Lycaena Hermes) on Conserved Lands in San Diego County: 2010 - 2012
    Monitoring the Status of Hermes Copper (Lycaena hermes) on Conserved Lands in San Diego County: 2010 - 2012 Photo: Spring L. Strahm Prepared For: San Diego Association of Governments Keith Greer MOU # 5001442 Prepared By: SL Strahm1, DA Marschalek1,2, DH Deutschman1 and ME Berres2 1 San Diego State University 2 University of Wisconsin San Diego, CA 92182 Madison, WI 53706 Date: December 31, 2012 Executive Summary The Hermes copper butterfly, Lycaena [Hermelycaena] hermes, is a rare butterfly endemic to San Diego County, which is threatened by recent urbanization and wildfires. In 2011 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service placed Hermes copper on its candidate species list. This SANDAG funded project began in 2010, focusing on collecting population data for the first two years. In 2012 the emphasis shifted to resolving critical biological uncertainties which will deepen our understanding of the species for improved planning and management of Hermes copper. This report is structured around a conceptual model developed collaboratively during a workshop on conceptual models for monitoring and management. We addressed a number of model aspects, including population sizes and locations, dispersal and genetics, egg biology and reproductive behavior. In 2012 the number of Hermes copper adults observed was moderate when compared to totals of 2010 and 2011, however we had few detections at sparsely populated sites in the northern portion of its distribution. We also added two additional sites at Boulder Creek Road (near Cuyamaca Peak) and Potrero Peak (near Potrero). Boulder Creek Road was densely populated, Potrero Peak was moderate. Landscape genetics suggest that individuals from peripheral populations in the northern and western portion of the Hermes copper distribution generally exhibit increased differentiation compared to populations in the central region of their range (McGinty Mountain, Sycuan Peak, and Lawson Peak areas).
    [Show full text]
  • Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service
    Monday, November 9, 2009 Part III Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:08 Nov 06, 2009 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\09NOP3.SGM 09NOP3 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS3 57804 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 215 / Monday, November 9, 2009 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR October 1, 2008, through September 30, for public inspection by appointment, 2009. during normal business hours, at the Fish and Wildlife Service We request additional status appropriate Regional Office listed below information that may be available for in under Request for Information in 50 CFR Part 17 the 249 candidate species identified in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. General [Docket No. FWS-R9-ES-2009-0075; MO- this CNOR. information we receive will be available 9221050083–B2] DATES: We will accept information on at the Branch of Candidate this Candidate Notice of Review at any Conservation, Arlington, VA (see Endangered and Threatened Wildlife time. address above). and Plants; Review of Native Species ADDRESSES: This notice is available on Candidate Notice of Review That Are Candidates for Listing as the Internet at http:// Endangered or Threatened; Annual www.regulations.gov, and http:// Background Notice of Findings on Resubmitted endangered.fws.gov/candidates/ The Endangered Species Act of 1973, Petitions; Annual Description of index.html.
    [Show full text]
  • Rhamnus Crocea Nutt
    I.SPECIES Rhamnus crocea Nutt. and Rhamnus ilicifolia Kellogg NRCS CODE: Family: Rhamnaceae 1. RHCR Order: Rhamnales 2. RHIL Subclass: Rosidae Class: Magnoliopsida Rhamnus crocea, San Bernardino Co., 5 June 2015, A. Montalvo Rhamnus ilicifolia, Riverside Co., Rhamnus ilicifolia, Riverside Co. Note the finely serrulate leaf 10 June 2015. A. Montalvo margins. 7 March 2008. A. Montalvo A. Subspecific taxa 1. None recognized by Sawyer (2012b) or in 2019 Jepson e-Flora whereas R. pilosa is recognized as R. c. 1. RHCR Nutt. subsp. pilosa (Trel.) C.B. Wolf in the PLANTS database (USDA PLANTS 2018). 2. RHIL 2. None B. Synonyms 1. RHCR 1 . Rhamnus croceus (spelling variant noted by FNA 2018) 2. RHIL 2. Rhamnus crocea Nutt. subsp. ilicifolia (Kellogg) C.B. Wolf; R. c. Nutt. var. ilicifolia (Kellogg) Greene (USDA PLANTS 2018) last modified: 3/4/2020 RHCR RHIL, page 1 printed: 3/10/2020 C. Common name The name red-berry, redberry, redberry buckthorn, California red-berry, evergreen buckthorn, spiny buckthorn, and hollyleaf buckthorn have been used for multiple taxa of Rhamnus (Painter 2016 a,b) 1. RHCR 1. Spiny redberry (Sawyer 2012a); also little-leaved redberry (Painter 2016a) 2. RHIL 2. Hollyleaf redberry (Sawyer 2012b); also holly-leaf buckthorn, holly-leaf coffeeberry (Painter 2016b) D. Taxonomic relationships There are about 150 species of Rhamnus worldwide and 14 in North America, 6 of which were introduced from other continents (Nesom & Sawyer 2018, FNA). This is after splitting the genus into Rhamnus (buckthorns and redberries) and Frangula (coffeeberries) based on a combination of fruit, leaf venation, and flower traits (Johnston 1975, FNA).
    [Show full text]
  • Sceloporus Arenicolus
    Status and Habitat of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard at the Proposed Site for the International Isotopes Fluorine Products Facility in Lea County, New Mexico PREPARED FOR International Isotopes Fluorine Products, Inc. PREPARED BY Terry Scarafiotti, Wildlife Biologist GL ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. P.O. BOX 1746 LAS VEGAS, NM 87701 (505) 454-0830 IIFP Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Survey Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 3 M ETHODS ............................................................................................................................ 3 R ESULTS .............................................................................................................................. 3 S ite D e scrip tio n ........................................................................................................................... 3 Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Habitat Description ......................................................................... 3 C ONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 4 PHOTOS AND FIGURES ................................................................................................. 5 Photo 1. Shortgrass prairie with interm ittent m esquite .......................................................... 6 Photo 2. Shortgrass prairie with interm ittent m esquite .......................................................... 6 Photo 3. Sandy-loam
    [Show full text]