Contacts
Jeff Foss, Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, Boise, Idaho (208) 378-5243
Wendi Weber, Pacific Regional Office, Portland, Oregon (503) 231- 6158
Conservation Measures Will Minimize Impacts to Species
Federal Register Notice
Frequently Asked Questions
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced the withdrawal of its proposal to list slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
After re-analyzing information and evaluating recently formalized conservation plans, the Service made two determinations: 1) There is not strong evidence of a negative population trend for the species, and 2) conservation efforts will reduce risk to the species to a level that would not meet the Act’’s definition of endangered or threatened.
The decision followed an 18 month process that included multiple scientific reviews by independent experts, extensive risk analysis and public comment. During this time, state and Federal parties and private landowners worked together to develop conservation plans that would protect the slickspot peppergrass.
Dave Allen, Regional Director of the Service’s Pacific Region, praised their efforts.
"This is an outstanding example of cooperative conservation between the State of Idaho, private landowners, the military, and Federal partners," Allen said. "The commitment among the Cooperating Parties demonstrates that listing a species is not necessarily the only means to achieve conservation."
The slickspot peppergrass, which resembles the garden flower sweet alyssum, is conserved by three different conservation measures:
• A Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA) developed by the Bureau of Land Management,
the State of Idaho, the Idaho Army National Guard, and several private property owners who hold BLM grazing permits (Cooperating Parties). Memorandums of Agreement have been established between the State of Idaho and several private landowners who volunteered to implement conservation measures for the species on more than 17,000 acres of private land.
• Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans of the U.S. Air Force which was updated to addresses the protection and conservation of slickspot peppergrass.
• The on going conservation activities currently being implemented by the Idaho Air National Guard.
Jeff Foss, Field Supervisor of the Service's Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, said development of the CCA was a group effort involving parties with sometimes opposing views.
"Among the parties at the table, we acknowledged our differences, set them aside, and then focused on areas of shared interest to develop a solid conservation plan under a tight deadline," Foss said.
The Service will work with the CCA Cooperating Parties to implement the plan and to ensure the conservation of this plant. The Service will work closely with all partners to further conservation of this plant, coordinate studies, and adapt management to address new information.
Slickspot peppergrass is a herbaceous annual or biennial plant that occurs in sagebrush steppe habitats in southwestern Idaho, including the Snake River Plain, Owyhee Plateau, and adjacent foothills in Ada, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, and Payette counties. The plant ranges from 4 to 12 inches in height, and has many tiny, white flowers that resemble the garden flower sweet alyssum. Slickspot peppergrass typically grows in "slickspots," which are small areas (microsites) within larger sagebrush habitat.
The total area of sagebrush steppe habitat containing occurrences of slickspot peppergrass is about 20,500 acres. Of this, 91% (18,655 acres) is on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Air Force (USAF); 3% (615 acres) is on private land; 6% (1,230 acres) occurs on state land; and a small amount of city and county land contains the plant.
The Service determined slickspot peppergrass to be a Candidate Species in October, 1999. In November, 2001, the Service was sued by the Committee for Idaho's High Desert and Western Watersheds Project for failure to issue an emergency rule to list the plant, and for failing to proceed with a proposed rule to list it as endangered or threatened. Based upon a settlement agreement between the Service and the plaintiffs, the court signed an order for the Service to publish a proposal to list the species by July 15, 2002, and a final determination or finding by July 15, 2003.
On July 15, 2002, the Service published a proposed rule to list the species as endangered (67FR 46441). Public comments were solicited during two 60 day comment periods (July 15 September 13, 2002 and September 25 November 25, 2002). Public hearings were held in Boise and Grand View, Idaho. State and federal agencies, county governments, scientific organizations, and other interested parties provided input on the proposal. In accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Service found that there was substantial disagreement regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of the available data relevant to the proposed listing rule for slickspot peppergrass. On July 16, 2003, the Service announced a six month extension to better enable the agency to make a final determination over whether to list the plant under ESA. The Service then convened a panel of experts in ecology, land use, as well as slickspot peppergrass, to assist with better understanding the level of uncertainty associated with the best available scientific information.
During the 6 month extension, a Candidate Conservation Agreement for slickspot peppergrass was developed between the Bureau of Land Management, the State of Idaho, Idaho Army National Guard, and several private property owners who hold BLM grazing permits (Cooperating Parties). The CCA was developed by the Cooperating Parties with technical advice from the Service on policy and science. On October 30, 2003, a 15 day public comment period was established soliciting public review and comment on the CCA and the Service's "Best Available Scientific Information for Slickspot Peppergrass" document.
The Service also worked with the U.S. Air Force and the Idaho Army National Guard to update their Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans (INRMPs) to further address conservation needs for slickspot peppergrass.
Conservation measures in the CCA and INRMPs include increased wildfire protection and minimum impact fire suppression and rehabilitation practices, treatment of noxious weeds, adjustment to grazing practices, and measures to reduce ground disturbance in and around slickspots.
Based on a thorough additional analysis and recent advancements in formalized conservation efforts, particularly those implemented through the CCA, the Service has concluded that slickspot peppergrass the species is not likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.
For more information, please contact Jeff Foss, Field Supervisor, at the Service's Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, Idaho 83709; 208 378 5243. This news release and supporting information are posted on the Service's website at: http://idahoes.fws.gov.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 542 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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