[Federal Register: January 28, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 18)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 4207-4212] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr28ja98-25] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AE57 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Threatened Status for the Plant Astragalus Desereticus (Deseret milk- vetch) AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to determine a Utah plant species, Astragalus desereticus (Deseret milk- vetch), to be a threatened species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Astragalus desereticus, considered extinct for 72 years prior to 1981, exists as one small population in Utah County, Utah. Threats to the plant include residential development, livestock grazing, livestock and wildlife trampling, and threats associated with small population size. This proposal, if made final, would implement Federal protection provided by the Act. The Service seeks data and comments from the public on this proposal. DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by March 30, 1998. Public hearing requests must be received by March 16, 1998. ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lincoln Plaza Suite 404, 145 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John L. England at the above address (telephone: 801/524-5001, ext. 138). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Marcus E. Jones collected a distinctive Astragalus from ``below Indianola,'' a town in Sanpete County, Utah, on June 2, 1893. The same species was again collected by Ivar Tidestrom from ``near Indianola'' on June 17, 1909. Specimens from these two collections lay in obscurity in various herbaria until Rupert Barneby recognized their uniqueness and described them as Astragalus desereticus (Barneby 1964). Efforts to relocate the species were initially fruitless (Barneby 1964; Welsh 1978a, 1978c), leading to a presumption of extinction (Ripley 1975; Welsh 1975, 1978b). However, a population of A. desereticus was discovered by Elizabeth Neese on May 27, 1981, on a sandstone outcrop above the town of Birdseye, Utah County, Utah, less than 16 kilometers (km) (10 miles (mi)) from Indianola (Welsh and Chatterley 1985). This population remains the only known occurrence of this species (Franklin 1990, 1991; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 1991). It is possible that this population is the one from which Jones and/or Tidestrom made their collections more than 70 years earlier (Franklin 1990, 1991; Welsh and Chatterley 1985). Astragalus desereticus is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the bean family (Fabaceae). Individual plants are approximately 4 to 15 centimeters (cm) (2 to 6 inches (in)) in height, with stems about 6 cm (2 in) tall. The pinnately compound leaves are 4 to 11 cm (2 to 4 in) long with 11 to 17 leaflets. The leaflets are elliptic to ovate in shape, with dense silvery gray hairs on both sides. The flowers are 1.8 to 2.2 cm (0.7 to 0.9 in) long, white in color with a purple tip on the keel, and borne on a stalk of 5 to 10 flowers. The seed pods are 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) long, covered with lustrous hairs, and bear 14 to 16 ovules (Barneby 1964; Barneby in Cronquist et al. 1989; Welsh 1978c; Welsh et al. 1987). Astragalus desereticus occurs primarily on steep south- and west- facing slopes. The plant grows on soils derived from a specific and unusual portion of the geologic Moroni Formation. This geologic feature is characterized by coarse, crudely bedded conglomerate (Franklin 1990). The plant community in which A. desereticus occurs is dominated by pinon pine (Pinus edulis) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma). Other associated plant species include: sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), scrub oak (Quercus gambelii), and wild buckwheat (Eriogonum brevicaule) (Franklin 1990). The only known population of Astragalus desereticus consists of between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals growing in an area of less than 120 hectares (ha) (300 acres (ac)) (Franklin 1990, Stone 1992). The species' total range is approximately 2.6 km (1.6 mi) long and 0.5 km (0.3 mi) across. Extensive searches of similar habitat in other parts of Utah have not revealed any other populations (Franklin 1991; Larry England, USFWS, pers. comm., 1997). The land upon which A. desereticus grows is owned by the State [[Page 4208]] of Utah and three private landowners (Franklin 1990, 1991; Chris Montague, The Nature Conservancy, pers. comms., 1992, 1997). This plant species is threatened by grazing and trampling by ungulates, alteration of its habitat due to residential development and road widening, and naturally occurring events such as fire, due to its limited distribution. Previous Federal Action Section 12 of the Act directed the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to prepare a report on those plants considered to be endangered, threatened, or extinct. This report, designated as House Document No. 94-51, was presented to Congress on January 9, 1975. On July 1, 1975, the Service published a notice in the Federal Register (40 FR 27823) accepting the report as a petition to list those taxa named therein under section 4(c)(2) (now 4(b)(3)) of the Act, and its intention to review the status of those plants. Astragalus desereticus was included in the July 1, 1975, notice on list ``C,'' indicating that the species was probably extinct. On June 16, 1976, the Service published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (41 FR 24523) to designate approximately 1,700 vascular plant species, including Astragalus desereticus, as endangered pursuant to section 4 of the Act. The list of those 1,700 plant species was assembled on the basis of comments and data received by the Smithsonian Institution and the Service in response to House Document No. 94-51 and the July 1, 1975, Federal Register publication. In the proposed rule, the Service also designated A. desereticus as a species about which the Service was particularly interested in obtaining any new information on living specimens and extant populations. General comments received in relation to the 1976 proposal are summarized in an April 26, 1978, Federal Register publication (43 FR 17909). The 1978 amendments to the Act required that all proposals over 2 years old be withdrawn, although proposals published before the 1978 amendments' enactment could not be withdrawn before the end of a 1-year grace period beginning on the enactment date. On December 10, 1979, the Service published a notice of withdrawal (44 FR 70796) of that portion of the June 16, 1976, proposal that had not been made final, which included A. desereticus. On December 15, 1980, the Service published a revised notice of review for native plants in the Federal Register (45 FR 82480) designating Astragalus desereticus a category 1 candidate species. Category 1 candidates were defined as those taxa for which the Service had on file information on biological vulnerability and threats to support the preparation of listing proposals. In addition, A. desereticus was identified as a species that may have recently become extinct. In 1981, a population of A. desereticus was discovered. On November 28, 1983, the Service published a revised notice of review in the Federal Register (48 FR 53640) in which A. desereticus was included as a category 2 candidate species. Category 2 candidates were formerly defined as taxa for which data on biological vulnerability and threats indicated that listing was possibly appropriate, but for which data were not sufficient to support issuance of listing proposals. In preparing the 1983 notice, the Service deemed it appropriate to acquire additional information on the distribution and abundance of A. desereticus before proposing the species for listing. The Service maintained A. desereticus as a category 2 species in updated notices of review published on September 27, 1985 (50 FR 39526), and February 21, 1990 (55 FR 6184). As a result of additional information obtained in 1990 and 1991 status surveys (Franklin 1990, USFWS 1991), the Service reclassified A. desereticus as a category 1 candidate in the September 30, 1993, notice of review (58 FR 51144). In the February 28, 1996, notice of review (61 FR 7596), the Service discontinued the designation of category 2 candidates. Astragalus desereticus was included as a candidate in the February 28, 1996 (61 FR 7596), and September 19, 1997, notices of review (62 FR 49398). The processing of this proposed rule conforms with the Service's final listing priority guidance for fiscal year 1997, published in the Federal Register on December 5, 1996 (61 FR 64475). In a Federal Register notice published on October 23, 1997 (62 FR 55628), the guidance was extended beyond fiscal year 1997 until new guidance is published following passage of the fiscal year 1998 appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior. The fiscal year 1997 guidance clarifies the order in which the Service will process rulemakings following two related events: (1) The lifting on April 26, 1996, of the moratorium on final listings imposed on April 10, 1995 (Public Law 104- 6), and (2) the restoration of significant funding for listing through passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act on April 26, 1996, following severe funding constraints imposed by a number of continuing resolutions between November 1995 and April 1996. Based on biological considerations, this guidance establishes a ``multi-tiered approach that assigns relative priorities, on a descending basis, to actions to be carried out under section 4 of the Act'' (61 FR 64479). The guidance calls for giving highest priority to handling emergency situations (Tier 1) and second highest priority (Tier 2) to resolving the listing status of the outstanding proposed listings. Tier 3 includes the processing of new proposed listings for species facing high magnitude threats. This proposed rule for Astragalus desereticus falls under Tier 3. The guidance states that ``effective April 1, 1997, the Service will concurrently undertake all of the activities presently included in Tiers 1, 2, and 3'' (61 FR 64480). The Service has thus begun implementing a more balanced listing program, including processing more Tier 3 activities. The completion of this Tier 3 activity (a proposal for a species with high-magnitude, imminent threats) follows those guidelines. Summary of Factors Affecting the Species Section 4 of the Act and regulations (50 CFR part 424) promulgated to implement the listing provisions of the Act set forth the procedures for adding species to the Federal lists. A species may be determined to be endangered or threatened due to one or more of the five factors described in section 4(a)(1). These factors and their application to Astragalus desereticus Barneby (Deseret milk-vetch) are as follows: A. The Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or Curtailment of Its Habitat or Range Astragalus desereticus is located on highly accessible public and private land that is used for cattle grazing and wildlife management (Franklin 1991, Stone 1992). The land managed by the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is a wildlife management area that is also used for cattle grazing (Franklin 1991). Cattle are used by DWR in the spring to encourage plant growth for big game forage in the winter. This grazing occurs within the habitat of A. desereticus (Stone 1992). The cattle tend to concentrate primarily on the upslope areas where forage production is greater (Stone 1992). Erosion in these areas is exacerbated by cattle grazing and game trails. In addition to the effects of erosion, trampling threatens A. desereticus, particularly at the southern end of the range (Franklin 1991). As cattle and [[Page 4209]] wildlife graze the habitat of A. desereticus, the animals are likely to trample plants as they forage. Whereas mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) have maintained stable numbers recently, Rocky Mountain elk (Cervas elephas) populations are increasing. Erosion and trampling by cattle and wildlife constitute threats to A. desereticus. Development in the Wasatch Front metropolitan area is spreading into the surrounding agricultural lands, especially small communities in the drainages of the Provo, Spanish Fork, and Weber rivers (Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget (UGOPB) 1997). Areas such as Birdseye are predicted to be rezoned residential within a short time. The population growth of the metropolitan area is expected to nearly double by the year 2020. In addition, conversion of agricultural land to urban use is also expected to nearly double in the same time period (UGOPB 1997). The entire Astragalus desereticus population is within 300 meters (1,000 feet) of U.S. Highway 89 and is within the area proposed for future development (UGOPB 1997). Transportation needs of the expanding population will also require roads to be widened or improved. U.S. Highway 89 is currently a two-lane rural highway that will likely be expanded when residential development expands into southern Utah County and northern Sanpete County. Such highway widening and the concomitant residential development could destroy a significant portion of the remaining habitat of A. desereticus. A potential threat to Astragalus desereticus is related to the populations of ungulates in the area and their effect on pollinators. Other species in the genus Astragalus have suffered from low numbers of pollinators due to the indirect effects ungulates may have on the pollinators' nest sites (Stone 1992). Bumblebees (Bombus sp.), which nest in abandoned rodent burrows, are likely the primary pollinators of A. desereticus. Land use practices which increase grazing pressure may cause burrows to collapse, destroying bumblebee nests (Stone 1992). Since bees have low fecundity, their populations may not recover for many years, particularly if grazing by large numbers of ungulates is maintained. B. Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or Educational Purposes Overutilization is not known to be a threat to Astragalus desereticus. C. Disease or Predation In contrast to many species of Astragalus, A. desereticus appears to be palatable to cattle. Many Astragalus species concentrate the toxic element selenium in their tissues; these species, called selenophytes, poison grazing cattle (Stone 1992). The fact that A. desereticus does not produce a ``snakelike'' odor typical of other ``snakeweeds,'' as selenophytes are sometimes called, and the fact that no other selenophytes occur in the area, indicate that A. desereticus is not a selenophyte (Stone 1992). While A. desereticus may not be preferred forage for cattle or native ungulates, it is palatable and may be inadvertently taken along with preferred forage in the area. In habitat similar to that occupied by Astragalus desereticus in Utah County that has been surveyed by Service personnel, overgrazing by domestic ungulates has almost completely denuded the landscape (USFWS 1991). Similar grazing pressure has been known from the current habitat of A. desereticus; therefore, the effects of grazing, particularly overgrazing, constitute a likely threat. This species is much less abundant in the more heavily grazed southern portion of its habitat (Franklin 1990, 1991), indicating that grazing may be a significant threat. Cattle grazing may be particularly harmful because it occurs during a critical period for A. desereticus reproduction (i.e., flowering) (Stone 1992). There are no known insect parasites or disease organisms that significantly affect this species. D. The Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms Astragalus desereticus presently receives no protection or consideration under any Federal, State or local law or regulation. E. Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting Its Continued Existence By virtue of the limited number of individuals and range of the single remaining population of Astragalus desereticus, this species may be threatened with extinction from naturally occurring events. The probability that a natural event such as a fire, drought, or disease will cause extinction is greater for species having a small population size and highly restricted range (Stone 1992). Rare species in the genus Astragalus have exhibited low levels of genetic diversity when compared to other more widespread, closely related species (Stone 1992). Low genetic variability may make it difficult for a species to respond to changes in the environment and thus places it at greater risk to extinction or additional range reduction. The Service has carefully assessed the best scientific and commercial information available regarding the past, present, and future threats faced by Astragalus desereticus in determining to propose this rule. Grazing and trampling by ungulates, residential development, road widening, and naturally occurring events such as fire variously threaten this species. Based on this evaluation, the preferred action is to list A. desereticus as threatened. Threatened status reflects the vulnerability of this species to factors that may negatively affect the species and its limited habitat. While not in immediate danger of extinction, A. desereticus is likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future if present threats continue or increase. Critical habitat is not being proposed for this species for reasons discussed in the ``Critical Habitat'' section of this proposal. Critical Habitat Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as: (i) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which are found those physical or biological features (I) essential to the conservation of the species and (II) that may require special management considerations or protection and; (ii) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed, upon determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. ``Conservation'' means the use of all methods and procedures needed to bring the species to the point at which listing under the Act is no longer necessary. Section 4(a)(3) of the Act and implementing regulations (50 CFR 424.12) require that, to the maximum extent prudent and determinable, the Secretary designate critical habitat at the time a species is determined to be endangered or threatened. Service regulations (50 CFR 424.12(a)(1)) state that designation of critical habitat is not prudent when one or both of the following situations exist: (1) The species is threatened by taking or other human activity, and identification of critical habitat can be expected to increase the degree of threat to the species, or (2) such designation of critical habitat would not be beneficial to the species. The Service determines that designation of critical habitat for [[Page 4210]] Astragalus desereticus is not prudent due to lack of benefit to the species. Critical habitat receives consideration under section 7 of the Act with regard to actions carried out, authorized, or funded by a Federal agency (see Available Conservation Measures section). As such, designation of critical habitat may affect activities on Federal lands and may affect activities on non-Federal lands where such a Federal nexus exists. Under section 7 of the Act, Federal agencies are required to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of a species or result in destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. However, both jeopardizing the continued existence of a species and adverse modification of critical habitat have similar standards and thus similar thresholds for violation of section 7 of the Act. In fact, biological opinions that conclude that a Federal agency action is likely to adversely modify critical habitat but not jeopardize the species for which the critical habitat has been designated are extremely rare. Also, the designation of critical habitat for the purpose of informing Federal agencies of the locations of Astragalus desereticus habitat is not necessary because the Service can inform Federal agencies through other means. For these reasons, the designation of critical habitat for A. desereticus would provide no additional benefit to the species beyond that conferred by listing, and therefore, such designation is not prudent. Astragalus desereticus has an extremely narrow distribution in a sandstone outcrop, totaling about 120 ha (300 ac) in one population. At the present time, no other site is known to be occupied by or suitable for this plant. The private landowners at Birdseye are aware of the plant's presence and extremely limited habitat, as are the DWR managers and others involved in management of the area. Therefore, designation of critical habitat would provide no benefit with respect to notification. In addition, given the species' narrow distribution and precarious status, virtually any conceivable adverse effect to the species' habitat would very likely jeopardize its continued existence. Designation of critical habitat for A. desereticus would, therefore, provide no benefit to the species apart from the protection afforded by listing the plant as threatened. Protection of the habitat of Astragalus desereticus will be addressed through the section 4 recovery process and the section 7 consultation process. Although this plant occurs only on private and State land, it may be affected by projects with Federal connections, including potential Federal Highway Administration funding of road widening. The Service believes that activities involving a Federal action which may affect A. desereticus can be identified without designating critical habitat, by providing Federal agencies with information on the location of occupied habitat and information on the kinds of activities which could affect the species. For the reasons discussed above, the Service finds that the designation of critical habitat for A. desereticus is not prudent. Available Conservation Measures Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or threatened under the Act include recognition, recovery actions, requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain practices. Recognition through listing results in public awareness and conservation actions by Federal, State and local agencies, private organizations, and individuals. The Act provides for possible land acquisition and cooperation with the States and requires that recovery actions be carried out for all listed species. The protection required of Federal agencies and the prohibitions against certain activities involving listed plants are discussed, in part, below. Section 7(a) of the Act requires Federal agencies to evaluate their actions with respect to any species that is proposed or listed as endangered or threatened and with respect to its critical habitat, if any is designated. Regulations implementing this interagency cooperation provision of the Act are codified at 50 CFR part 402. Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to confer with the Service on any action that is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a proposed species or result in destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat. If a species is listed subsequently, section 7(a)(2) requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of such a species or to destroy or adversely modify its critical habitat. If a Federal action may affect a listed species or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency must enter into formal consultation with the Service. The single known population of Astragalus desereticus is on State and privately owned land. However, highway widening, which could adversely affect A. desereticus due to the proximity of the plants to the highway, could be partially funded by the Federal Highway Administration, thereby providing an avenue for section 7 consultation. The Act and its implementing regulations set forth a series of general prohibitions and exceptions that apply to all threatened plants. All prohibitions of section 9(a)(2) of the Act, implemented by 50 CFR 17.71 for threatened plants, apply. These prohibitions, in part, make it illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to import or export, transport in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of a commercial activity, sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce, or remove and reduce the species to possession from areas under Federal jurisdiction. In addition, for plants listed as endangered, the Act prohibits malicious damage or destruction on areas under Federal jurisdiction, and the removal, cutting, digging up, or damaging or destroying of such plants in knowing violation of any State law or regulation, including State criminal trespass law. Section 4(d) of the Act allows for the provision of such protection to threatened species through regulation. This protection may apply to this species in the future if such regulations are promulgated. Seeds from cultivated specimens of threatened plants are exempt from these prohibitions provided that their containers are marked ``Of Cultivated Origin.'' Certain exceptions to the prohibitions apply to agents of the Service and State conservation agencies. The Act and 50 CFR 17.72 also provide for the issuance of permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities involving threatened species under certain circumstances. Such permits are available for scientific purposes and to enhance the propagation or survival of the species. For threatened plants, permits are also available for botanical and horticultural exhibition, educational purposes, or special reasons consistent with the Act's purposes. With respect to Astragalus desereticus, it is anticipated that few, if any, trade permits would be sought or issued, since the species is not common in the wild and is unknown in cultivation. Requests for copies of the regulations regarding listed species and inquiries about prohibitions and permits may be addressed to: Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225. It is the policy of the Service, published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34272), to identify to the maximum extent practicable [[Page 4211]] those activities that would or would not constitute a violation of section 9 of the Act if a species is listed. The intent of this policy is to increase public awareness of the effect of a proposed listing on proposed and ongoing activities within a species' range. This species is not located on areas under Federal jurisdiction. Collection, damage, or destruction of this species on Federal lands is prohibited (although in appropriate cases a Federal endangered species permit may be issued to allow collection for scientific or recovery purposes). Such activities on areas not under Federal jurisdiction would constitute a violation of section 9 if conducted in knowing violation of State law or regulations, or in violation of State criminal trespass law. Normal highway maintenance, fence maintenance, and recreational hunting are among the activities that would be unlikely to violate section 9. Questions regarding whether specific activities would constitute a violation of section 9, should this species be listed, should be directed to the Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section). Public Comments Solicited The Service intends that any final action resulting from this proposal will be as accurate and effective as possible. Therefore, comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested party concerning this proposed rule are hereby solicited. In particular, comments are sought concerning: (1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning any threat (or lack thereof) to Astragalus desereticus; (2) The location of any additional populations of this species and the reasons why any habitat should or should not be determined to be critical habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act; (3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and population size of this species; and (4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their possible impacts on this species. A final determination of whether to list this species will take into consideration the comments and any additional information received by the Service. Such communications may lead to a final decision document that differs from this proposal. The Act provides for one or more public hearings on this proposal, if requested. Requests for hearings must be received within 45 days of the date of the publication of the proposal in the Federal Register. Such requests must be made in writing and be addressed to the Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section). National Environmental Policy Act The Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, as defined under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, need not be prepared in connection with regulations adopted pursuant to section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. A notice outlining the Service's reasons for this determination was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). Required Determinations This rule does not contain collections of information that require approval by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. References Cited A complete list of all references cited herein is available upon request from the Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section). Author: The primary author of this proposed rule is John L. England, Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section). List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Transportation. Proposed Regulation Promulgation Accordingly, the Service hereby proposes to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below: PART 17--[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted. 2. Amend section 17.12(h) by adding the following, in alphabetical order under Flowering Plants, to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants: Sec. 17.12 Endangered and threatened plants. * * * * * (h) * * * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Species -------------------------------------------------------- Historic range Family Status When listed Critical Special Scientific name Common name habitat rules -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flowering Plants * * * * * * * Astragalus desereticus........... Deseret milk-vetch.. U.S.A. (UT)........ Fabaceae........... T ........... NA NA * * * * * * * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 4212]] Dated: December 30, 1997. Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 98-2012 Filed 1-27-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P