Final Determination to De-list Johnston’s Frankenia

About the Document

Title: Final Determination to De-list Johnston’s Frankenia (Frankenia johnstonii)

Purpose: In the May 22, 2003, proposed delisting rule (68 FR 27961) and associated notifications, we invited all interested parties to submit comments or information that might contribute to the final delisting determination for this species by August 20, 2003.  We solicited comments from independent scientific reviewers concurrently with public review of the proposed delisting rule in accordance with our July 1, 1994, Interagency Cooperative Policy for Peer Review in Endangered Species Act Activities (59 FR 34270).

About the Peer Review Process

Type of Review: Influential

Date of Peer Review: May- August 2003

Estimated Dissemination Date: The Final Determination to De-list Johnston’s frankenia is estimated to be disseminated by October 2007.

Rule to be Finalized: September-October 2006

Process: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service solicited comments from four individuals possessing knowledge and expertise in botany and ecology of plants in southern Texas and northern Mexico. All four peer reviewers responded to our request.

Peer reviewers were selected on the basis of their expertise in the areas of conservation biology, biogeography with an emphasis on plants, botany, and familiarity with the south Texas landscape and plant communities within the context of past and present land management practices. One reviewer was recommended by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for his botanical expertise in northern Mexico where the Johnston’s frankenia occurs. He teaches Plant Geography and Experimental Forestry at the University Autonoma of Nuevo Leon where he is a faculty member in the School of Forestry. A second peer reviewer was selected by Service staff based on her academic background in botany and work experience in conservation biology, threats analysis and her familiarity with rare plant issues in the state of Texas. A third peer reviewer was selected by the Service for his expertise in the use of Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing technologies to assess natural resources and their management. He was also selected based on his former work for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department conducting biological surveys, rare species and plant community research as well as his expertise on the conservation and classification of natural plant communities in Texas. A fourth peer reviewer was invited to review the draft delisting rule and supporting documentation due to his extensive field knowledge of South Texas plants and land management scenarios.

As volunteers, the peer reviewers were asked to adhere to several guidelines in order to help the Service ensure that the best biological information was used in the Service’s decision-making process. The Service specifically requested that the peer reviewers closely examine the proposed rule and provide written comments on the validity and adequacy of the data provided, with regard to whether the data was sufficient to support the proposed action of removing this plant from the list of threatened & endangered species. Additionally, reviewers were asked to identify any other data or studies that were relevant to the proposed action. Finally, peer reviewers were asked to consider whether other alternatives to the proposed action were more appropriate under the ESA. Peer reviewer’s input is addressed within the Summary of Comments & Recommendations section of the draft Final Rule. Criteria for reviewer selections included:

• Expertise: Reviewers should have knowledge in one or more of the following areas: conservation biology, biogeography with an emphasis on plants, botany, and familiarity with the south Texas landscape and plant communities within the context of past and present land management practices.

• Independence: Reviewers should not be employed by the Service. Academic and consulting scientists should have sufficient independence from the Service or the Department if the government supports their work.

• Objectivity: Reviewers should be recognized by their peers as being objective, open-minded, and thoughtful. The reviewers should be comfortable sharing their knowledge and identifying their knowledge gaps.

• Advocacy: Reviewers should not be known or recognized for an affiliation with an advocacy position regarding the protection of this species under the Endangered Species Act.

• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should not have any financial or other interest that conflicts or that could impair their objectivity.

About Public Participation

The public had an opportunity to provide comments on the proposed Determination to De-list Johnston’s frankenia during a comment period from May-August 2003. The public was notified of the availability of the determination through a press release and publication of a notice in the Federal register. The Service will incorporate all comments into the final determination and notify the public of its completion and availability on the Service’s web site. All completed documents related to this action are available at http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/SpeciesReport.do?spcode=Q1WH

Contact: Robyn Cobb, Corpus Christi Ecological Services Field Office, at Robyn_Cobb@fws.gov or 361-994-9005 ext. 241.