Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determinations of Whether Designation of Critical Habitat Is Prudent for 20 Plant Species and the Proposed Designations of Critical Habitat for 32 Plant Species From the Island of Molokai, Hawaii

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have reconsidered our findings concerning whether designating critical habitat for 20 federally protected plants from the island of Molokai, some of which may also occur on other Hawaiian Islands, would be prudent. The 20 plants were listed as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), between 1991 and 1999. At the time each plant was listed, we determined that designation of critical habitat was not prudent because designation would increase the degree of threat to the species and/or would not benefit the plant. We determine that critical habitat is prudent for 19 of these species (Bidens wiebkei, Brighamia rockii, Canavalia molokaiensis, Clermontia oblongifolia ssp. brevipes, Cyanea dunbarii, Cyanea mannii, Cyanea procera, Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus, Lysimachia maxima, Mariscus fauriei, Marsilea villosa, Melicope reflexa, Phyllostegia mannii, Schiedea lydgatei, Schiedea sarmentosa, Silene alexandri, Silene lanceolata, Stenogyne bifida, and Tetramolopium rockii) because the potential benefits of designating critical habitat essential for the conservation of these species outweigh the risks that may result from human activity because of critical habitat designation. We propose that critical habitat designation is not prudent for one species, Pritchardia munroi, because it would likely increase the threat from vandalism or collection of this species on Molokai. This proposed rule also proposes designation of critical habitat for 17 of these 20 species. Critical habitat is not proposed for two species, Lysimachia maxima and Phyllostegia mannii, that are currently found only in areas on Molokai that do not require special management consideration or protection because they are already protected and managed to the benefit of these species. Thus, these areas do not meet the definition of critical habitat. For one additional species from Molokai, Labordia triflora, we determined that designation of critical habitat was prudent at the time of its listing as an endangered species in 1999. Critical habitat designation for this species is proposed at this time. In other proposed rules we determined that critical habitat was prudent for 19 species that occur on Molokai as well as on Kauai, Niihau, Maui, Kahoolawe, and/or Lanai. The determinations were included in proposed rules for Kauai and Niihau, published on November 7, 2000, for Maui and Kahoolawe, published on December 18, 2000, or for Lanai, published on December 27, 2000. These species are: Adenophorous periens, Alectryon macrococcus, Centarium sebaeoides, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana, Diellia erecta, Hedyotis mannii, Hesperomannia arborescens, Ischaemum byrone, Melicope mucronulata, Neraudia sericea, Peucedanum sandwicense, Plantago princeps, Platanthera holochila, Schiedea nuttallii, Sesbania tomentosa, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Vigna o-wahuensis, and Zanthoxylum hawaiiense. Critical habitat designations for 14 of the 19 species on Molokai are proposed at this time. Critical habitat is not proposed for five of these species (Adenophorus periens, Hedyotis mannii, Plantago princeps, Plantanthera holochila, and Schiedea nuttallii) that currently are found in areas on Molokai that do not require special management or protection because they are already protected and managed to the benefit of these species. Thus, these areas do not meet the definition of critical habitat. Critical habitat designations for 32 species within 28 critical habitat units on the Hawaiian island of Molokai are proposed at this time. We solicit data and comments from the public on all aspects of this proposal, including data on the economic and other impacts of the proposed designations. We may revise this proposal to incorporate or address new information received during the comment period.