ETWP; Proposal To Delist the California Plant Berberis (=Mahonia) sonnei (Truckee barberry)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to delist or remove Berberis (=Mahonia) sonnei (Truckee barberry) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. We propose this action based on a review of all available data, which indicate that this plant is not a discrete taxonomic entity and does not meet the definition of a species (which includes subspecies and varieties of plants) as defined by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Berberis sonnei has been synonymized with B. repens, a common and widespread taxon with a distribution from California northward to British Columbia and Alberta, and eastward to the Great Plains. If made final, this proposed rule would eliminate Federal protection for Berberis sonnei under the Act. Comments from the public regarding this proposal are sought.