ETWP; Rule Listing Five Plants From Monterey County, CA, as Endangered or Threatened

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) determines endangered status pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for four plants: Astragalus tener var. titi (coastal dunes milk-vetch), Piperia yadonii (Yadon's piperia), Potentilla hickmanii (Hickman's potentilla), and Trifolium trichocalyx (Monterey clover); and threatened status for Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana (Gowen cypress). The five taxa are found primarily along the coast of northern Monterey County, California, with one species also occurring in San Mateo County and historical populations of another occurring in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. The five plant taxa are threatened by one or more of the following: alteration, destruction, and fragmentation of habitat resulting from urban and golf course development; recreational activities; competition with alien species; and disruption of natural fire cycles due to fire suppression associated with increasing residential development around and within occupied habitat. Astragalus tener var. titi and Potentilla hickmanii are also more susceptible to extinction by random events due to their small numbers of populations or individuals. This rule implements the Federal protection and recovery provisions afforded by the Act for these plant taxa. A notice of withdrawal of the proposal to list the black legless lizard (Anniella pulchra nigra), which was proposed for listing along with the five plant taxa considered in this rule, is published concurrently with this rule.