ETWP; Withdrawal of Proposed Rule to List the Plants Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans (shining milk-vetch) and Astragalus lentiginosus var. sesquimetralis (Sodaville milk-vetch as Threatened

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) withdraws the proposed rule to list Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans (shining milk-vetch) and Astragalus lentiginosus var. sesquimetralis (Sodaville milk-vetch) as threatened, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). These plants are two of seven desert Astragalus taxa from California and Nevada that were included in a proposed rule published on May 8, 1992 (57 FR 19844). Since the proposed rule was published, management of the lands which support one population of A. lentiginosus var. sesquimetralis and both locations where A. lentiginosus var. micans occurs, have been transferred to wilderness under management of the National Park Service at Death Valley National Park. Based on evaluation of this information and public comments, and reevaluation of existing data, the Service has determined that evidence of sufficient threat warranting the listing of Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans and Astragalus lentiginosus var. sesquimetralis is not present at this time. The Service will continue to monitor the status of these species and may reevaluate the need for their listing at any time in the future on the basis of new information and/or actual or potential habitat alteration detrimental to the plants' continued existence.