50896 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 188 / Monday, September 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules

information available, the petition

presented substantial information that

listing A. gentilis in the contiguous

United States west of the 100th

meridian as a threatened or endangered

species may be warranted. The Service

determines that, although significant

disagreement may exist as to the status

of this species, the petition presents

substantial information that indicates

northern goshawks in the petitioned

region may be declining in response to

habitat loss and modification, and lack

of existing regulatory mechanisms.

Upon completion of a thorough status

review, a 12-month finding will be

made to determine whether listing is

warranted for the northern goshawk in

the western contiguous United States.

The Service seeks any additional data,

information, or comments from the

public, other concerned government

agencies, the scientific community,

industry, or any other interested party

concerning the status of A.g. atricapillus

and A.g. apache. The Service is

interested in information from

throughout the subspecies’ ranges in the

United States, Canada, and Mexico. The

following issues are of particular

interest to the Service—

1. The genetic, morphological, and

ecological differences, including

variations or intergradation of A.g.

atricapillus and A.g. apache within

their range;

2. Data on historic and current

population trends and dynamics, and

documented or suspected influencing

factors which may assist in determining

population trends;

3. Reproduction trends and

documented or suspected influencing

factors;

4. Trends in loss, modification, and

recovery of forested habitat of the two

subspecies, and the extent and affect of

habitat conversion and fragmentation on

goshawks and their prey;

5. Taxonomic clarification of North

American goshawk subspecies;

6. Migration and dispersal; and

7. Information on the status of the

goshawk in Canada and Mexico, as well

as information on its management and

relevant regulatory mechanisms.

References Cited

A complete list of all references cited

herein is available on request from the

Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological

Services Field Office, (see ADDRESSES

section).

Authors

The primary authors of this document

are Michele James and Bruce K. Palmer,

of the Arizona Ecological Services Field

Office, (see ADDRESSEES section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the

Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.).

Dated: September 22, 1997.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97–25695 Filed 9–26–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018–AE37

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants; Proposed Threatened

Status for Virginia sneezeweed

(Helenium virginicum), a Plant From

the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) proposes to list Helenium

virginicum (Virginia sneezeweed) as a

threatened species, under the authority

of the Endangered Species Act of 1973,

as amended (Act). This rare plant is

restricted to seasonally inundated

sinkhole ponds and meadows in

Augusta and Rockingham counties,

Virginia. Five of the 25 known extant

populations are on U.S. Forest Service

land; the others are on private land.

This perennial plant is threatened by

residential development, incompatible

agricultural practices, filling and

ditching of its wetland habitat and other

disruptions of its habitat and the

hydrology that maintains it. At several

sites, ditches have been constructed to

reduce the length of time that standing

water is present. This has caused the H.

virginicum population at one of the sites

to be reduced to near extinction.

Helenium virginicum is presently listed

as endangered by the State of Virginia.

This proposal, if made final, would

implement Federal protection and

recovery provisions afforded by the Act

for this species.

DATES: Comments from all interested

parties must be received by November

28, 1997. Public hearing requests must

be received by November 13, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials

concerning this proposal should be sent

to the Field Supervisor, Chesapeake Bay

Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive,

Annapolis, MD 21401. Comments and

materials received will be available for

public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andy Moser, Chesapeake Bay Field

Office (see ADDRESSES section)

(telephone 410/573–4537; facsimile

410/269–0832).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Helenium virginicum (Virginia

sneezeweed) is a perennial member of

the aster family (Asteraceae) known

only from Augusta and Rockingham

counties, Virginia. The common name,

sneezeweed, is based on the use of the

dried leaves of these plants in making

snuff, inhaled to cause sneezing that

would supposedly rid the body of evil

spirits (Niering 1979). Helenium

virginicum stems grow to a height of 4

to 11 decimeters (1.5 to 3.5 feet) above

a rosette of basal leaves. Coarse hairs are

visible on the basal and lower stem

leaves. The basal leaves may be broad in

the middle tapering toward the ends,

but otherwise may appear oblong. Stem

leaves are lance-shaped, and become

progressively smaller from the base to

the tip of the stem. The stems are

winged, the wings being continuous

with the bases of the stem leaves. The

flower ray petals are yellow, and wedgeshaped with three lobes at the ends. The

central disk of the flower is nearly ballshaped. Flowering occurs from July to

October (Virginia Department of

Conservation and Recreation 1995).

Helenium virginicum is similar to

common sneezeweed (Helenium

autumnale), but differs in having a

sparsely-leaved stem, larger basal

leaves, and longer pappus scales

(appendages which crown the ovary or

fruit). It is also differentiated by leaf

shape, stem and leaf hairs, and habitat

requirements.

Helenium virginicum was first

described by S.F. Blake in 1936 from

specimens collected near Stuart’s Draft,

Virginia. It is a perennial wetland

species found only on the shores of

shallow, seasonally flooded ponds in

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. From

1985 through 1995, extensive status

survey work was conducted for H.

virginicum in over 100 limestone

sinkhole ponds along the western edge

of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the

Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. A total

of 28 separate populations were located

during these surveys. The ponds at

these locations range in size from less

than 0.04 hectare(ha) (0.1 acre (ac)) to 3

ha (8 ac) and are seasonally flooded,

semipermanent, or permanent bodies of

water. The ponds supporting H.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 188 / Monday, September 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules 50897

virginicum have poorly drained, acidic,

silty loam soils, and are typically

flooded from January through July.

Helenium virginicum is adapted to

survive the water level fluctuations of

the seasonal ponds, giving it a

competitive advantage in this habitat.

From year to year, the number of H.

virginicum plants at any given site may

vary greatly. A high water level one year

may leave the ponds flooded, resulting

in less shoreline for plants to become

established or to survive. However, a

high water level also eliminates the

invading shrubs and trees that may

compete with H. virginicum on the pond

shores. When the water level is lower,

more pond shore is exposed and the

surviving plants and the seeds stored in

the soil enable the H. virginicum

populations to rebound (Virginia

Department of Conservation and

Recreation 1995).

Seeds of Helenium virginicum are

dispersed in late fall and winter;

germinating in late summer or early fall

of the following year if conditions are

suitable. Seeds will not germinate in the

dark or under a standing column of

water. In the first year of growth, the

plant exists as a basal rosette with a

diffuse root system. Plants seem to grow

year-round, even while submerged.

Flowering usually does not occur until

the plant is more than one year old. One

aerial stem bearing several flower heads

is formed during the first flowering

season; in subsequent years several

flowering stems may be formed in a

season. Plants may live for five years,

flowering in consecutive years (J.S.

Knox, Washington and Lee University,

pers. comm. 1997).

Of the 28 populations of Helenium

virginicum identified during the 10-year

survey period, 25 currently are

considered to be extant. The remaining

three populations, where no H.

virginicum have been seen in recent

years, may be extirpated. Of the 25

extant populations, 5 are on U.S. Forest

Service land and the remaining 20 are

on private lands. The most recent status

report (Van Alstine 1996) provides an

excellent review of the status and trends

for the species. The report indicates that

the majority of sites on private land are

in wetlands and have a range of

disturbances and threats including

ditching, filling, mowing, and grazing.

Previous Federal Action

Federal government actions on this

species began on November 28, 1983,

when the Service published a notice of

review in the Federal Register (48 FR

53640) covering all native plants being

considered for listing as endangered or

threatened. Helenium virginicum was

included in that notice as a category 2

species. Category 2 species were defined

as those taxa for which the Service

lacked information to determine if

category 1 status was warranted. It was

subsequently retained as a category 2

species when the Notice of Review for

Native Plants was revised in 1985 (50

FR 39526), and again in 1990 (55 FR

61184).

In 1985, the Service contracted with

The Nature Conservancy to conduct

status survey work on Helenium

virginicum and numerous other rare

plant species. Their final report, dated

October 20, 1986, recommended

threatened status for this plant but

indicated that additional ponds should

be checked for the presence of this

species.

In 1990 and 1991, the Virginia

Department of Conservation and

Recreation’s Division of Natural

Heritage conducted further fieldwork,

funded in part by the Service, to locate

additional Helenium virginicum

populations. An exhaustive search

resulted in the discovery of seven

additional locations of the species, but

three of these locations contained very

few individuals. Based largely on this

new information, H. virginicum was

moved to category 1 when the Notice of

Review for Plant Taxa was revised in

1993 (58 FR 51144). Category 1 species

were defined as those taxa for which the

Service had on file sufficient

information on biological vulnerability

and threats to support preparation of

listing proposals. Upon publication of

the February 28, 1996, Notice of Review

(61 FR 7596), the Service ceased using

category designations and included H.

virginicum as a candidate species. As

currently defined, candidate species are

those taxa for which the Service has on

file sufficient information on biological

vulnerability and threats to support

proposals to list the species as

threatened or endangered.

Summary of Factors Affecting the

Species

Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1513)

and regulations (50 CFR Part 424)

promulgated to implement the listing

provisions of the Act set forth the

procedures for adding species to the

Federal lists. A species may be

determined to be an endangered or

threatened species due to one or more

of the five factors described in section

4(a)(1). These factors and their

application to Helenium virginicum

Blake (Virginia sneezeweed) are as

follows:

A. The present or threatened

destruction, modification, or

curtailment of its habitat or range.

Habitat modification is the principal

threat to Helenium virginicum. It is

threatened by residential development,

incompatible agricultural practices,

filling and ditching of wetland habitats,

groundwater withdrawal, and other

disruptions of hydrology. Because the

survival and maintenance of H.

virginicum populations depend on

seasonal water level fluctuations, either

wetland drainage or increases in the

time of inundation may result in high

levels of mortality. Of the 18

populations visited in 1995, eight were

located in relatively undisturbed

wetlands, while the remaining 10 were

in wetlands altered by ditching,

mowing, grazing or filling (Van Alstine

1996). At least four of the sites where

recently the species has dramatically

declined have modified hydrology (Van

Alstine and Ludwig 1991). Three of

these sites have been either ditched or

filled, thereby shortening or eliminating

the wet phase.

Among the most threatened

populations of Helenium virginicum are

those in the area south and southwest of

Lyndhurst, Virginia, where land use is

increasingly being converted from

agricultural to residential. Increased

drainage control which accompanies

such development will adversely affect

many of the sites located on or near

agricultural lands over the next 10 years

(Van Alstine and Ludwig 1991).

One proposed project, the widening of

Route 340 from two to four lanes in

Augusta County, could have severe

impacts on one of the largest

populations of Helenium virginicum.

However, it may be possible to avoid or

reduce impacts by careful routing of the

highway, controlling runoff, and

maintaining current hydrology.

Cattle grazing and mowing affect

many of the sites supporting the species.

In general, the effects of moderate levels

of grazing and mowing appear to be

beneficial, since several of the regularly

grazed or mowed sites are among the

largest and best established populations.

Nonetheless, there is a potential that

overly frequent, or poorly timed

mowing (and perhaps overgrazing)

could have a long-term adverse effect on

the species by interfering with flowering

and seed production (Van Alstine and

Ludwig 1991).

B. Overutilization for commercial,

recreational, scientific or educational

purposes. Other species in the genus

Helenium have been shown to contain

compounds with antitumor properties.

However, there is no information to

show that Helenium virginicum is in

commercial trade for these compounds.

Overcollection has not been

documented as a problem for the
50898 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 188 / Monday, September 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules

species. Most collections, to date, have

been for scientific purposes and have

been taken from locally large

populations which can tolerate these

low levels of collection. Overcollection

could become a problem at some of the

sites supporting smaller populations of

H. virginicum.

C. Disease or predation. Disease and

predation are currently not believed to

be factors affecting the continued

existence of the species. Although

grazing may affect Helenium virginicum,

its effects are thought to be mostly

positive, because most grazers appear to

feed preferentially on competing

vegetation while avoiding H.

virginicum. The effects of long-term

heavy grazing are not known.

D. The inadequacy of existing

regulatory mechanisms. Helenium

virginicum is currently listed as an

endangered species by the State of

Virginia. State law prohibits the taking

of this species from State or private

lands without consent of the landowner

but does not protect the species’ habitat.

The Corps of Engineers’ regulatory

program provides limited regulation of

the species’ wetland habitats. This has

not prevented draining and filling of

sites supporting the species.

E. Other natural or manmade factors

affecting its continued existence.

Invasion of an exotic species, the purple

loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), is a

potential threat. Purple loosestrife is

slowly extending its range throughout

freshwater wetland areas in Virginia and

may invade Helenium virginicum

habitats, outcompeting the species at

affected sites. Climate changes (either

natural or human-caused) are also a

potential threat to the species. Several

consecutive years of unusually wet or

unusually dry weather can dramatically

lower population numbers; at these

times the populations may be especially

vulnerable to the modifications to

hydrology discussed under factor A.

The Service has carefully assessed the

best scientific and commercial

information available regarding the past,

present, and future threats faced by this

species in determining to propose this

rule. Based on this evaluation, the

preferred action is to list Helenium

virginicum as a threatened species. This

species is faced with increasing threats

from loss and degradation of habitat due

to development and related changes in

hydrology as well as other activities

incompatible with the species long-term

survival. These threats are compounded

by the species’ restricted range and

small number of populations. While not

in immediate danger of extinction, H.

virginicum is likely to become an

endangered species in the foreseeable

future if the present threats and declines

in the number and sizes of populations

continue. In accordance with the

definitions for endangered and

threatened species found in section 3 of

the Act, threatened is the most

appropriate classification for H.

virginicum.

Critical Habitat

Critical habitat is defined in section 3

of the Act as: (i) The specific areas

within the geographical area occupied

by a species, at the time it is listed in

accordance with the Act, on which are

found those physical or biological

features (I) essential to the conservation

of the species and (II) that may require

special management consideration or

protection and; (ii) specific areas

outside the geographical area occupied

by a species at the time it is listed, upon

a determination that such areas are

essential for conservation of the species.

Conservation means the use of all

methods and procedures needed to

bring the species to the point at which

listing under the Act is no longer

necessary.

Section 4(a)(3) of the Act, as

amended, and implementing regulations

(50 CFR 424.12) require that, to the

maximum extent prudent and

determinable, the Secretary designate

critical habitat at the time the species is

determined to be endangered or

threatened. The Service finds that

designation of critical habitat is not

prudent for Helenium virginicum, at this

time. Service regulations (50 CFR

424.12(a)(1)) state that designation of

critical habitat is not prudent when one

or both of the following situations

exist—(1) The species is threatened by

taking or other human activity, and

identification of critical habitat can be

expected to increase the degree of threat

to the species, or (2) such designation of

critical habitat would not be beneficial

to the species.

Twenty of the 25 known extant

populations of Helenium virginicum are

on private land. Most of these

populations are located near or adjacent

to residential areas or public roads. The

publication of precise maps and

descriptions of critical habitat in the

Federal Register, as required in a

proposal for critical habitat, would

make this plant vulnerable to incidents

of collection and vandalism and,

therefore, could contribute to the

decline of the species. Although this

species is not known to be sought by

collectors, related members of the genus

are commercially cultivated and at least

one member of the genus, H. amarum,

has been shown to contain compounds

of possible medicinal value. The listing

of this species as threatened also

publicizes its rarity and, thus, may make

this plant more attractive to researchers,

collectors, and those wishing to see rare

plants. The desirability and accessibility

of the species, therefore, could make the

plants subject to collection if their

precise locations were publicized.

In addition, critical habitat

designation for Helenium virginicum is

not prudent due to lack of benefit. Five

of the species’ 25 known extant

populations occur on Federal land in

the George Washington and Jefferson

National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service

is aware of the locations of these

populations and has protected four of

them through designation as Special

Interest Areas (Biological). The fifth

population, discovered more recently, is

likely to receive a similar designation.

The Forest Service has indicated a

commitment to assisting in the recovery

of this species by protecting these sites.

Because it is highly likely that a Forest

Service activity which would cause

adverse modification of critical habitat

would also cause jeopardy to the

species, the designation of critical

habitat on Federal lands would not

provide greater protection for this

species or its habitat than that provided

by listing.

The remaining 20 of the 25 known

extant populations of Helenium

virginicum are located on private lands.

The owners and managers of these

private lands were informed of the

population locations and of the

importance of protecting the species and

its habitat. It is highly likely that an

activity on private land involving

Federal permitting or funding which

causes adverse modification of critical

habitat would also cause jeopardy to the

species. For this reason, the designation

of critical habitat on private lands

would not provide greater protection for

this species or its habitat than that

provided by listing. As outlined above,

the designation of critical habitat could

cause additional threats but likely

would provide no additional benefits for

the species. Therefore, the Service

concludes that designation of critical

habitat for H. virginicum is not prudent.

Available Conservation Measures

Conservation measures provided to

species listed as endangered or

threatened under the Act include

recognition, recovery actions,

requirements for Federal protection, and

prohibitions against certain activities.

Recognition through listing encourages

and results in conservation actions by

Federal, State, and local agencies,

private organizations, and individuals.

The Act provides for possible land
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 188 / Monday, September 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules 50899

acquisition and cooperation with the

states and requires that recovery plans

be developed for all listed species. The

protection required of Federal agencies

and the prohibitions against certain

activities involving listed plants are

discussed, in part, below.

Section 7(a) of the Act requires

Federal agencies to evaluate their

actions with respect to any species that

is listed or proposed for listing as

endangered or threatened and with

respect to those species’ designated or

proposed critical habitat, if any.

Regulations implementing this

interagency cooperation provision of the

Act are codified at 50 CFR part 402.

Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires

Federal agencies to confer with the

Service on any action that is likely to

jeopardize the continued existence of a

proposed species or result in the

destruction or adverse modification of

proposed critical habitat. If a species is

listed subsequently, section 7(a)(2)

requires Federal agencies to ensure that

activities they authorize, fund, or carry

out are not likely to jeopardize the

continued existence of such a species or

to destroy or adversely modify its

critical habitat. If a Federal action may

affect a listed species or its critical

habitat, the Federal agency must enter

into formal consultation with the

Service. Federal agency actions that may

require conference and/or consultation

include U.S. Forest Service land

management activities and U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers permitting of

projects such as road construction and

filling of wetlands subject to section 404

of the Clean Water Act (U.S.C. 1344 et

seq.).

The Act and its implementing

regulations set forth a series of general

trade prohibitions and exceptions that

apply to all threatened plants. All

prohibitions of section 9(a)(2) of the Act,

implemented by 50 CFR 17.71, apply.

These prohibitions, in part, make it

illegal for any person subject to the

jurisdiction of the United States to

import or export, transport in interstate

or foreign commerce in the course of a

commercial activity, sell or offer for sale

in interstate or foreign commerce, or

remove and reduce the species to

possession from areas under Federal

jurisdiction. In addition, for plants

listed as endangered, the Act prohibits

the malicious damage or destruction on

areas under Federal jurisdiction and the

removal, cutting, digging up, or

damaging or destroying of such plants

in knowing violation of any State law or

regulation, including State criminal

trespass law. Section 4(d) of the Act

allows for the provision of such

protection to threatened species through

regulation. The protection may apply to

this species in the future if regulations

are promulgated. Seeds from cultivated

specimens of threatened plants are

exempt from these prohibitions

provided that their containers are

marked ‘‘Of Cultivated Origin.’’ Certain

exceptions to the prohibitions apply to

agents of the Service and State

conservation agencies.

The Act and 50 CFR 17.72 also

provide for the issuance of permits to

carry out otherwise prohibited activities

involving threatened plants under

certain circumstances. Such permits are

available for scientific purposes and to

enhance the propagation or survival of

the species. For threatened plants,

permits are also available for botanical

or horticultural exhibition, education

purposes, or special purposes consistent

with the purposes of the Act. In the case

of Helenium virginicum, it is anticipated

that few trade permits would ever be

sought or issued since the species is not

common in cultivation nor in the wild.

It is the policy of the Service

published in the Federal Register on

July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34272), to identify

to the maximum extent practicable at

the time a species is listed those

activities that would or would not

constitute a violation of section 9 of the

Act. The intent of this policy is to

increase public awareness of the effect

of this listing on proposed and ongoing

activities within the species’ range.

Collection, damage, or destruction of

listed species on Federal lands is

prohibited, although in appropriate

cases a Federal endangered species

permit may be issued to allow

collection. Such activities on nonFederal lands would constitute a

violation of section 9, if conducted in

knowing violation of State law or

regulations or in violation of State

criminal trespass law. The Service is not

aware of any otherwise lawful activities

being conducted or proposed by the

public that would affect Helenium

virginicum and result in a violation of

section 9. Questions regarding whether

specific activities would constitute a

violation of section 9 should be directed

to the Field Supervisor of the Service’s

Chesapeake Bay Field Office (see

ADDRESSES section).

Requests for copies of the regulations

concerning listed plants and general

inquiries regarding prohibitions and

permits may be addressed to the Federal

Wildlife Permit Office, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

20240 (703/235–1903).

Public Comments Solicited

The Service intends that any final

action resulting from this proposal will

be as accurate and as effective as

possible. Therefore, the Service hereby

solicits comments or suggestions from

the public, other concerned

governmental agencies, the scientific

community, industry, or any other

interested party concerning this

proposed rule. Comments particularly

are sought concerning:

(1) Biological, commercial trade, or

other relevant data concerning any

threat (or lack thereof) to Helenium

virginicum;

(2) The locations of any additional

populations of this species and the

reasons why any habitat should or

should not be determined to be critical

habitat pursuant to section 4 of the Act;

(3) Additional information concerning

the range and distribution of the

species; and

(4) Current or planned activities in the

subject area and their possible impacts

on the species.

Final promulgation of the regulation

on this species will take into

consideration the comments and any

additional information received by the

Service, and such communications may

lead to a final regulation that differs

from this proposal.

The Endangered Species Act provides

for a public hearing on this proposal, if

requested. Requests must be received

within 45 days of the date of publication

of this proposal in the Federal Register.

Such requests must be made in writing

and be addressed to the Field

Supervisor, Chesapeake Bay Field Office

(see ADDRESSES section).

National Environmental Policy Act

The Fish and Wildlife Service has

determined that Environmental

Assessments and Environmental Impact

Statements, as defined under the

authority of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, need not be

prepared in connection with regulations

adopted pursuant to section 4(a) of the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended. A notice outlining the

Service’s reasons for this determination

was published in the Federal Register

on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

Required Determinations

The Service has examined this

regulation under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 and found it to

contain no information collection

requirements.

References Cited

Blake, S.F. 1936. A New Helenium from

Virginia. Claytonia 3(2):13–15.

Niering, W.A. 1979. The Audubon Society

Field Guide to North American

Wildflowers—Eastern Region. Alfred A.

Knopf, New York. p. 383.
50900 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 188 / Monday, September 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules

Van Alstine, N.E. 1996. A Reassessment of

the Status of the Helenium virginicum

Populations in the Shenandoah Valley of

Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical

Report 96–6. VA Dept. of Conservation

and Recreation, Richmond, VA.

Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. 36pp.

Van Alstine, N.E., and J.C. Ludwig. 1991.

Natural Heritage Inventory: Helenium

virginicum. 1990 Final Report. VA Dept.

of Conservation and Recreation, Div. of

Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.

Unpublished report. 50pp.

Virginia Department of Conservation and

Recreation. 1995. Natural Resources Fact

Sheet—Virginia Sneezeweed (Helenium

virginicum). VA Dept. of Conservation

and Recreation, Richmond, VA. 2pp.

Author

The primary author of this proposed

rule is Andy Moser, Chesapeake Bay

Field office (see ADDRESSES section).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and threatened species,

Exports, Imports, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements,

Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

Accordingly, the Service hereby

proposes to amend part 17, subchapter

B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of

Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 17

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 16 U.S.C.

1531–1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201–4245; Pub. L. 99–

625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 17.12(h) is amended by

adding the following, in alphabetical

order under FLOWERING PLANTS, to

the List of Endangered and Threatened

Plants:

§ 17.12 Endangered and threatened plants.

* * * * *

(h) * * *

Species

Historic range Family name Status When listed Critical

habitat

Special

rules Scientific name Common name

FLOWERING PLANTS

* * * * * * *

Helenium virginicum Virginia sneezeweed U.S.A. (VA) ............. Asteraceae .............. T NA NA

* * * * * * *

Dated: September 15, 1997.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97–25694 Filed 9–26–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P