[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56-61]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-32267]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC27


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of 
Endangered Status for Arabis Perstellata

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) determines 
endangered status for Arabis perstellata (rock cress) under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The 
species is made up of two subspecies occupying distinct geographic 
areas. The small rock cress (Arabis perstellata E. L. Braun var. 
perstellata Fernald) is currently known from 27 populations in 
Kentucky--24 in Franklin County, 2 in Owen County, and 1 in Henry 
County. The large rock cress (Arabis perstellata E. L. Braun var. ampla 
Rollins) is known from only two populations in Rutherford County, 
Tennessee. Both subspecies are endangered throughout their range due to 
habitat alteration; residential, commercial, or industrial development; 
timber harvesting; grazing and trampling; and competition with native 
and exotic weedy species, especially the European garlic mustard 
(Alliaria petiolata). This action extends Federal protection under the 
Act to the rock cress.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 2, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The complete file for this rule is available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield 
Court, Asheville, North Carolina 28806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. J. Allen Ratzlaff at the above address (704/655-1195, Ext. 229).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Both varieties of Arabis perstellata E.L. Braun, (Arabis 
perstellata E. L. Braun var. ampla Rollins, large rock cress, and 
Arabis perstellata E.L. Braun var. perstellata Fernald, small rock 
cress) are perennial members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). The 
large rock cress is known from only one county in Tennessee, and the 
small rock cress is known from only three counties in Kentucky. Both 
varieties have round stems and alternate leaves. Their stems and 
foliage have a grayish coloration due to the large quantity of hairs. 
Their stems arise from horizontal bases and grow up to 80 centimeters 
(cm) (31.5 inches) long, often drooping from rock ledges. Each year a 
basal rosette of leaves is produced, and new flowering branches emerge 
from the old rosette of the previous season. Their lower leaves vary 
from 4 to 15 cm (1.6 to 6.0 inches) long and are obovate to 
oblanceolate with slightly toothed and pinnatifid margins. Their upper 
leaves are smaller--up to 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) long--and are elliptic to 
oblanceolate, with coarse teeth along the margin. Both surfaces of 
their leaves are stellate-pubescent. The inflorescence is an elongate 
raceme with numerous flowers. Their flowers have four petals that are 3 
to 4 millimeters (mm) (0.12 to 0.16 inch) long, are white to lavender, 
and have four pale green sepals that are 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 inch) 
long. There are six stamens, with two shorter than the other four. The 
ovary is elongate, two-chambered, and develops into a silique. Fruiting 
stalks are about 1 cm (0.4 inch) long at maturity; siliques are up to 4 
cm (1.6 inches) long and are covered with both simple and stellate 
hairs. Flowering is from late March to early May. Fruits mature from 
mid-May to early June. Their oblong seeds are reddish brown; somewhat 
flattened; about 1 mm (0.04 inch) long; and, in places, minutely hairy 
(Jones 1991).
    Arabis perstellata was named by E.L. Braun from plants collected 
between 1936 and 1993 on wooded hillsides along Elkhorn Creek in 
Franklin County, Kentucky. Braun (1940) distinguished the new taxon 
from the similar Arabis dentata (Torr.) T. & G. (now called Arabis 
shortii (Fern.) Gleason) by its [[Page 57]] perennial habit; grayer, 
stellate pubescence of stems and leaves; and longer pedicels. Fernald 
(1946) treated A. shortii as a variety of A. perstellata, through it is 
now generally accepted that they represent two species (Kartesz and 
Kartesz 1980). In 1959, plants were discovered on steep limestone 
cliffs above the Stones River in Davidson County, Tennessee, by Dr. 
R.B. Channel. Rollins (1960) described these plants as Arabis 
perstellata var. ampla and distinguished them from the typical variety 
by their generally larger size, thinner and more entire leaves, and 
lesser pubescence. Rollins reported the chromosome number of the 
Tennessee plants as n=7. The chromosome number of the Kentucky plants 
has yet to be determined.
    Arabis perstellata is typically found on wooded steep slopes with 
limestone outcrops. The outcrops tend to be moist but not wet; rarely, 
plants can be found on seepy outcrops. They also may be found in 
protected areas, such as around the bases of larger trees, or in areas 
where there is little competition, such as around areas regularly 
scoured by talus movement or erosion. The plants have a well-developed 
system of rootstocks that allow them to persist in these inhospitable 
sites. Sometimes plants display a weedy tendency, colonizing recent 
road cuts or animal paths through the woodlands. The plants survive in 
full shade or filtered light, but are not found in full sunlight (Jones 
1991).
    The distribution of Arabis perstellata var. perstellata shows a 
strong correlation with the Kentucky River and its tributaries 
(primarily Elkhorn Creek), with the majority of sites occurring in 
Franklin County. No sites have been found south of Frankfort along the 
Kentucky River, although appropriate habitat appears to be present.
    Historically, Arabis perstellata var. ampla was also associated 
with calcareous bluff habitat of a specific river--the Stones River. 
The two extant populations are somewhat atypical compared to historic 
sites because they occur on rocky knobs about 15 miles from the Stones 
River (Jones 1991). The following is a description of the species' 
status within each State where it occurs.
    Tennessee. The following information on Arabis perstellata var. 
ampla in Tennessee is primarily from Jones (1991). All known Arabis 
perstellata var. ampla populations in Tennessee are from the Cumberland 
River Subsection of the Central Basin Physiographic Region. Prior to 
the status survey conducted by Jones (1991), there were three records 
of large rock cress in Davidson County and two in Rutherford County. 
All three of the sites in Davidson County have been extirpated, and one 
of the sites in Rutherford County could not be relocated. One 
additional population was discovered in Rutherford County during the 
status survey. Of the two remaining populations, one is small--about 25 
plants--and covers about 0.06 acre. The other population contains 
several hundred plants scattered over about 2.2 acres. Both sites are 
on private land and are threatened from competition by weedy invaders.
    Kentucky. The following information on Arabis perstellata var. 
perstellata in Kentucky is primarily from Jones (1991). All known 
Arabis perstellata var. perstellata populations in Kentucky are from 
the Eden Shale Belt Subsection of the Blue Grass Physiographic Region. 
Prior to the status survey conducted by Jones (1991), there were three 
counties in Kentucky with occurrence records for the small rock cress--
1 in Henry County, 2 in Owen County, and 26 in Franklin County. One 
site in Owen County and seven sites in Franklin County have been 
extirpated. There was insufficient information to locate four other 
historic records (two in Franklin County and two from unknown 
counties). However, 8 new populations were discovered during the status 
survey, and the 27 known small rock cress sites in Kentucky are 
distributed as follows: 1 population from Henry County, 2 populations 
from Owen County, and 24 populations from Franklin County. Of these 27 
populations, 10 have fewer than 100 individual plants and 12 have 20 or 
fewer.
    The immediate threats to the 27 remaining populations include the 
following--(1) 8 are threatened by weedy competitors, (2) 4 by weedy 
competitors and trampling, (3) 2 by trampling, (4) 1 by logging, and 
(5) 2 by road work. One of the largest populations was severely 
impacted by roadwork while the species was proposed for listing. The 
remaining 10 populations do not appear to have any immediate threats 
but are vulnerable to the aforementioned threats as well as other 
habitat alterations and potential inbreeding problems as neighboring 
populations decline. All of the Kentucky populations are privately 
owned. Three receive limited protection through their inclusion in 
State designated natural areas.

Previous Federal Actions

    Federal government actions on this species began with section 12 of 
the Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which directed the Secretary 
of the Smithsonian Institution to prepare a report on those plants 
considered endangered, threatened, or extinct. This report, designated 
as House Document No. 94-51, was presented to Congress on January 9, 
1975. On July 1, 1975, the Service published a notice (40 FR 27823) 
that formally accepted the Smithsonian report as a petition within the 
context of section 4(c)(2) (now section 4(b)(3)) of the Act. By 
accepting this report as a petition, the Service also acknowledged its 
intention to review the status of those plant taxa named within the 
report. Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis perstellata var. 
perstellata were included in the Smithsonian report and in the July 1, 
1975, Notice of Review. On June 16, 1976, the Service published a 
proposed rule (41 FR 24523) to determine approximately 1,700 vascular 
plant taxa to be endangered species pursuant to section 4 of the Act; 
Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis perstellata var. perstellata 
were included in that proposal.
    The 1978 amendments to the Act required that all proposals over 2 
years old be withdrawn. On December 10, 1979 (44 FR 70796), the Service 
published a notice withdrawing plants proposed on June 16, 1976. The 
revised notice of review for native plants published on December 15, 
1980 (45 FR 82480), included Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis 
perstellata var. perstellata as category 1 species. Category 1 species 
are those for which the Service has on file substantial information on 
biological vulnerability and threats to support the appropriateness of 
proposing to list the taxa as threatened or endangered. These 
subspecies were retained in their respective categories when the notice 
of review for native plants was revised in 1983 (48 FR 53640) and 1985 
(50 FR 39526), but Arabis perstellata var. ampla was then thought to be 
extinct. In the 1990 notice of review (50 FR 6184), Arabis perstellata 
var. ampla was retained as a category 1 species but was no longer 
thought to be extinct (i.e., it was rediscovered), and Arabis 
perstellata var. perstellata was placed in category 2 because the 
Service believed that additional searches of potential habitat and 
further identification of threats were needed before a decision could 
be made as to whether a proposed rule should be prepared to add the 
species to the list. (Category 2 species are those for which the 
Service has information indicating that proposing to list them as 
endangered or threatened may be appropriate but for which substantial 
data on biological [[Page 58]] vulnerability and threats are not 
currently known or on file to support the preparation of rules.) The 
Service funded surveys in 1989 in order to determine the status of 
Arabis perstellata var. perstellata in Kentucky. The contractors 
conducting the status survey for Arabis perstellata var. perstellata 
included a review of Arabis perstellata var. ampla in Tennessee. Final 
reports on these surveys were accepted by the Service in 1991.
    All plants included in the comprehensive plant notices are treated 
as under petition. Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act, as amended in 1982, 
requires the Secretary to make certain findings on pending petitions 
within 12 months of their receipt. Section 2(b)(1) of the 1982 
amendments further requires that all petitions pending on October 13, 
1982, be treated as having been newly submitted on that date. This was 
the case for Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis perstellata var. 
perstellata because of the acceptance of the 1975 Smithsonian report as 
a petition. From 1983 through 1990 the Service found that the 
petitioned listing of both varieties was warranted but precluded by 
higher priority species. In 1990, it was determined that listing of 
Arabis perstellata var. ampla was not warranted because data on 
distribution, vulnerability, and threats were incomplete. Status survey 
information received by the Service in 1991 completed these 
informational gaps and was sufficient and conclusive enough to support 
the proposed listing of Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis 
perstellata var. perstellata published in the Federal Register of 
January 3, 1994 (59 FR 53). The proposed listing represented the final 
petition finding for the large and small rock cresses.

Summary of Comments and Recommendations

    In the January 3, 1994, proposed rule, and through associated 
notifications, all interested parties were requested to submit factual 
reports and information that might contribute to the development of a 
final rule for the rock cress. Appropriate Federal and State agencies, 
county governments, scientific organizations, and interested parties 
were contacted by letters dated January 20, 1994. Legal notices were 
published in the ``Frankfort State Journal'' (Frankfort, Kentucky) on 
January 23, 1994 and in the ``Daily News Journal'' (Murfreesboro, 
Tennessee) on January 21, 1994.
    Four written responses were received on the proposed rule to list 
rock cress. One Federal agency, one State agency, and two individuals 
provided comments.
    The U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Nashville, Tennessee, responded 
by stating they have ``no projects which might affect the species 
proposed for listing.''
    The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission and one individual 
from Kentucky (who owns land that supports the species), supported the 
listing of the typical variety. Neither commented on the large rock 
cress.
    One individual opposed the listing because ``The Fish and Wildlife 
Service is intruding into an area in which it certainly has no moral or 
legal authority--private property.'' The Service response is that the 
Act does not allow the Service to use land ownership as a factor in 
determining whether a species should be placed on the Endangered and 
Threatened Species List. The Act requires that a decision to list a 
species be based solely on biological data. Further, listed plants 
receive very little formal protection on private lands. For the most 
part they are only protected on Federal lands or through section 7 of 
the Act (consultation with other Federal Agencies).
    The same individual also stated that ``. . . you (the Service) 
present hypothetical scenarios of what timber harvest might do to the 
resources and the area subject to timber harvest. All of your arguments 
are based on conjecture and supposition with little or no scientific 
data. The areas in question have undergone severe natural and man-
caused changes in biodiversity over the past 200 years of European 
occupancy. Yet, after all that has occurred, the species under 
consideration persist.'' The Service believes that, based on the 
biology of the species, timber harvesting would impact the species. Not 
only could the species be affected by direct impacts such as heavy 
equipment, but because we know the species does not survive in full 
sunlight, removal of trees would likely have a detrimental effect. 
Further, timber harvest is only one of several threats to this species 
(see ``Summary of Factors Affecting the Species'' section of this 
rule). The Service agrees that the areas in question have undergone 
considerable ``biodiversity'' changes over the past centuries since 
European settlement. However, while it is not possible to say to what 
degree this species has become more or less abundant since that time, 
populations are known to have been lost and remaining populations 
continue to be threatened. There are many examples of species that have 
been reduced in number since European settlement, many of which have 
become extinct. The Service believes that without the protection 
afforded by the Act, this species would likely follow the same course.
    The individual further stated that ``The scientific community, and 
the Service in particular, need to recognize that extinction has always 
been a continuing process and will continue to be so.'' The Service 
agrees that extinction is a natural process. Extinction naturally 
occurs as species adapt (evolve) or don't adapt (become extinct) to a 
changing environment. However, the present rate of extinction, by some 
estimates, is as high as 1,000 times the ``normal'' extinction rate, 
with virtually all of the extinction being attributable to human 
induced environmental changes. A species being eliminated by processes 
such as road building or other man-made factors is far different from a 
species being unable to adapt to a naturally changing environment. Even 
so, the Act does not make distinctions in this regard. A species may be 
listed due to either natural or manmade factors that affect its 
continued existence.

Summary of Factors Affecting the Species

    After a thorough review and consideration of all information 
available, the Service has determined that the rock cress should be 
classified as an endangered species. Section 4(a)(1) of the Act and 
regulations (50 CFR part 424) promulgated to implement the listing 
provisions of the Act were followed. 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 Arabis perstellata E.L. Braun (rock cress) are as 
follows:

A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment 
of its habitat or range

    Arabis perstellata var. perstellata--Of the 27 known populations of 
small rock cress, 17 are threatened with destruction or adverse 
modification of their habitat. Eight are threatened by weedy 
competitors, four by weedy competitors and trampling, two by trampling, 
one by logging, and two by road work (one population was severely 
impacted by road work during the period the species was proposed for 
listing). The remaining 10 populations do not appear to have any 
immediate threats but are vulnerable to the aforementioned threats as 
well as other habitat alterations and potential inbreeding problems as 
neighboring populations decline. Active [[Page 59]] management is 
required to ensure that the species continues to survive at all sites.
    Arabis perstellata var. ampla--Both of the remaining large rock 
cress populations in Tennessee are threatened from competition by weedy 
invaders and potentially by livestock grazing and trampling. Also, the 
smaller site appears to be made up of older individuals, and there is 
little evidence of reproduction (Jones 1991).

B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes

    At this time there is little or no commercial trade in Arabis 
perstellata var. ampla or Arabis perstellata var. perstellata. Most 
populations of this species are very small and cannot support the 
collection of plants for scientific or other purposes. Inappropriate 
collecting for scientific purposes or as a novelty could be a threat to 
the species.

C. Disease or predation

    Disease and predation do not appear to be factors affecting the 
continued existence of this species at this time (Jones 1991).

D. The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms

    The large rock cress is listed as endangered in Tennessee by 
Collins et al. (1978) and Somers (1989). Endangered species in 
Tennessee receive some protection through the ``Rare Plant Protection 
and Conservation Act of 1985'' (Tennessee Department of Conservation, 
1987). The removal of plants from State properties for scientific 
educational, or propagative purposes is controlled, as is the 
disturbance of the species on private lands without the landowner's 
consent. There is no protection for the species if its presence 
conflicts with public works projects (i.e., road building).
    In Kentucky, the small rock cress is listed as endangered by the 
Kentucky Academy of Science and Kentucky State Nature Preserves 
Commission (Branson et al. 1981, Warren et al. 1986). These lists, 
however, have no legal standing in the State. The state of Kentucky 
considers plants on the State endangered species list but provides no 
protection for them.
    The Act will provide additional protection to populations that are 
on Federal land and to the other populations when the taking is in 
violation of any State law, including State trespass laws. Protection 
from inappropriate interstate commercial trade will also be provided.

E. Other natural or manmade factors affecting the species' continued 
existence

    Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis perstellata var. 
perstellata could be facing potential inbreeding problems as 
neighboring populations decline.
    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 make this rule 
final. Based on this evaluation, the preferred action is to list the 
rock cress as endangered. Arabis perstellata (rock cress) is made up of 
two subspecies occupying distinct geographic areas. The small rock 
cress is currently known from 27 populations in Kentucky--24 in 
Franklin County, 2 in Owen County, and 1 in Henry County. The large 
rock cress is known from only two populations in Rutherford County, 
Tennessee. Both subspecies are endangered throughout their range due to 
habitat alteration; residential, commercial, or industrial development; 
timber harvesting; grazing and trampling; and competition with native 
and exotic weedy species, especially the European garlic mustard 
(Alliaria petiolata). Because of their restricted distributions and 
both subspecies' vulnerability to extinction, endangered status appears 
to be the most appropriate classification for this species. (See 
``Critical Habitat'' section for a discussion of why critical habitat 
is not being proposed for this plant.)

Critical Habitat

    Section 4(a)(3) of the Act requires 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's 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 
activity and the identification of critical habitat can be expected to 
increase the degree of threat to the species or (2) the designation of 
critical habitat would not be beneficial to the species. The Service 
finds that designation of critical habitat is not presently prudent for 
this species. Such a determination would result in no known benefit to 
this species, and designation of critical habitat could further 
threaten the species.
    Section 7(a)(2) and regulations codified at 50 CFR part 402 require 
Federal agencies to ensure, in consultation with and with the 
assistance of the Service, that activities they authorize, fund, or 
carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of 
listed species or destroy or adversely modify its critical habitat, if 
designated. Section 7(a)(4) requires Federal agencies to confer 
informally with the Service on any action that is likely to jeopardize 
the continued existence of a proposed species or result in destruction 
or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat. (See ``Available 
Conservation Measures'' section for a further discussion of section 7.) 
As part of the development of this rule, Federal and State agencies 
were notified of the plants' general distribution, and they were 
requested to provide data on proposed Federal actions that might 
adversely affect the species. No specific projects were identified. 
Should any future projects be proposed in areas inhabited by this 
plant, the involved Federal agency will already have the general 
distributional data needed to determine if the species may be impacted 
by their action; and if needed, more specific distributional 
information would be provided.
    Regulations promulgated for the implementation of Section 7 of the 
Act provide for both a ``jeopardy'' standard and a ``destruction or 
adverse modification'' of critical habitat standard. Due to the highly 
precarious status of the rock cress, any significant adverse 
modification or destruction of the species' habitat would also likely 
jeopardize the species' continued existence thereby triggering both 
standards. Therefore, no additional protection for the plant would 
accrue from a critical habitat designation that would not also occur 
from listing of the species. Habitat protection for the rock cress will 
be accomplished through the section 7 ``jeopardy'' standard and section 
9 prohibitions against take.
    In addition, the rock cress is very rare, and taking for scientific 
purposes and private collection cold pose a threat if specific site 
information was released. The publication of critical habitat maps in 
the Federal Register and local newspapers and other publicity 
accompanying critical habitat designation could increase the collection 
threat and increase the potential for vandalism during the often 
controversial critical habitat designation process. The locations of 
populations of this species have consequently been described only in 
general terms in this final rule. Any existing precise locality data 
would be available to appropriate Federal, State, and local government 
agencies from the Service office described in the ADDRESSES section or 
from the Service's Cookeville Field [[Page 60]] Office, 446 Neal 
Street, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501.

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 
practices. Recognition through listing encourages and results in 
conservation actions by Federal, State, and private agencies, groups, 
and individuals. The Act provides for possible land acquisition and 
cooperation with the States and requires that recovery actions be 
carried out for all listed species. Such actions are initiated by the 
Service following listing. The protection required of Federal agencies 
and the prohibitions against taking 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 proposed or listed as 
endangered or threatened and with respect to its critical habitat, if 
any is being designated. Regulations implementing this interagency 
cooperation provision of the Act are codified at 50 CFR part 402. 
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 a listed species or to destroy or adversely 
modify any designated critical habitat. If a Federal action may 
adversely affect a listed species or its critical habitat, the 
responsible Federal agency must enter into formal consultation with the 
Service. All Arabis perstellata var. ampla and Arabis perstellata var. 
perstellata populations are on privately owned land or in road rights-
of-way. No Federal involvement is presently known or has been 
identified for the immediate future.
    The Act and its implementing regulations set forth a series of 
general trade prohibitions and exceptions that apply to all endangered 
plants. All prohibitions of section 9(a)(2) of the Act, implemented by 
50 CFR 17.61, apply. These prohibitions, in part, would 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 this species in 
interstate or foreign commerce, or to remove and reduce to possession 
the species from areas under Federal jurisdiction. In addition, for 
plants listed as endangered, the Act prohibits the malicious damage or 
destruction on Federal lands 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. Certain 
exceptions apply to agents of the Service and State conservation 
agencies.
    The Act and 50 CFR 17.62 and 17.63 also provide for the issuance of 
permits to carry out otherwise prohibited activities involving 
threatened species under certain circumstances. It is anticipated that 
few trade permits would ever be sought or issued because the species is 
not common in cultivation or 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 of listing those activities that would 
constitute a violation of section 9 of the Act. The intent of this 
policy is to increase public awareness of the effect of the listing on 
proposed and ongoing activities within a species' range. Prohibitions 
relating to Federal lands and to trade are not of concern at present, 
as none of the Arabis perstellata populations are known to occur on 
Federal lands, and there is no known current trade in this species. 
Collection, damage or destruction on non-Federal lands is prohibited if 
in knowing violation of State law, or in violation of State criminal 
trespass law. This would not affect any activities in Kentucky, as 
Kentucky State law provides no protection for plants. In Tennessee, 
Arabis perstellata is protected under the Rare Plant Protection and 
Conservation Act of 1985, which controls the removal of plants from 
State properties for scientific, educational, or propagative purposes, 
and the disturbance of the species on private lands without the 
landowner's consent. The Service is not aware of any otherwise lawful 
activities being conducted or proposed by the public that will be 
affected by this listing and result in a violation of section 9.
    Questions regarding whether specific activities will constitute a 
violation of section 9 should be directed to the Field Supervisor of 
the Service's Asheville Office (see ADDRESSES section). Requests for 
copies of the regulations on listed plants and inquiries about 
prohibitions and permits should be addressed to the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species, 1875 Century 
Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30345-3301 (404/679-7110; Facsimile 404/
679-7081).

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 Act. A notice outlining the Service's reasons for this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 
(48 FR 49244).

References Cited

Branson, B.A., D.F. Harker, Jr., J.M. Baskin, M.E. Medley, D.L. Batch, 
M.L. Warren, Jr., W.H. Davis, W.C. Houtcooper, B. Monroe, Jr., L.R. 
Phillippe, and P. Cupp. 1981. Endangered, threatened, and rare animals 
and plants of Kentucky. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science 
42:77-89.
Braun, E.L. 1940. New plants from Kentucky. Rhodora 42:47-49.
Collins, J.L., H.R. DeSelm, A.M. Evans, R. Kral, and B.E. Wofford. 
1978. The rare vascular plants of Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee 
Academy of Science 53:128-133.
Fernald, M.L. 1946. Identification and reidentification of North 
American Plants. Rhodora 48:207-216.
Jones, R.L. 1991. Status Survey Report on Arabis perstellata var. 
perstellata. Unpublished report to the Asheville Field Office, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville, North Carolina. 94 pp.
Kartesz, J., and R. Kartesz. 1980. A synonymized checklist of the 
vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. University 
of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Rollins, R. 1960. Arabis perstellata in Tennessee. Rhodora 62:242-244.
Somers, P. 1989. Revised list of the rare plants of Tennessee. Journal 
of the Tennessee Academy of Science 64:179-184.
Tennessee Department of Conservation, Division of Ecological Services. 
1987. The Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985. 
Nashville, Tennessee.
Warren, M.L., Jr., W.H. Davis, Branson, R.R. Hannan, M. Evans, D.L. 
Batch, B.D. Anderson, B. Palmer-Hall, Jr., J.R. MacGregor, R.R. 
Cicerello, R. Athey, B.A. Branson, G.J. Fallo, B.M. Burr, M.E. Medley, 
and J.M. Baskin. 1986. Endangered, threatened, and rare plants and 
animals of Kentucky. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science 
47:84-97. [[Page 61]] 
Author
    The primary author of this final rule is Mr. J. Allen Ratzlaff, 
Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 330 Ridgefield 
Court, Asheville, North Carolina 28806 (704/665-1195, Ext. 229).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations, is amended 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, to read as follows:


Sec. 17.12  Endangered and threatened plants.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Species                                                                                                                            
--------------------------------------------------      Historic range            Family name           Status     When listed    Critical     Special  
     Scientific name            Common name                                                                                       habitat       rules   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flowering plants:                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                        
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                 *                   
    Arabis perstellata..  Rock cress.............  U.S.A. (KY, TN)........  Brassicaceae...........  E                     570           NA           NA
                                                                                                                                                        
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                 *                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dated: December 12, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-32267 Filed 12-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M