Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status With a Section 4(d) Rule for Bracted Twistflower and Designation of Critical Habitat

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the bracted twistflower (Streptanthus bracteatus), a plant species from Texas, as a threatened species and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list bracted twistflower as a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (a "4(d) rule"). We also propose to designate critical habitat for the bracted twistflower under the Act. In total, approximately 1,606 acres (650 hectares) in Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, and Travis Counties in Texas fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. In addition, we announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the bracted twistflower. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species and its critical habitat.