Here is the final rule from the Federal Register.

I haven't had a chance to do more than look it over quickly, but I'll sit down now with some coffee and get a better look

Vicki

Bummer...

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce a
12-month finding for a petition to delist Astragalus magdalenae var.
peirsonii (Peirson's milk-vetch) under the Endangered Species Act (Act)
of 1973, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). After reviewing the best
scientific and commercial information available, we find that the
petitioned action is not warranted. We ask the public to submit to us
any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or
threats to, the species. This information will help us monitor and
encourage the conservation of this species.

Patterns of visitorship
have reportedly changed according to BLM with the advent of GPS units
and cell phones, which apparently embolden riders to use more remote
areas.

The timing of the germination of
seedlings, the most sensitive life-stage of PMV, also overlaps with the
onset and peak levels of OHV activity within the Algodones Dunes.
Several studies document plants that were run over by OHVs at the
Algodones Dunes and this activity likely results in the direct loss and
damage to seedlings.


I just don't know what to say.....

I'm wondering how many people have actually read this thing?

Some of it is difficult to get through, but there are some parts that make the journey worth it. I've been reading it in small doses.

I was just now reading about how disease and predation effect the PMV. A beetle is mentioned. No, not the one that the bad guys are trying to list, but a beetle nonetheless.

The larvae of these beetles apparently eat the contents of the PMV seeds before emerging as adults. Fruits of the PMV collected in April continued to release beetles into October!

One study found that 45-86% of fruit still on the plants were infested, with 0-29% of the "dispersed" (on the ground) fruit being infested. Pretty impressive numbers and helps explain why there are fewer plants than there could be.

Okay, those are icky facts.

But interesting nonetheless.

Sounds to me like this beetle is a genuine threat to the plant. And this beetle seems to be pretty prolific.

And even though the Andrew's dune scarab beetle is from a different family, it makes me wonder how it could possibly be threatened when this other beetle is so obviously flourishing.

Vicki

logic plays no part in this.

Logic?

Is SPOCK a duner now?

Damn, that explains that frickin fast buggy I saw...I thought those pointed ears looked familar

I read through the ruling once.

Then again.

Finally a third time.

Each time I come up with new questions.

In general though, to put it nicely, this decision is a piece of crap.

I contacted the name that was listed "for further information" but was passed on to someone else. On Monday the 7th I sent the following questions (the first round of many):