The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing Eggert’s sunflower from its current listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, because recovery efforts have led to new populations being identified and other populations being secured. The plant, which is more adaptable than scientists previously realized, was listed as threatened in 1997. The Service is also seeking public comments on the post-delisting monitoring plan for this plant.

Eggert’s sunflower is a member of the Aster family, known by its Latin name as Asteraceae. The plant is known to exist only in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It has large yellow flowers and grows up to eight feet tall. It prefers rolling-to-flat uplands in full sun or partial shade and is often found in open fields or thickets along wooded borders and with other tall plants and small trees. It persists in, and may even invade, roadsides, power line rights-of-way, or fields that have suitable open habitat. Eggert’s sunflower was listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened on May 22, 1997.

Unlike the common sunflower an annual grown for ornamental uses, seed production and oil production Eggert’s sunflower is a perennial that is not grown commercially. Eggert’s seeds have recently been collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine if they contain genetic traits that can be used to improve seed and oil production in commercially grown sunflowers.

At the time of listing, there were 34 known Eggert’s sunflower sites.
These sites occurred in one county in Alabama, five counties in Kentucky and eight counties in Tennessee.

Presently, there are 287 known Eggert’s sunflower sites that form 73
populations:
· 10 sites form 7 populations that span 3 counties in Alabama;
· 33 sites form 18 populations that span 9 counties in Kentucky; and
· 244 sites form 48 populations that span 15 counties in Tennessee.

Of these, approximately 126 sites form 27 populations occurring on public lands or on land owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). All sites on federal lands and the site owned by TNC are covered by active management plans that will provide for extended conservation of the species. The recovery goal of 20 secured poputations of Eggert’s sunflower has been exceeded.

Once Eggert’s sunflower is removed from the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife and Plants, federal agencies will no longer need to
consult with the Service to ensure that any action they authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of this species. The Service has worked with the states where the sunflower occurs to develop cooperative management agreements so that the species continues to be monitored and protected upon it is removal from the Endangered Species list.

While federally listed fish and wildlife species that occur on private
lands may receive more protection under the Endangered Species Act than they receive under State law, federally listed plants found on private lands do not receive additional protection under the Act. The Act also does not prohibit take of listed plants on private lands, but landowners must still comply with state laws protecting imperiled plants.

A complete description of the final delisting rule is being published in the Federal Register today. Copies of the rule are available by contacting Timothy Merritt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501; phone 931-528-6481, ext. 211. The rule will take effect on September 19, 2005.

In a separate Federal Notice, also published today, the Service is proposing a post-delisting monitoring plan for this plant. Copies of the proposal are available by contacting Timothy Merritt at the address provided above. The Service will consider comments and information received by September 19, 2005. Written comments and information on this proposal should be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Timothy Merritt, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee 38501; Fax: 931-528-7075, or sent by electronic mail to timothy_merritt@fws.gov.