Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the Rough Popcornflower From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule
Key claim: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the rough popcornflower (Plagiobothrys hirtus) from endangered to threatened under the ESA, reflecting improved species status, and finalizing protective Section 4(d) regulations.
Abstract
(Rule · Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service) We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reclassifying the rough popcornflower (Plagiobothrys hirtus) from endangered to threatened (downlist) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This action is based on our evaluation of the best scientific and commercial data available, which indicates that the species’ status has improved such that it is not in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but that it is still likely to become so within the foreseeable future. We also finalize protective regulations under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of this species.
Why this matters
ESA reclassifications with 4(d) rules directly affect the regulatory burden on landowners, agencies, and permitting activities that intersect with a species’ range — downlisting can narrow take prohibitions and tailor protective measures while preserving Section 7 consultation. Tracking these individual actions builds a picture of how USFWS is applying recovery criteria and using 4(d) flexibility across plant and animal listings. It also frames the practical effect on public lands management and habitat-related permitting in the affected geography (western Oregon).