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Environmental Law

: ESA Blawg

FWS proposes critical habitat for DPS of California tiger salamander in Sonoma County, but rejects petition to list ashy storm-petrel

By Keith Rizzardi

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74 Fed. Reg. 41662 / Vol. 74, No. 158 / Tuesday, August 18, 2009 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service / 50 CFR Part 17 / Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)
ACTION: Proposed rule; public hearing announcement.

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Sonoma County distinct population segment (DPS) of the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 74,223 acres (30,037 hectares) are being proposed for designation as critical habitat. The proposed critical habitat is located in Sonoma County, California. DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before October 19, 2009.

"Tiger" comes from the white or yellow bars on California tiger salamanders. Standing bodies of fresh water, including natural and manmade ponds, vernal pools, and other ephemeral or permanent water bodies that hold water during winter rains for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks in average years, are essential features of the species critical habitat. Photo from Sacramento FWS.

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74 Fed. Reg. 41832 / Vol. 74, No. 159 / Wednesday, August 19, 2009 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service / 50 CFR Part 17 / Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Ashy Storm-Petrel as Threatened or Endangered
ACTION: Notice of 12–month petition finding.

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12–month finding on a petition to list the ashy storm-petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa) as threatened or endangered, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the ashy stormpetrel is not warranted. We ask the public to continue to submit to us any new information concerning the status of, and threats to, this species. This information will help us to monitor and encourage the conservation of this species.

Photo of Orizaba Rock at Santa Cruz Island, California by NOAA, habitat for Ashy Storm-petrels. See more photos from FWS and NPS, and prior discussion and links related to this petition, in prior ESAblawg.

EXCERPT: We assessed the best available scientific and commercial information regarding threats faced by the ashy storm-petrel. We reviewed numerous information sources including literature cited in the petition, information in our files, and information submitted to us following our 90–day petition finding (73 FR 28080; May 15, 2008) related to potential threats to the ashy storm-petrel (climate change, ocean acidification, sea level rise, predation, light attraction, contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons, and plastic pollution) on ashy storm-petrels and the California Current marine environment.

KEITHINKING: FWS offers a systematic analysis of each of the five listing factors (Factor A: The Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or Curtailment of the Species’ Habitat or Range; Factor B: Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or
Educational Purposes; Factor C: Disease or Predation; Factor D: Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms; and Factor E: Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting the Continued Existence of the Species) but found no significant threats under any of the five categories. FWS also undertook a significant portion of the range analysis.

Full post as published by ESA Blawg on August 25, 2009 (boomark / email).