USFWS looking at de-listing caribou
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December 18, 2012 |
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
announced today that it will conduct a review of
the status of the southern Selkirk Mountains
population of woodland caribou (Rangifer
tarandus caribou) in response to a petition to
remove the mammal from Endangered Species Act (ESA)
protection.
The Service received the petition to delist in
May, 2012, from the Pacific Legal Foundation
(representing Bonner County, Idaho), and the
Idaho State Snowmobile Association.
The southern Selkirk Mountains woodland caribou
was first protected under the ESA in 1983 as an
endangered species, due to the threats posed by
poaching, habitat loss due to timber harvest and
wildfire, motor vehicle collisions and genetic
problems through inbreeding. It occupies
high-mountain habitat in the Selkirk Mountains
of northern Idaho and northeastern Washington
and southern British Columbia.
Brian T. Kelly, the Service’s Idaho State
Supervisor, said, “This petition questions
whether the southern Selkirk Mountains
population of woodland caribou warrants listing
under ESA. Our initial review found that
information in the petition was substantial
enough to conduct an in-depth status review.”
The Service’s conclusion, called a “substantial
90-day finding,” does not mean that the Service
has made a decision on the petition’s requested
action. It does, however, indicate that a more
thorough review of the information, or a
“12-month status review,” is needed to be able
to make a decision on whether delisting this
population of caribou is warranted.
The Service encourages all interested parties to
submit information pertinent to the petitioned
action and the range-wide status review that
will help ensure a scientifically sound decision
regarding the animal’s listing status.
All relevant scientific and commercial
information received from the public, government
agencies, Native American tribes, the scientific
community, industry, and any other interested
parties will be considered and addressed in the
agency’s final listing determination.
Information is requested regarding biology,
range, and population trends, including habitat
requirements for feeding, breeding, and
sheltering; genetics and taxonomy; historical
and current range, including distribution
patterns; historical and current population
levels, and current and projected trends; past
and ongoing conservation measures for the
animal, its habitat, or both; and DPS Policy
considerations.
Submissions merely stating a position for or
against the action without providing supporting
data such as scientific journal articles,
publications, or scientific or commercial
information, will be noted in the Final Record,
but will not be considered in the Service’s
final decision.
The deadline for submitting information using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal is 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time on January 18, 2013. After January
18, 2013, you must submit information directly
to the Division of Policy and Directives
Management (see address below). Please note that
we might not be able to consider information
that we receive after the above requested date.
Please submit information by one of the
following methods:
Electronically:
Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
http://www.regulations.gov.
Search for Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2012-0097, which
is the docket number for this action. Then click
on the Search button. You may submit information
for the status review by clicking on “Comment
Now!”
By hard copy:
Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-2012-0097;
Division of Policy and Directives Management;
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, MS 2042-PDM: Arlington, VA 22203.
We will not accept emails or faxes. We will post
all information we receive on
http://www.regulations.gov.
This generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide.
Information and supporting documentation that we
received and used in preparing this finding is
available for review by appointment, during
normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office
1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, Idaho 83709;
208-378-5243.
For more information, please contact Steve Duke
at 208-378-5345, or by email at
steve_duke@fws.gov.
More information is available online at
http://www.fws.gov/idaho.
The ESA provides a critical safety net for
America’s native fish, wildlife and plants. This
landmark conservation law has prevented the
extinction of hundreds of imperiled species
across the nation and promoted the recovery of
many others.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is working with others to conserve,
protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife
conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural
resources, dedicated professionals and
commitment to public service.
For more information on our work and the people
who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov.
Connect with our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at
www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube
Channel at
http://www.youtube.com/usfws
and download photos from our Flickr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq.
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