Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Initiation of 12-month Status Review for Petition to List the Santa Ana Sucker as Endangered

Zusammenfassung

On July 9, 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced its 90-day finding on a petition to list three fish as endangered, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The Service found the petition did not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted for two of the three fish, but the Service determined that substantial information exists to support a decision that listing may be warranted for the Santa Ana sucker. Though the Service was compelled by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to issue the 90-day finding, the Service indicated that a status review of the Santa Ana sucker would be commenced in accordance with the final listing priority guidance (61 FR 36021). Because the processing of petitions is a tier 3 listing action according to the existing listing priority guidance (61 FR 24722) and proposed extended guidance (61 FR 48962), the status review and 12-month finding typically should be delayed until other higher priority or tier 2 actions (i.e., final rules) are completed. However, the district court ordered the Service on October 10, 1996, t