Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Résumé

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose designation of critical habitat pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum). A total of approximately 730,565 acres of riverine riparian habitat and upland habitat are proposed. Proposed critical habitat is in Pima, Cochise, Pinal, and Maricopa counties, Arizona. If this proposal is made final, section 7 of the Act would prohibit destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat by any activity funded, authorized, or carried out by any Federal agency. Section 4 of the Act requires us to consider economic and other impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. We solicit data and comments from the public on all aspects of this proposal, including data on the economic and other impacts of the designation. We may revise this proposal to incorporate or address new information received during the comment period.