[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28040]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 90-Day 
Finding on Petition to List the Santa Ana Mountains Population of the 
California Mountain Lion as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of petition finding.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-day 
petition finding to list the Santa Ana Mountains population of the 
California mountain lion (Felis concolor californica) as endangered 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Service 
finds that the petition did not present substantial scientific or 
commercial information indicating that the population meets the 
definition of ``species'' under the Act.

DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on November 4, 
1994. Information and comments may be submitted until further notice.

ADDRESSES: Information, comments, or questions regarding this petition 
should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Carlsbad Field Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, 
California 92008. The petition, the Service's finding, and additional 
information are available for public inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gail C. Kobetich at the above 
address (telephone 619/431-9440).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the Service make a 
finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species 
presents substantial scientific or commercial information to indicate 
that the petitioned action may be warranted. This finding is to be 
based on all information available to the Service at the time the 
finding is made. To the maximum extent practicable, this finding is to 
be made within 90 days of the receipt of the petition, and the finding 
is to be published promptly in the Federal Register.
    The Service has now made a 90-day finding on a petition to list the 
Santa Ana Mountains population of the California mountain lion (Felis 
concolor californica). The petition, dated February 25, 1992, was 
submitted by Mr. Mark Palmer, Conservation Director and Chief Executive 
Officer of the Mountain Lion Foundation, and received by the Service on 
February 27, 1992. The petitioner requested that the Santa Ana 
Mountains population of the California mountain lion be added to the 
list of endangered species.
    The range of the California mountain lion encompasses most of 
California, southern Oregon, western Nevada, and northern Baja 
California, Mexico. Although the petition presents information (Beier 
and Barrett 1993) suggesting deterioration of the mountain lion's 
habitat and a population decline within the Santa Ana Mountains of 
Orange, western Riverside and northern San Diego Counties, California, 
insufficient evidence exists that this population is discrete and 
naturally isolated from the remainder of this subspecies. Mountain 
lions, paticularly males and younger animals, are well known to be wide 
ranging, with possible dispersal in excess of 160 kilometers (100 
miles). Additionally, insufficient evidence exists to demonstrate that 
these lions are significant in terms of morphological, genetic, or 
behavioral distinctness as compared to the subspecies overall. 
Therefore, the Santa Ana Mountains population of the California 
mountain lion does not meet the definition of a ``species'' as defined 
by the Act.
    The Service has reviewed the petition and other literature and 
information available in the Service's files. On the basis of the best 
scientific and commercial information available, the Service finds the 
petition does not present substantial information that the Santa Ana 
Mountains population of the California mountain lion meets the 
definition of a ``species'' under section 3(15) of the Act. This action 
places the Santa Ana Mountain population of the California mountain 
lion into category 3-B for the purposes of future candidate assessment; 
this category is for inactive candidates determined to not meet the 
definition of ``species'' under the Act.
    If additional data become available in the future, the Service may 
reassess its finding.

References Cited

Beier, P., and R.H. Barrett. 1993. The cougar in the Santa Ana 
Mountain range, California, Final Report. Orange County Cooperative 
Mountain Lion Study. Department of Forestry and Resource Management, 
Univ. of California, Berkeley.

Author

    The primary author of this document is Fred M. Roberts, Carlsbad 
Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: November 4, 1994.
Bruce Blanchard,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-28040 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
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