United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2012_register executive 2012-12-04 article Proposed Rules D09002ee1c7fc1efb D09002ee1c7fc1f83 United States Department of the Interior originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Fish and Wildlife Service originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the prairie gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous), the plains spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius interrupta), and a distinct population segment (DPS) of the Mearn's eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi) in Illinois and western Indiana as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information that listing the prairie gray fox and the plains spotted skunk may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we initiate a review of the status of the prairie gray fox and the plains spotted skunk to determine if listing either of these subspecies is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these subspecies. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act. We also evaluated whether the petition presents substantial information to indicate whether or not the Mearn's eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana qualifies as a DPS that may be warranted for listing. Based on our review, we conclude that the petition does not provide substantial information indicating that population of Mearn's eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana is a listable entity under the Act. Because the petition does not present substantial information indicating that the population of Mearn's eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana may be a listable entity, we did not evaluate whether or not the information contained in the petition regarding threats to that population was substantial. We are not initiating a status review in response to this petition for Mearn's eastern cottontail in east- central Illinois and western Indiana. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, the Mearn's eastern cottontail or its habitat at any time. 77 FR 71759 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2012-12-04/2012-29188 2012-29188 fr04de12-31 4310-55-P Docket No. FWS-R3-ES-2012-0079 4500030113 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2012-12-04/2012-29188 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-12-04/html/2012-29188.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-12-04/pdf/2012-29188.pdf 13 p. 71759 71771 77 FR 71759 Title 50 Part 17 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Prairie Gray Fox, the Plains Spotted Skunk, and a Distinct Population Segment of the Mearn's Eastern Cottontail in East-Central Illinois and Western Indiana as Endangered or Threatened Species; Federal Register Vol. 77, Issue PRORULE 2012-29188 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Docket No. FWS-R3-ES-2012-0079 4500030113 4310-55-P 2012-29188 Notice of 90-day petition finding and initiation of status review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the prairie gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous), the plains spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius interrupta), and a distinct population segment (DPS) of the Mearn's eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi) in Illinois and western Indiana as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information that listing the prairie gray fox and the plains spotted skunk may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we initiate a review of the status of the prairie gray fox and the plains spotted skunk to determine if listing either of these subspecies is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these subspecies. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act. We also evaluated whether the petition presents substantial information to indicate whether or not the Mearn's eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana qualifies as a DPS that may be warranted for listing. Based on our review, we conclude that the petition does not provide substantial information indicating that population of Mearn's eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana is a listable entity under the Act. Because the petition does not present substantial information indicating that the population of Mearn's eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana may be a listable entity, we did not evaluate whether or not the information contained in the petition regarding threats to that population was substantial. We are not initiating a status review in response to this petition for Mearn's eastern cottontail in east- central Illinois and western Indiana. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, the Mearn's eastern cottontail or its habitat at any time.

The finding announced in this document was made on December 4, 2012. Prairie Gray Fox and Mearn's Eastern Cottontail Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: 90-Day Finding on Petition to List Prairie Gray Fox, Plains Spotted Skunk, and Distinct Population Segment of Mearn's Eastern Cottontail in Eastcentral Illinois and Western Indiana , http://www.regulations.gov Vol. 77, no. 233 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2012-12-04 continuing daily deposited born digital 516 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2012-12-04 P0b002ee1838cddb9 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr04de12 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2012-12-04 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-12-04/pdf/FR-2012-12-04.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-12-04/xml/FR-2012-12-04.xml fdlp 71687 72193 DGPO 2012-12-04 2024-06-03 FR-2012-12-04 machine generated eng FR FR-2012-12-04 77 233