Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our reconsidered 12-month finding for an amended petition to list the westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) as a threatened species throughout its range in the United States, pursuant to a Court order and the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. After a thorough review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the WCT as either threatened or endangered is not warranted at this time. Also pursuant to the Court order, we assert our scientifically-based conclusion about the extent to which it is appropriate to include "hybrid" WCT populations and populations of unknown genetic characteristics in the taxonomic group that we considered for listing.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of petition finding. SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our reconsidered 12-month finding for an amended petition to list the westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) ( Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi ) as a threatened species throughout its range in the United States, pursuant to a Court order and the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. After a thorough review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the WCT as either threatened or endangered is not warranted at this time. Also pursuant to the Court order, we assert our scientifically-based conclusion about the extent to which it is appropriate to include “hybrid” WCT populations and populations of unknown genetic characteristics in the taxonomic group that we considered for listing. DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on August 1, 2003. ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions regarding this document should be sent to the Chief, Branch of Native Fishes Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Office, 4052 Bridger Canyon Road, Bozeman, Montana 59715. The complete administrative file for this finding is available for inspection, by appointment and during normal business hours, at the above address. The new petition finding, the status update rep…
Citation: 68 FR 46989
