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Proposed Rule2023-216852023-10-03

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status With Section 4(d) Rule for the Northwestern Pond Turtle and Southwestern Pond Turtle

Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata), a species from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and northern and central California, and the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida), a species from central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico, as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the western pond turtle, which is now recognized as two separate species (northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle). After a review of the best scientific and commercial information available, we find that listing the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle as threatened species with rules issued under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule") for each species. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the two species. Due to the current lack of data sufficient to perform required analyses, we conclude that the designation of critical habitat for the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle is not determinable at this time.

Action & Dates

Action
Proposed rule.
Dates
We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before December 4, 2023. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the closing date. We must receive requests for a public hearing, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by November 17, 2023.

CFR References

Topics

Endangered and threatened speciesExportsImportsPlantsReporting and recordkeeping requirementsTransportationWildlife

Public Comment

Comments Close
2023-12-04

Document Excerpt

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 [Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2023-0092; FF09E21000 FXES1111090FEDR 234] RIN 1018-BH08 ( printed page 68370) AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the northwestern pond turtle ( Actinemys marmorata ), a species from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and northern and central California, and the southwestern pond turtle ( Actinemys pallida ), a species from central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico, as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the western pond turtle, which is now recognized as two separate species (northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle). After a review of the best scientific and commercial information available, we find that listing the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle as threatened species with rules issued under section 4(d) of the Act (“4(d) rule”) for each species. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add the northwestern pond turtle and southwestern pond turtle to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the two species. Due to the current lack of data sufficient to pe

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Full Document

Citation: 88 FR 68370