Service Recommends Delisting Inyo California Towhee; No Status Change Recommended for 11 Other Species

Published on Oct 9, 2008 - 7:59:26 AM

By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Oct. 8, 2008 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the completion of 5-year reviews for 12 species in California. Of the reviews being announced today, the Service has recommended delisting the Inyo California Towhee. When the Service removes species from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, they are delisted. To delist species, the Service is required to determine that threats have been eliminated or controlled, based on several factors including population sizes and trends and the stability of habitat quality and quantity.

The Service has recommended no change in status for the 11 other species reviewed.

These 5-year reviews were undertaken as required by section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act. This list of completed reviews incorporates species that were noticed for review on March 22, 2006; February 14, 2007; and March 5, 2008. The 5-year review constitutes a recommendation by the Service. Any change in the listing status will require a separate rulemaking process.

More information about the species included in this announcement is found online:

Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office: Peirson's milk-vetch, Riverside fairy shrimp, San Bernardino bluegrass, and San Diego fairy shrimp.

Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office: Burke's goldfields, Contra Costa goldfields, Sebastopol meadowfoam, and Sonoma sunshine.

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office: Inyo California towhee, Lyon's pentachaeta, purple amole, and Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

The Inyo California Towhee (Pipilo fuscus eremophilus) is being recommended for delisting.

No status change is recommended for Burke's goldfields, Contra Costa goldfields, Inyo California towhee, Lyon's pentachaeta, Peirson's milk-vetch, purple amole, Riverside fairy shrimp, San Bernardino bluegrass, and San Diego fairy shrimp, Sebastopol meadowfoam, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, and Sonoma sunshine.

Copies of the 5-year reviews can be found on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/cno/es/five_year_review_lists.html .

Under the Act, the Service maintains a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). The Act also requires that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years and on the basis of such reviews determine whether or not any species should be removed from the List (delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened (downlisted) or from threatened to endangered (uplisted). Any change in federal classification requires a separate rulemaking process distinct from the 5-year review.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

More information about the Fish and Wildlife Service operations in California, Nevada, and the Klamath Basin is available at www.fws.gov/cno

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