Pacific Region Information Quality -
Peer Review of Scientific Information

Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl

About the Document

Title:Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl

Estimated Dissemination Date:Estimated dissemination date: July 2007
Peer review initiated:  July 23, 2007
Peer review to be completed by:  October 25, 2007
Estimated Dissemination Date of the Final Review Document:  June, 2008

About the Peer Review Process

We originally designated critical habitat for the northern spotted owl in Washington, Oregon, and California on January 15, 1992 (57 FR 1796).  In 2004, we completed a 5-Year Status review of the species.  The proposed revision of critical habitat proposal was in response to a settlement agreement with the American Forest Resource Council reached on January 13, 2003, and incorporated the latest information about the northern spotted owl, its habitat and regulatory and voluntary efforts that provide protection to the species and its habitat.  The purpose of the proposed rule is to identify areas to be included within a critical habitat designation for the northern spotted owl, in accordance with section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).  The proposed rule contains descriptions of the life history, threats, primary constituent elements (PCEs), and areas proposed for inclusion and exclusion in the critical habitat designation.

In accordance with the peer review requirements of the Office of Management and Budget’s Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review, we initiated peer review of the scientific information influential to our proposed rule in July, 2007.

About Public Participation

Public comments on the Proposed Rule for Critical Habitat for the northern spotted owl were sought with a Federal Register announcement on June 12, 2007, and the distribution by mail and press release of that announcement to interested parties.  This peer review plan is made available on this website to allow the public to monitor our compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.

Contact

Robin Bown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, 503-231-6179