Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem of the Grizzly Bear in the Lower-48 States

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to establish and delist a Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) distinct population segment (DPS) of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the lower-48 States. After a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that grizzly bears in the petitioned DPS do not, on their own, represent a valid DPS. Thus, we find that the petitioned action to establish and delist an NCDE DPS is not warranted at this time.