Press Release
Service Revises Critical Habitat for the Endangered Quino Checkerspot Butterfly
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will publish in the June 17, 2009, edition of the Federal Register, a revised final rule designating approximately 62,125 acres of land in San Diego and Riverside counties as critical habitat for the Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino).
An advance copy of the revised final rule is available online today at http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/Federal Register Public Inspection, but it does not include maps.
This revised final rule was developed in response to a lawsuit filed against the Service by the Homebuilders Association of Northern California, et al., challenging the 2002 designation of 171,605 acres of critical habitat for the butterfly. In accordance with a settlement agreement stemming from the lawsuit, the Service published a proposed rule on January 17, 2008, to designate 98,487 acres of land as critical habitat.
The revised final designation of 62,125 acres of critical habitat is significantly less than what was originally designated in 2002, and what was proposed in 2008. However, this revised designation incorporates new scientific information about the butterfly
An advance copy of the revised final rule is available online today at http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/Federal Register Public Inspection, but it does not include maps.
This revised final rule was developed in response to a lawsuit filed against the Service by the Homebuilders Association of Northern California, et al., challenging the 2002 designation of 171,605 acres of critical habitat for the butterfly. In accordance with a settlement agreement stemming from the lawsuit, the Service published a proposed rule on January 17, 2008, to designate 98,487 acres of land as critical habitat.
The revised final designation of 62,125 acres of critical habitat is significantly less than what was originally designated in 2002, and what was proposed in 2008. However, this revised designation incorporates new scientific information about the butterfly
