90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in the Big Lost River, ID, as Threatened or Endangered

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) occurring in the Big Lost River in Idaho as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the mountain whitefish in the Big Lost River may be warranted. This finding is based on insufficient information indicating that mountain whitefish in the Big Lost River may represent a species, subspecies, or distinct population segment (DPS) and, therefore, a listable entity under section 3(16) of the Act. Accordingly, we will not be initiating a status review in response to this petition. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of mountain whitefish occurring in the Big Lost River at any time. This information will help us to monitor and encourage the ongoing conservation of mountain whitefish in the Big Lost River.