Partial 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List 475 Species in the Southwestern United States as Threatened or Endangered With Critical Habitat; Proposed Rule

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on 192 species from a petition to list 475 species in the southwestern United States as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). For 125 of the 192 species, we find that the petition did not present substantial information indicating that listing may be warranted. Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing may be warranted for 67 of the 192 species. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the 67 species to determine if listing is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these 67 species. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in the Act.