The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published today a final rule designating approximately 6,193 acres of critical habitat for three endangered beach mouse subspecies?the and
A complete description of the critical habitat designation has been published in the Federal Register today. Copies of the final rule and maps are available by contacting Sandra Sneckenberger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida 32405 (telephone 850/769-0552, extension 239; facsimile 850/763-2177). The final rule and maps can also be found on our website at http://www.fws.gov/panamacity/.
This rule was prepared pursuant to a court order by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama requiring the Service to submit a final revision of critical habitat for the Perdido Key beach mouse and the Choctawhatchee beach mouse. This order also includes the Alabama beach mouse, which is being addressed in a separate rule. Additionally, this final rule responds to an order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of Florida to publish a new final decision with respect to the designation of critical habitat for the St. Andrew beach mouse on or before September 30, 2006.
Critical habitat is a term used in the Endangered Species Act of 1973 that refers to specific geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management and protection.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
