Carlsbad, CA --- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published in todays Federal Register a proposed rule to revise critical habitat for the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino). Approximately 98,487 acres of land in portions of Riverside and San Diego counties, California, are included in the proposed designation.
Of the 98,487 acres identified in the proposed rule, the Service is considering excluding 1,684 acres of land within the San Diego County Multiple Species Conservation Plans City of Chula Vista Subarea Plan, and 37,245 acres of non-Federal land within the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan area.
The proposed rule to revise critical habitat includes fewer areas (98,487 acres) than what was designated as critical habitat on April 15, 2002 (171,605 acres). Specifically, this proposal to revise critical habitat focuses on areas known to contain core occurrence complexes of the species. A core occurrence complex generally contains a large population that remains stable over the long-term while smaller, outlying populations disappear and reappear based on changing local environmental conditions. Core occurrence complexes provide the source of Quino checkerspot butterflies to re-colonize surrounding areas.
Some currently designated habitat in Riverside and San Diego counties is not included in the proposed revision because the particular areas do not meet the criteria for being considered a core occurrence complex. However, this proposed revision to critical habitat includes a newly identified core complex in San Diego County within and adjacent to the La Posta and Campo Indian Reservations.
This proposed rule to revise the Service's original April 15, 2002, critical habitat designation has been prepared in accordance with a settlement agreement stemming from a lawsuit filed by the Homebuilders Association of Northern California, et al.
Comments and information on the proposed rule may be submitted in writing to Public Comments Processing, Attn: 1018-AV23; Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203, or electronically to http://www.regulations.gov. Comments will be accepted until March 17, 2008. Written requests for a public hearing on this proposed rule will be accepted until March 3, 2008.
A copy of the proposed rule and other information about the Quino checkerspot butterfly is available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, or at http://www.fws.gov/Carlsbad.
