California Protests Species Listing

The California Cattlemen’s Association Oct. 31 submitted comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opposing the listing of the California Tiger Salamander under the federal Endangered Species Act.  While the federal agency recognized that normal ranching activities can maintain or improve the salamander’s habitat, the associations comments pointed out flaws in the science used to determine whether the California Tiger Salamander warrants listing under the Endangered Species Act. 

 U.S Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule to list the California Tiger Salamander as a threatened species throughout California. The agency by May 2004 will determine whether the listing as threatened is warranted, as mandated by a settlement agreement signed June 6, 2002 between the agency and the Center for Biological Diversity. Since Fish and Wildlife has determined that ranching has a positive or neutral effect on the salamander’s populations, the agency included in its proposed rule an exemption under Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act, for existing, routine ranching activities.

While California Cattlemen was pleased with the inclusion of the 4(d) rule, the association asserted that the best scientific data available fails to demonstrate that the listing  is warranted.  The USFWS did not use best available information in virtually any aspects of the proposed rule.