Petition to List the Santa Ana Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus subspecies) as Endangered or Threatened under the Endangered Species Act May 11, 2020 1 Notice of Petition Submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on May 11, 2020: Aurelia Skipwith, Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1849 C Street NW, Room 3331 Washington, DC 20240-0001
[email protected] Carlsbad Fish & Wildlife Office 2177 Salk Avenue, Suite 250 Carlsbad, CA 92008 Petitioner Center for Biological Diversity formally requests that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) list the Santa Ana speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus subspecies) as an endangered or threatened Distinct Population Segment under the federal Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. §§1531-1544. Alternatively, Petitioner requests that the USFWS determine that the Santa Ana speckled dace is a valid species, which should be listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. The Center requests that critical habitat for the Santa Ana speckled dace be designated concurrent with listing. This petition is filed under §553(e) of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA” - 5 U.S.C. §§ 551-559), §1533(b)(3) of the ESA, and 50 C.F.R. §424.14(b). This petition sets in motion a specific administrative process as defined by §1533(b)(3) and 50 C.F.R. §424.14(b), placing mandatory response requirements on the USFWS. Because the Santa Ana speckled dace is exclusively a fresh water fish, the USFWS has jurisdiction over this petition. The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of native species and their habitats.