BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR PETITION TO LIST THE LAS VEGAS BEARPOPPY (Arctomecon californica) UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND CONCURRENTLY DESIGNATE CRITICAL HABITAT Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica) visited by the Mojave poppy bee (Perdita meconis) Photo by: Zachary Portman CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY August 14, 2019 NOTICE OF PETITION David Bernhardt, Secretary U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20240
[email protected] Margaret Everson, Acting Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1849 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20240
[email protected] Gary Frazer, Assistant Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1840 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20240
[email protected] Amy Lueders, Director Region 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 1306, Room 4012 Albuquerque, NM 87102
[email protected] Paul Souza, Director Region 8 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W2606 Sacramento, California 95825
[email protected] ii Pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b); Section 553(e) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 553(e); and 50 C.F.R. § 424.14(a), the Center for Biological Diversity hereby petitions the Secretary of the Interior, through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS,” “Service”), to protect the Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica) as endangered under the ESA. FWS has jurisdiction over this petition. This petition sets in motion a specific process, placing definite response requirements on the Service. Specifically, the Service must issue an initial finding as to whether the petition “presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.” 16 U.S.C.