Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability
Listing of the California
Tiger Salamander as an endangered species
under the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts
by Peter
Bryant
California
tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense)
- Center for Biological Diversity
Federal Status:
The
January 16, 2004: the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (“the
Service”; USFWS) proposed critical habitat for the Santa Barbara DPS in
response to a suit by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the
June 2001: the
Center for Biological Diversity petitioned
the USFWS to list the Sonoma County DPS under the federal Endangered Species
Act on an emergency basis. When the Service failed to respond, the CBD filed a
suit in U.S. District Court which resulted in the 2002 emergency and final
listing of the Sonoma County DPS as endangered, as well as the May 23, 2003
proposed rule to list the species as threatened throughout its remaining range.
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and
others submitted a Petition
to list the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma
californiense) as an endangered species under the
California Endangered Species Act (CESA)
December 7, 2001: the California Fish and
Game Commission voted 2-1 to refuse to accept the Petition to List the
California Tiger Salamander and refused to protect the species as a Candidate
for listing. According to the CBD, the Commission ignored the recommendation of
the California Department of Fish and Game, every academic scientist who has
studied the species, the Commission's own legal counsel, and the legal standard
for accepting petitions in reaching its determination. The CBD claims the Commission's
action was illegal and it will be challenged in court by the CBD.
October 2004: the Commission again voted
to reject the CBD’s petition. The Commission found
deficiencies in three areas of the petition: population trend, population
abundance and degree and immediacy of threat.
Dec. 20, 2006: Sacramento
Superior Court overturned
the California Fish and Game Commission’s rejection of the petition. The
Court ordered the commission to accept the petition, which will initiate the
full status review and the second stage of the listing process
Feb. 26, 2007: California Fish
and Game Commission Appeals the Superior Court Ruling Regarding California
Tiger Salamander
Contact:
Adrianna Shea,
State of
1416
Your comments and suggestions
on this document are welcome. Please send them to:
Dr. Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu)
School of Biological Sciences
University of
Phone (714) 824-4714 Fax (714) 824-3571