Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog; Threatened Status With Section 4(d) Rule for Two Distinct Population Segments and Endangered Status for Two Distinct Population Segments

Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.

The Center for Biological Diversity supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to list the South Sierra and South Coast distinct population segments (DPSs) of the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) as endangered and the North Feather DPS of Rana boylii as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The status of these populations and the rationale for listing are well-supported by the Service's 2021 Species Status Assessment (SSA) and December 28, 2021 proposed rule in the Federal Register. The Center disagrees with the Service proposal to list the Central Coast DPS as threatened rather than endangered. The Central Coast DPS should be listed as endangered, and was given endangered status under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) by the California Fish and Game Commission in 2019. The Center also disagrees with the Service's conclusion that the North Sierra DPS is not warranted for listing. The North Sierra DPS should be listed as threatened, and was given threatened status under CESA by the California Fish and Game Commission in 2019. Please see attached comments.