Bureau of Land Management Arizona Statewide Comments on the Revised Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Threatened Northern Mexican Gartersnake and Narrow-Headed Gartersnake

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Arizona State Office

One North Central Avenue, Suite 800

Phoenix, Arizona  85004-4427

 

May 12, 2020

In Reply Refer To:

6840 (9300) P

 

EMS TRANSMISSION 5/13/2020

Information Bulletin No. AZ-IB-2020-008

 

To:                  All Districts and Field Offices

 

From:              Deputy State Director for Resources and Planning

 

Subject:           Bureau of Land Management Arizona Statewide Comments on the Revised Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Threatened Northern Mexican Gartersnake and Narrow-Headed Gartersnake               

 

Purpose:  The purpose of this Information Bulletin (IB) is to initiate a coordinated, statewide response to the revised proposed designation of critical habitat for the threatened northern Mexican gartersnake and narrow-headed gartersnake (Attachment 1).

 

Policy/Action:  We are requesting your comments on the revised proposed rule on the designation of Critical Habitat for the threatened northern Mexican gartersnake and narrow-headed gartersnake (Attachment 1).  Comments submitted on the previous (July 10, 2013) proposed rule need not be resubmitted because they will be fully considered in the preparation of the final rule.  Please refer to the “Information Requested” section in the attached Federal Register Notice for the types of information requested.

 

Please submit the requested information to Codey Carter, Threatened and Endangered Species Coordinator, via e-mail to cdcarter@blm.gov.

 

Timeframe:  Please provide comments on or before June 15, 2020.

 

Background:  On July 10, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for northern Mexican gartersnakes and narrow-headed gartersnakes. Since that time additional information has been gathered about the distribution and habitat requirements of these two species, leading to the revision of the proposed rule.

 

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  This request for comments is relevant to Manual Section 6840, Special Status Species Management.

 

Contact:  If you have any questions, please contact Codey Carter, Threatened and Endangered Species Coordinator, at 602-417-9446, or by email at cdcarter@blm.gov.

 

Signed by:                                                             Authenticated by:

Jody L. Weil                                                         Lacie Wilkins

Deputy State Director Resources and Planning   Administrative Assistant

 

Attachments (3):