Opinion ID: 3037715
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Relationship of Data to Listing Decision

Text: Finally, Kern contends that FWS failed to summarize the data underlying the Final Rule and to show the relationship of the data to the Final Rule, as required by 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(8). Kern supports its claim by listing various questions that it claims were left unanswered by FWS. We reject Kern’s attempt to mandate that FWS answer its particular questions before making a listing decision. FWS’s discussion of the data and analysis of the extinction factors adequately satisfied its ESA requirements. The Final Rule is extensively documented (citing over 100 sources) and contains abundant data and explanations supporting FWS’s ultimate decision. It comprehensively describes the existing data on the BVL shrew, noting that “there are less than 30 known individuals in four populations . . . .” 67 Fed. Reg. at 10110. Such scarce numbers make the BVL shrew “extremely vulnerable” to environmental impacts and risks associated with small, restricted populations. Id. These risks, which can lead to extinction, include “the loss or alteration of essential elements for breeding, feeding, and sheltering; the introduction of limiting factors into the environment such as poison or predators; and catastrophic random changes or environmental perturbations, such as floods, droughts, or disease.” Id. (citation omitted). The Final Rule goes on to examine particular threats to the BVL shrew’s continued existence, finding that (1) the “amount of suitable habitat for the [BVL] shrew has been sigKERN COUNTY FARM BUREAU v. ALLEN 6873 nificantly reduced over time,” resulting in the elimination of “over 95 percent of the riparian vegetation and associated marsh habitat” that could serve as suitable habitat for the BVL shrew, id. at 10106, (2) the water supply is unable to support ecosystem function throughout the BVL shrew’s entire habitat, id., (3) “[t]he small population size and restricted distribution [of BVL shrews] increases their vulnerability to epidemic diseases” and deleterious genes through inbreeding, id. at 10107, (4) existing regulatory mechanisms “have not been adequate in preventing the destruction of the limited [BVL] shrew habitat,” id. at 10106-10, and (5) “[s]elenium toxicity represents a serious threat to the continued existence and recovery of the [BVL] shrew,” id. at 10107-08. Given the “high potential that these threats could result in the extinction of the [BVL] shrew,” the Final Rule concludes that “the preferred action is to list the [BVL] shrew as endangered.” Id. at 10110. Nothing more was required of FWS and, therefore, Kern’s third claim is also without merit.