Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of Stephens' Kangaroo Rat From Endangered To Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reclassifying the Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi) from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This action is based on our evaluation of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the species' status has improved such that it is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but that it is still likely to become so throughout all of its range in the foreseeable future. We also finalize a rule under section 4(d) of the Act that provides for the conservation of the Stephens' kangaroo rat.