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Environmental Assessment -Mexican Spotted Owl Critical Habitat Designation January, 2001 restricted to drier, rockier substrates, with sparse tree cover. Mexican woodrats (N. mexicana) are typically found in areas with considerable shrub or understory tree cover and high log volumes or rocky outcrops. Mexican voles (_M. mexicanus) are associated with high herbaceous cover, primarily grasses, whereas long-tailed voles (M. Ion icaudus) are found in dense herbaceous cover, primarily fortis, with many shrubs and limited tree cover. Two primary reasons were cited for listing the owl as threatened in 1993: (1) historical alteration of its habitat as the result of timber management practices, specifically the use of even-aged silviculture, and the threat of these practices continuing; and (2) the danger of catastrophic wildfire. The Recovery Plan for the owl outlines management actions that land management agencies and Indian tribes should undertake to remove recognized threats and recover the spotted owl. This critical habitat designation is based on recovery needs and guidelines identified in the Recovery Plan. 1.3 Critical Habitat Critical habitat is defined in section 3(5)(A) of the Act as - (i) the specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which are found those physical or biological features (I) essential to the conservation of the species and (II) [hat may require special management considerations or protection; and (ii) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species. The term "conservation," as defined in section 3(3) of the Act, means "the use of all methods and procedures which are necessary to bring an endangered species or threatened species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to this Act are no longer necessary" (i.e., the species is recovered and removed from the list of endangered and threatened species). Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires that we base critical habitat designation on the best scientific and commercial data available, taking into consideration the economic impact, and any other relevant impact, of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. We may exclude areas from critical habitat designation if we determine that the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of including the areas as critical habitat, provided the exclusion will not result in the extinction of the species. We are also required to consider those habitat features (primary constituent elements) that provide for the physiological, behavioral, and ecological requirements essential for the conservation of the species and that may require special management considerations or protection. Such physical and biological features, as outlined in 50 CFR 424.12, include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Space for individual and population growth, and for normal behavior; (2) Food, water, or other nutritional or physiological requirements;