Search Results for agency_names:"Fish and Wildlife Service"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) in Florida and South Carolina. This involves revising maps to add and remove certain areas based on their development status and suitability to be coastal barriers. The proposed changes will impact several counties, including the addition of new units and the adjustment of existing boundaries, and the public is invited to review and comment on these proposed modifications. Final recommendations will be submitted to Congress after considering public input and further evaluations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a new information collection related to their concessions program, as part of their efforts to reduce paperwork and gather comments from the public. This program involves private businesses and nonprofits managing recreation facilities within National Wildlife Refuges. They aim to collect information to ensure operations minimize wildlife disturbance, offer high-quality visitor experiences, and comply with financial and management requirements. Comments are invited from the public until February 3, 2021, focusing on the necessity, accuracy, and ways to improve the information collection process.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing new hunting regulations for migratory game birds for the 2025-26 season. These regulations are part of an annual process where they set general guidelines, called frameworks, within which individual states can decide specifics like hunting season dates. The proposal includes various regulatory alternatives, particularly for duck hunting, and potential changes to the system of zones and split seasons. The Service is also exploring a new administrative process to streamline regulation, aiming to increase efficiency and save costs while maintaining conservation goals. Public comments are encouraged on all aspects of the proposal.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing changes to streamline the process for granting rights-of-way on FWS-managed lands. The proposed rule aims to align FWS's processes with other bureaus by requiring a standard application form, allowing electronic submissions, introducing pre-application meetings, and offering flexible methods to determine fair market value. These changes are intended to reduce the time and costs for both applicants and FWS while ensuring compatibility with land management objectives and compliance with applicable laws.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a rule specifying the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The rule clarifies that the MBTA's prohibitions on actions like pursuing, hunting, capturing, or killing migratory birds apply only to deliberate actions directed at these birds, their nests, or their eggs. It explains that the incidental harm or death of birds resulting from activities not aimed at them is not covered under this law. This decision aims to provide legal clarity and reduce regulatory uncertainty for industries and individuals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to rules about hunting migratory birds in Alaska, focusing on subsistence harvest regulations. This includes introducing permits for hunters from excluded areas, closing the harvesting of emperor goose eggs statewide due to population concerns, and providing clarity on certain boundaries and regulations to ensure compliance and proper management. The proposals aim to involve Native representatives in managing these rules and ensure the sustainability of bird populations while balancing subsistence needs.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to classify the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. They aim to designate critical habitat areas, particularly in California, to protect these butterflies. Additionally, they plan to allow certain activities, like habitat restoration and conservation efforts, even if they might unintentionally harm some butterflies. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until March 12, 2025, and informational meetings are scheduled to discuss the details further.

In this notice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting public comments on renewing an information collection related to its financial assistance programs, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The agency issues grants and cooperative awards to various entities under different programs, and seeks feedback on whether collecting this information is necessary, accurate, and efficient. The public is encouraged to submit their comments by March 31, 2025, and it’s noted that personal information included in these comments could be made publicly available.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are proposing amendments to the consultation regulations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These changes pertain to land management plans by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The proposed revisions aim to make it clear that when new information emerges which could affect species or habitats in ways not previously considered, reinitiating consultation won't always be necessary, as long as a separate action-specific consultation is conducted for any related actions. The goal is to improve the efficiency and consistency of interagency cooperation procedures.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the blue tree monitor, a rare lizard native to Indonesia, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This proposed rule is due to the lizard's shrinking population, caused by habitat loss from deforestation, climate change, and overcollection for the international pet trade. The service has identified that the blue tree monitor faces an immediate risk of extinction throughout its entire range. Public comments are invited until February 24, 2025, and a temporary 240-day emergency listing is also concurrently in effect.