Search Results for keywords:"Endangered Species Act"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced 90-day findings on petitions to add several species to the endangered or threatened species list and to remove one species. They are starting detailed status reviews for the Amargosa toad, Carson Valley monkeyflower, large marble butterfly, Mohave ground squirrel, Morrison bumble bee, Oasis Valley speckled dace, Tennessee bottlebrush crayfish, and the golden-cheeked warbler to understand if these actions are necessary. The agency invites scientific and commercial data to ensure thorough status reviews and will publish further findings after these reviews. The reviews will consider factors such as habitat destruction, climate change, and other threats to the species.

Stone Ridge Hydro, LLC has announced its intention to apply for a new license for the Herkimer Hydroelectric Project located on West Canada Creek in Herkimer County, New York. The company has been approved to use the Traditional Licensing Process by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and has filed a Pre-Application Document outlining the proposed plan and schedule. Consultations with various agencies, including those responsible for endangered species and historic preservation, are being initiated. All applications for the new license must be submitted by March 31, 2025, and the public is invited to participate and stay informed through FERC's online resources.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued permits that allow certain activities with endangered and threatened species. These permits were issued under the Endangered Species Act after reviewing permit applications and considering public comments. Each permit applicant demonstrated good faith, ensured no disadvantage to the species, and aligned with the Act's purposes. Details and documents related to these permits are accessible online at regulations.gov.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the reclassification of the June sucker from "endangered" to "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, reflecting significant improvements in its population through conservation efforts. The agency has implemented a set of rules under section 4(d) to continue the protection and recovery of the species, allowing certain activities like research, habitat restoration, and the management of recreational fisheries to occur without violating the Act, provided they aid in the conservation of the June sucker. These activities include removing nonnative fish, conducting habitat restoration projects, and monitoring populations, all aimed at securing the June sucker's recovery while maintaining public engagement and education efforts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed removing Ute ladies'-tresses, a type of orchid, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. The decision is based on a review of scientific data indicating that the species has recovered enough and is no longer threatened by extinction. The proposal explains that conservation efforts and regulatory protections, along with the species' natural resilience to threats such as urban development and climate change, ensure its survival. If the rule is finalized, the legal protections under the Endangered Species Act for this plant would no longer apply, but post-delisting monitoring will be conducted to ensure the species remains secure.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a request for public comments on permit applications involving activities with endangered foreign species. The Endangered Species Act generally prohibits certain interactions with listed species unless a permit is granted, which is why public input is important before making any decisions. Various institutions and individuals have applied for permits for purposes like scientific research, species propagation, or importing/exporting specimens. The public can view and comment on these applications via the regulations.gov website until January 21, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is starting 5-year reviews of six foreign elasmobranch species, including some types of sharks and guitarfish. These reviews, required by the Endangered Species Act, aim to determine if a species should remain on the endangered list or be reclassified based on new data. Public input is requested, and people can provide relevant information electronically until September 15, 2025. The agency will use the best available scientific and commercial data to make their decisions.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a final rule listing three butterflies from Brazil—the Fluminense swallowtail, Harris' mimic swallowtail, and Hahnel's Amazonian swallowtail—as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This move aims to extend legal protections to these butterflies, mainly due to threats like habitat loss and degradation, capture, and insufficient existing regulatory mechanisms to address these issues. These butterflies are facing extinction risks because their populations have been reduced and isolated in their natural habitats, which are undergoing severe urbanization and deforestation. The agency has highlighted both the challenges these species face and the legal measures in place to protect them.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed settlement agreement related to legal cases concerning the pesticide registrations of cyantraniliprole, specifically addressing claims under the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act. This follows legal actions by the Center for Biological Diversity that aimed to compel the EPA to fulfill requirements under the Endangered Species Act. The EPA is inviting public comments on this proposed agreement until January 2, 2025. The agency aims to uphold the settlement terms unless the comments suggest otherwise.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued an emergency permit allowing the import of up to 1,875 blood and tissue samples from endangered radiated tortoises (Geochelone radiata) from Madagascar. This permit was granted to the Wildlife Conservation Society due to an urgent situation affecting the health of these tortoises, which are held in captivity after being confiscated. The decision to waive the usual 30-day public notice period was made to help ensure the survival of the species, following conditions outlined in the Endangered Species Act.