Search Results for keywords:"Fish and Wildlife Service"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received an application from Freeport Minerals for a survival permit supported by the Eagle Creek Multi-Species Conservation Benefit Agreement in Greenlee and Graham Counties, Arizona. This plan aims to protect endangered species such as the spikedace, loach minnow, and Gila chub, and the threatened narrow-headed gartersnake by constructing a fish barrier on Eagle Creek to prevent invasion by non-native species. The public is invited to comment on this proposal by February 3, 2025, and the documents are available online for review. The project is a collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation, which will help with the barrier's design and maintenance.

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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the availability of the records of decision for a highway right-of-way project and an amended incidental take permit in Washington County, Utah. The project involves the Northern Corridor, which was previously challenged in court due to environmental concerns, including impacts on the Mojave desert tortoise. A settlement was reached, leading to further evaluation and public comment periods. The BLM has decided to terminate the highway right-of-way grant, while the FWS has amended the permit to allow incidental take of the desert tortoise without the highway construction, focusing on conservation of land within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced they received permit applications for scientific research to help endangered species, inviting public comments on these applications. The permits allow activities like capturing or collecting endangered species for research to aid in their recovery and survival. Public comments are accepted until January 15, 2025, and important information may be made public as part of the process. After considering the public input, they will decide on issuing the permits and announce those decisions in a future Federal Register notice.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed giving the National Science Foundation permission to potentially disturb northern sea otters during a marine survey in the northeast Pacific Ocean. This activity is intended to take place from May 1 to June 30, 2021, and involves using sound waves in the ocean, which might bother the otters. Up to 13 otters could be affected, but the goal is to ensure that this does not harm the species as a whole. The Service is also seeking public feedback on this plan and the related environmental assessment.

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 Fish and Wildlife Service has received an application from RWLC Development Sub, LLC for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. This permit would allow the company to impact the federally listed sand skink and bluetail mole skink during the construction of a commercial development in Polk County, Florida. A habitat conservation plan has been proposed, and the public is invited to comment. The Service has made an initial determination that this project might have minor environmental impacts and may qualify for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to the listing and management of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. They intend to redefine the grizzly bear's geographic boundaries as a distinct population segment (DPS) and retain its threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal aims to promote conservation by clarifying areas suitable for grizzly bears, including revisions to protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act. Public comments on the proposed changes will be accepted until March 17, 2025, along with multiple public informational meetings and hearings scheduled in early 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced its decision to issue a 30-year incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act for the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. This ITP allows activities that might inadvertently harm two threatened species, the Oregon spotted frog and bull trout, covered in the plan. The decision supports a conservation strategy designed to mitigate the negative impacts on these species by adjusting water flow patterns and setting up conservation funds over the permit term. The Service evaluated various alternatives before selecting this plan as the best course of action.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the release of a final environmental impact statement regarding a habitat conservation plan created by the Oregon Department of State Lands. This plan seeks to obtain permits allowing incidental harm to three threatened species: the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, and the Oregon Coast coho salmon. The permits would support research and management activities in the Elliott State Research Forest in Oregon for 80 years. They include steps to minimize and mitigate impacts, with ongoing monitoring and adaptive management strategies guided by the plan's conservation goals.