Search Results for keywords:"Fish and Wildlife Service"

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have released a draft plan for managing the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument over the next 15 years. This plan outlines the goals, objectives, and potential management activities, and it includes an environmental assessment to understand the possible impacts on the human environment. The public is invited to comment on this draft by May 25, 2021, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail. The agencies will consider all these comments before finalizing the management plan.

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 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 received an application from Comstock Homes for a permit to incidentally take the federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher during the development of a residential community in Moorpark, Ventura County, California. This permit would be issued under the Endangered Species Act and would allow the “take” (which means to harm or harass) of the gnatcatcher as long as it is incidental to lawful activities. The proposed Habitat Conservation Plan includes measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impact on the gnatcatcher, and public comments are invited. The Service has determined that the impact of the project would be minor and may qualify for a “low-effect” permit, with comments open until February 7, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to regulations for the American alligator to improve clarity and eliminate unnecessary rules, while still ensuring conservation efforts. The proposed rule aims to remove certain state-based sales conditions for alligator products, like hides, under the Endangered Species Act, which would streamline interstate and international commerce. These changes are in response to a petition from Louisiana and would help eliminate confusion between federal, state, and tribal regulations. Public comments on this proposed rule are invited until March 22, 2021.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a new rule to add all species of Asian pond mussels (Sinanodonta), golden mussels (Limnoperna), and marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) to the list of injurious wildlife. This action aims to prohibit the importation and transport of these species within certain U.S. jurisdictions due to their potential to harm native ecosystems by competing for resources, spreading quickly, and carrying pathogens. The proposed listings are part of efforts to protect U.S. interests by preventing these invasive species from establishing themselves and causing ecological damage. Public comments on the proposal are invited until March 11, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering issuing permits for scientific research to help protect and support endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. They are inviting public input on these permit applications to take into account any feedback or information before making their decision. This notice encourages public, local, and governmental agencies to review and comment by January 16, 2025. The agency highlights that comments may be publicly accessible and urges those interested to submit quantitative evidence or studies to aid in decision-making.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting public comments on a 2023 analysis about the northern population segment of the scarlet macaw. This analysis reevaluates if this group of birds is considered threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The public has until January 27, 2025, to submit their comments. The Service will consider the feedback to potentially update the 2023 analysis and make a final decision on the listing status of the macaw.

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.