Search Results for keywords:"Fish and Wildlife Service"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for public comments on permit applications to conduct scientific research aimed at conserving endangered species. Under the Endangered Species Act, certain activities affecting endangered species are restricted unless a federal permit is granted. These permits may allow activities like capturing and collecting endangered species to help with their recovery and survival. The public can submit comments until February 12, 2025, and should refer to the permit application number when doing so.

The Fish and Wildlife Service received an application from ADH Rollins Court, LLC for an incidental take permit (ITP) that would allow the company to affect the sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink during the construction of a residential development in Polk County, Florida. The Service seeks public comments on the application, which includes a habitat conservation plan, and has made a preliminary decision that the project may qualify for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) due to its minor impact. To compensate for the impact, the applicant plans to purchase conservation credits. The public has until February 13, 2025, to submit comments on the proposed project and plan.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has revised the critical habitat designation for the northern spotted owl, resulting in the exclusion of approximately 3.5 million acres across Washington, Oregon, and California. These exclusions reflect a reconsideration of various impacts, including economic and environmental factors, as well as new information since the 2012 designation. The decision is based on the determination that these exclusions will not lead to the extinction of the species, considering the threats posed by invasive barred owls and ongoing habitat conservation efforts. The revised designation continues to protect critical habitat areas for the owl's survival while balancing other land management priorities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to start charging fees for hunting permits at the Green River National Wildlife Refuge in Kentucky. These fees, authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, aim to help cover costs related to managing hunting programs and improving visitor services. The public is invited to provide comments on this proposal by March 20, 2025, with the fees set to begin on July 1, 2025, unless the Service decides otherwise after reviewing the feedback.

The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Interior Department is starting 5-year status reviews of seven species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These reviews will assess the latest scientific and commercial data available since the last review. The agency is asking for new information by March 15, 2021, but will accept data at any time. They evaluate changes in species biology, habitat, conservation efforts, and threat status, and this process aims to inform ongoing recovery programs for these species.

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 is proposing new hunting regulations for migratory game birds for the 2021-22 season, which include setting season lengths, bag limits, and shooting hours. These frameworks allow states to adjust their seasons while ensuring sustainable population levels of game birds. The proposal also involves minor changes to existing regulations to improve management processes. Public comments on these proposals are being accepted until March 24, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, has finished an inventory of human remains found in Chernabura Island, Alaska, with the help of Vassar College and several Native American tribes or organizations. These remains are believed to be affiliated with present-day tribes, including the Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove and Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point. The National Park Service has issued a notice inviting other tribes or organizations not mentioned to request control of these remains before March 1, 2021, after which the remains may be transferred to the identified tribes if no additional requests are made.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is revising the process for granting rights-of-way across National Wildlife Refuge System lands and other lands they manage. The changes are aimed at making the permitting process quicker and more efficient by aligning it with other Department of the Interior procedures. Key updates include requiring a preapplication meeting, allowing electronic submission of applications, and ensuring flexibility in determining the value of rights-of-way. The rule also introduces new terms and conditions for permits to ensure use is compatible with the conservation goals of the Refuge System, effective January 10, 2025.

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.