Search Results for keywords:"endangered species"

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 announced preparations for the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), set for November 2025 in Uzbekistan. They plan to propose amendments to the CITES Appendices, which list species needing protection, and are considering resolutions and agenda items based on public feedback. The notice invites public comments on potential proposals and explains how organizations can participate as observers. The Service is also considering various animal and plant species for protection, with a focus on ensuring trade practices do not threaten their survival.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a new rule to list the bleached sandhill skipper, an insect subspecies from Humboldt County, Nevada, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The listing is due to threats from climate change and groundwater pumping affecting its habitat. The agency invites public comments until March 10, 2025, and will conduct a public hearing if requested. The rule would extend protections to the species, although a critical habitat designation is not yet determined.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the comment period for a draft evaluation concerning the pesticide glyphosate. Initially, the public had 60 days to comment on the potential effects of glyphosate on endangered species and their habitats, but this has now been extended by 45 days, with the new deadline being March 12, 2021. This extension allows more time for stakeholders to understand the complex evaluation and submit their feedback. The EPA made this decision due to the technical nature of the evaluation and requests from several groups for additional time to engage experts and prepare detailed comments.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued permits and permit amendments under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These permits are for specific entities, allowing activities that involve marine mammals and endangered species. The issued permits comply with legal requirements and ensure that activities will not harm endangered species or contradict the laws. More information is available for review by contacting specific representatives or through the Federal Register website.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a rule to list several Caribbean skink species as endangered or threatened. The Puerto Rican skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink are proposed as endangered, while the Culebra skink is proposed as threatened. The proposal also includes designating critical habitats for these species to aid in their conservation. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until February 18, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a 12-month finding regarding a petition to classify and remove the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bear population as a separate group from the endangered species list. After reviewing scientific data, they concluded that the NCDE grizzly bears do not qualify as a distinct population segment under the Endangered Species Act, which means they are not eligible for separate classification or delisting. The decision was based on the fact that the grizzly bear population in the area is growing and expanding its range, with bears moving beyond the proposed boundaries. Therefore, the action to establish and remove the NCDE group from protection is not warranted at this time.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to update the classification of the West Indian manatee by distinguishing between its two subspecies, listing the Florida manatee as a threatened species and the Antillean manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This proposal involves removing the West Indian manatee from the list and replacing it with the two subspecies to provide them with distinct protections. The Florida manatee faces threats like habitat loss, watercraft collisions, and climate change, whereas the Antillean manatee is endangered by factors like poaching, low genetic diversity, and ineffective regulatory enforcement in some areas. Public comments are invited on this proposed rule until March 17, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is extending the public comment period for a permit application from SeaWorld to conduct research on a non-releasable beluga whale from the endangered Cook Inlet population. This extension is due to additional information received from SeaWorld, which requires more time for review. The current permit allowing SeaWorld to hold the beluga whale is also proposed to be extended for six months. The new deadline for submitting comments is March 3, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced they have received applications for permits related to activities that help endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. They are asking for comments from the public and various agencies on these applications by February 22, 2021. These permits would allow certain activities for the scientific purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of these species. All public comments, including those with personal information, may be made available publicly, so commenters should be aware of this when submitting feedback.