Search Results for agency_names:"Fish and Wildlife Service"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for the Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District in Montana. This plan sets out the strategies and objectives for managing the wetland areas to benefit wildlife and promote recreational opportunities like hunting and fishing. The public is invited to review and comment on the draft documents by February 13, 2025, with copies available online or in person at the management district office. The plan seeks to comply with relevant laws and includes special considerations for consulting with Tribal entities regarding their interests and responsibilities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is extending the public comment period for a proposed land exchange involving lands within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and King Cove Corporation. The exchange could lead to the construction of a road for noncommercial use, mainly for health, safety, and subsistence purposes, connecting King Cove with Cold Bay, Alaska. This proposal has a complex history involving previous evaluations and legal actions. Interested parties, including the public and various agencies, are invited to submit their comments by February 13, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening a public comment period on their explanation for why they did not treat the northern distinct population segment (DPS) of the southern subspecies of the scarlet macaw as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This decision is in compliance with a U.S. District Court order that highlighted the lack of explanation in an earlier rule. The Service explained that section 4(e) of the ESA, which allows for a species to be treated as endangered based on similarity of appearance, applies only to species not already listed under section 4(a) as threatened, like the northern DPS that is already listed as threatened. They argued that treating the northern DPS as endangered based on similarity of appearance wouldn’t provide additional benefits or protections.

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 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 has announced the receipt of an application for a permit to help conserve endangered species, as allowed under the Endangered Species Act. The agency is inviting public comments on this application until January 27, 2025. The permit would let the applicant perform actions that could aid the survival and growth of endangered species in the wild. Public input on such proposals can influence whether the permit is issued, and individuals are encouraged to provide information or studies that support their comments.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided not to list the spinytail crayfish as an endangered or threatened species. The agency reviewed scientific and commercial information and concluded that the species currently has a stable environment and sufficient habitat. Even though the spinytail crayfish is a narrow-range species in southern Mississippi, it faces no immediate threat of extinction, and its populations are resilient to possible future risks like climate change. The service encourages the public to provide any new information about the crayfish's status or habitat.

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 and the National Marine Fisheries Service are proposing amendments to the consultation regulations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. These changes pertain to land management plans by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The proposed revisions aim to make it clear that when new information emerges which could affect species or habitats in ways not previously considered, reinitiating consultation won't always be necessary, as long as a separate action-specific consultation is conducted for any related actions. The goal is to improve the efficiency and consistency of interagency cooperation procedures.

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.