Search Results for keywords:"Endangered Species Act"

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 Executive Order 14225, titled "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production," aims to boost domestic timber production by reducing regulatory barriers. It directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to update guidance and implement strategies for more efficient timber production and forest management. This involves streamlining processes under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), eliminating unnecessary permitting delays, and considering categorical exclusions to simplify environmental assessments. The Order also emphasizes coordination among agencies to identify and address obstacles to domestic timber production.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is starting 5-year status reviews for 14 species, including 4 plant and 10 animal species, under the Endangered Species Act. They are asking for public input by March 4, 2025, to help update the reviews with the latest scientific and commercial information about these species, such as their population trends and habitat conditions. Interested parties can submit their contributions and consult with the specified contacts for more guidance. The process ensures that the conservation measures remain effective and relevant.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Peñasco least chipmunk, a mammal found in New Mexico, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Approximately 4,386 acres in Lincoln County, New Mexico, have been designated as critical habitat for the chipmunk. This decision aims to provide protections against threats such as habitat loss, disease, and small population size. Certain areas, including parts managed by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, have been excluded from the critical habitat designation to maintain effective partnerships and recognize tribal management of their lands.

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 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the start of a 5-year review for the Beringia and Okhotsk distinct population segments of the bearded seal, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 2012. The review aims to ensure the accuracy of the species' listing status, using the best available scientific and commercial data. NMFS is inviting information on the seals' status, threats, and recovery efforts from the public and relevant entities by March 26, 2021. This information will help determine if the seals should remain listed as threatened, be reclassified, or delisted.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering applications for permits to conduct scientific research and other activities to support the conservation of endangered and threatened species, as part of the Endangered Species Act. They are seeking comments from the public and various governmental agencies by January 10, 2025. These permits would allow activities that help the recovery and protection of such species, but before any permits are granted, public input will be taken into account. All comments submitted will become part of the public record, and there is a possibility of personal information becoming publicly accessible.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing an update to the description of the western North Pacific gray whale population under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to reflect the latest scientific understanding. This update follows a 5-year review and a distinct population segment analysis, which found that the gray whales in this area should be managed as a single group, including those that migrate between the Western and Eastern North Pacific. The proposed changes update the official description without altering the endangered status of the whales. Public comments on this proposal are invited until January 13, 2025.

The Department of Commerce has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request, made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, involves extending a current information collection concerning conservation efforts under the Endangered Species Act. The initiative includes creating conservation plans or agreements, monitoring their effectiveness, and producing annual reports. Public comments on this proposal are invited for 30 days following the notice's publication date.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on permit applications for activities aimed at recovering and enhancing the survival of endangered species. Under the Endangered Species Act, many activities that could affect endangered species are prohibited unless permitted by the federal government. The public has until February 18, 2021, to submit comments on these permit requests. These permits would allow activities such as capturing or collecting endangered animals or plants for scientific purposes that support their recovery or survival.