Search Results for keywords:"Fish and Wildlife Service"

The Fish and Wildlife Service has received an application from RWLC Development Sub, LLC for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. This permit would allow the company to impact the federally listed sand skink and bluetail mole skink during the construction of a commercial development in Polk County, Florida. A habitat conservation plan has been proposed, and the public is invited to comment. The Service has made an initial determination that this project might have minor environmental impacts and may qualify for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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.

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. 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 announced the release of a final environmental impact statement regarding a habitat conservation plan created by the Oregon Department of State Lands. This plan seeks to obtain permits allowing incidental harm to three threatened species: the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, and the Oregon Coast coho salmon. The permits would support research and management activities in the Elliott State Research Forest in Oregon for 80 years. They include steps to minimize and mitigate impacts, with ongoing monitoring and adaptive management strategies guided by the plan's conservation goals.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, with help from museums in Alaska, has completed an inventory of human remains and artifacts found on several islands in Alaska. They determined that these remains and objects are culturally connected to Native American tribes living in Atka, Alaska. The agency plans to return these items to the rightful tribe on or after April 18, 2025. Requests for repatriation can be submitted by the tribes mentioned in the notice or by others who can prove a cultural connection.

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 proposes listing the eastern hellbender salamander as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This decision is based on the decline of its populations due to threats such as habitat destruction, pollution, disease, and unauthorized collection. The listing would provide the subspecies with greater protection but does not include a critical habitat designation to avoid increasing the risk of illegal collection. Public comments are invited on the rule before February 11, 2025.