Search Results for keywords:"wildlife conservation"

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) plans to apply for a new license for the Río Blanco Hydroelectric Project in Puerto Rico. They have filed a notice of intent and a request to use the Traditional Licensing Process, which has been approved. The project is situated near Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Forest and occupies some U.S. Forest Service land. Consultations have begun with several agencies, including those focused on wildlife and historic preservation, to ensure all environmental and historical considerations are addressed.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting public comments on proposed amendments to habitat conservation plans for the lesser prairie-chicken in areas including Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. These amendments involve changes to incidental take permits following updated boundaries for the lesser prairie-chicken's range. The public and various government levels can comment until February 13, 2025. The proposed amendments aim to expand conservation efforts and permit coverage without altering the original duration or scope of the plans.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to remove the Interior least tern from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife due to its recovery. This decision comes after a detailed review showing that the species has increased in population and no longer faces significant threats that would qualify it as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Effective February 12, 2021, the Interior least tern is no longer protected under the Act, although it will still be covered by other regulations, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Service will continue to monitor the species for at least five years to ensure it remains stable and prevent it from becoming endangered once more.

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 establish critical habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population of the longfin smelt, a fish found in California's San Francisco Bay estuary. This includes approximately 91,630 acres of land to help conserve the species under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal outlines specific water conditions and habitat requirements needed for the smelt's survival. Public comments and economic analysis on the proposal are sought before finalizing the critical habitat designation.

The Forest Service, part of the Agriculture Department, has approved a Revised Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in Idaho. This plan guides how the forest will be managed and was developed using scientific research and input from the public and government agencies, including consulting with the Nez Perce Tribe. Covering over four million acres, the plan addresses various activities like recreation, timber harvesting, and wildlife conservation while honoring tribal treaties. The Revised LMP will take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

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 correcting an error concerning the Hawaiian hoary bat on the endangered species list. Initially, there was a plan to update the bat's scientific name and add a common name, but this was withdrawn after receiving comments. The Service mistakenly thought these changes hadn't been properly documented and asked for a correction. Now, they are fixing this issue by reverting to the bat's original scientific name without the proposed common name.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received a renewal request from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for an emergency exemption to use the pesticide DQB Males, which involves a strain of Wolbachia pipientis bacteria in male mosquitoes, to control mosquito populations spreading avian malaria in Hawaii. This exemption, meant for wildlife conservation areas, aims to help save endangered Hawaiian forest birds threatened by avian malaria. Public comments are invited on this potential new use of a pesticide not previously registered by the EPA before a decision is made. The application includes a plan for multiple releases of a significant number of mosquitoes treated with the bacteria throughout the year.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the comment periods for three proposed rules concerning the monarch butterfly, bleached sandhill skipper, and Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee. These rules aim to declare these insects as threatened or endangered species. Comments can be submitted online or by mail until May 19, 2025, and a public hearing via Zoom for the bleached sandhill skipper is scheduled for April 16, 2025. The previously submitted comments remain valid and will be considered in the final decision.