🐅Emergency Permit Issued for Import of Endangered Species
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have waived the 30-day public notice period and have issued an endangered species permit for import of five tigers (Panthera tigris). We issue this permit under the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Learn More🐍Proposed Regulation for Southern Hognose Snake Listing
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), a small, fossorial snake species from the coastal plains and sandhills across the southeastern United States, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the southern hognose snake. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the southern hognose snake as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species. We find that designating critical habitat for this species is prudent but not determinable at this time.
Learn More🦋Public Comment on Endangered Species Recovery Permits
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct scientific research to promote conservation or other activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.
Learn More🦎Incidental Take Permit Application for Housing Development in Florida
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Revels Road Investors, LLC (Howey Groves Development) (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink incidental to the construction of a housing development in Lake County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft screening form and NEPA statement for HCPs, which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
Learn More🐬Issuance of Marine Mammal Permit and Business Implications
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Learn More🐟Compliance Requirements for Hatchery Programs Under ESA
NMFS has evaluated plans for three hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook, coho, and pink salmon in the Dungeness River basin, submitted by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as co-managers pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plans describe hatchery programs operated by the co-managers. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of an Evaluation and Recommended Determination Document (ERD) in which NMFS, by delegated authority from the Secretary of Commerce, has determined that implementing and enforcing these hatchery and genetics management plans (HGMPs) will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery nor modify or destroy critical habitat of Puget Sound Chinook salmon or Puget Sound steelhead.
Learn More🐟Notice on Hatchery Management Plans and Environmental Determination
NMFS has evaluated hatchery and genetic management plans (HGMPs) for 12 hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook, coho, and chum salmon in the Nooksack River basin and Strait of Georgia submitted by the Lummi Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in collaboration with the Nooksack Indian Tribe as co- managers pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plans describe hatchery programs operated by the co-managers. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of an Evaluation and Recommended Determination Document (ERD) in which NMFS, by delegated authority from the Secretary of Commerce, has determined that implementing and enforcing these HGMPs will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery nor modify or destroy critical habitat of Puget Sound Chinook salmon or Puget Sound steelhead. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NMFS also announces the availability of its Finding of No Significant Impact for the hatchery operations under the HGMPs.
Learn More🦏Regulatory Findings on Endangered Species and Business Implications
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on eight petitions to add species to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and one petition to revise critical habitat for a listed species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions to list the cinnamon juga (Juga canella), Great Basin ramshorn (Helisoma newberryi), montane peaclam (Pisidium ultramontanum), painted woolly bat (Kerivoula picta), Southern Cascades population of the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), and Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we are initiating status reviews of these species to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act. We also find that the petition to revise critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) presents substantial scientific information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we announce that we plan to determine how we will proceed with the request to revise a critical habitat designation for the species. We further find that the petitions to list the Alaskan glacier buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis subsp. alaskensis) and eastern population of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, we are not initiating a status review of the Alaskan glacier buttercup or the eastern population of golden eagle.
Learn More🐾Not Warranted
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on the status of the Northern California-Southern Oregon distinct population segment (NCSO DPS) of fisher (Pekania pennanti) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The fisher is a mammal species in the weasel family found primarily in mature conifer and mixed hardwood forests. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the NCSO DPS of fisher as an endangered or threatened species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the NCSO DPS of fisher or its habitat.
Learn More🌿Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Kaua'i Habitat Conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received an incidental take permit (ITP) application from the Kaua[revaps]i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC; applicant), associated with KIUC's proposed habitat conservation plan (proposed HCP) submitted pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The applicant seeks an ITP from the Service to authorize the incidental take of nine species expected to result from KIUC's operation and modification of existing and future powerlines and lighting activities on the island of Kaua[revaps]i as well as implementation of a conservation strategy. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, this notice announces the availability of a draft environmental impact statement. With this notice, we also make available the proposed HCP submitted by the applicant and invite public comments.
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