🐋Proposed Permit for Incidental Take of Endangered Marine Mammals
NMFS is proposing to issue a permit to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, take of specific Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed marine mammal species or stocks under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), in the Category II California (CA) thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 inch (in) mesh) fishery and the corresponding high seas component of the fishery as defined on the MMPA List of Fisheries as the Pacific highly migratory species drift gillnet fishery (hereinafter, collectively referred to as the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh)/Pacific highly migratory species drift gillnet fishery.
Learn More🦞12-Month Finding for Spinytail Crayfish - Not Warranted
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the spinytail crayfish (Procambarus fitzpatricki) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The spinytail crayfish is a small, burrowing freshwater crayfish endemic to southern Mississippi. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the spinytail crayfish 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 spinytail crayfish or its habitat.
Learn More🦜Public Comment Period on Scarlet Macaw Regulatory Explanation
In response to an order by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are opening a public comment period related to a specific issue regarding our listing determination under the Endangered Species Act (Act) for the northern distinct population segment (DPS) of the southern subspecies of the scarlet macaw (Ara macao macao). We seek comments on the explanation presented in this document regarding why we did not conduct an analysis under section 4(e) of the Act pertaining to the DPS.
Learn More🐠New Regulations Affecting Businesses Due to Coral Reclassification
In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2025, from President Donald J. Trump, entitled "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review," published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2025, this action delays the effective date of the final rule NMFS published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2024, regarding the reclassification of the pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) on the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species.
Learn More🌊Puget Sound Energy Environmental Assessment for Spillway Project
The Department of Energy announces the intention to prepare an environmental assessment for Puget Sound Energy's proposed Spillway Project at the Upper Baker Dam. This project aims to enhance dam stability and address accumulated debris, while assessing potential impacts on endangered species and essential fish habitat as required by federal regulations. Public involvement and compliance with environmental guidelines are emphasized.
Learn More🦇Notice on Endangered Species Recovery Permits and Business Impact
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🌱Proposed Rule for Endangered Status of Big Red Sage نبات
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the big red sage (Salvia pentstemonoides), a plant species from central Texas, as an endangered 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 big red sage. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and extend the Act's protections to the species. We have determined that designating critical habitat for the big red sage is not prudent.
Learn More🐢Business Implications of Endangered Species Regulatory Updates
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on seven petitions to add species to, and one petition to remove a species from, the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions to list the Amargosa toad (Anaxyrus nelsoni), Carson Valley monkeyflower (Erythranthe carsonensis), large marble butterfly (Euchloe ausonides) (including the large marble butterfly type subspecies (Euchloe ausonides ausonides)), Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Oasis Valley population of Amargosa speckled dace (Rhinichthys nevadensis nevadensis; hereafter referred to as "Oasis Valley speckled dace"), Tennessee bottlebrush crayfish (Barbicambarus simmonsi), and one petition to delist the golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) 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.
Learn More🦋Incidental Take Permit Application for Quino Checkerspot Butterfly
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from the County of San Diego for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. If granted, the permit would authorize take of the Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino), federally listed as endangered, and the western spadefoot (Spea hammondii), an amphibian species federally proposed as threatened, incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with construction and operation of a 25-acre active recreation park and habitat restoration and management within mitigation areas associated with the project. We invite comments from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies on the applicant's draft habitat conservation plan and the draft environmental assessment, which we have prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. We will take comments into consideration before deciding whether to issue an incidental take permit.
Learn More🌿Endangered Species Recovery Permits
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation and survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.
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