Department of the Interior June 23, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recently proposed to reclassify the Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) from an endangered species to a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. We are reopening the proposed rule comment period to give all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. We also announce a public informational meeting and public hearing on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule.

The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), is soliciting grants from Indian Organizations to establish and operate off-reservation Indian child and family service programs. The intent of the Indian child and family service programs are to provide services for stabilizing Indian families and Tribes, preventing the breakup of Indian families and, in particular, to ensure that the permanent removal of an Indian child from the custody of his/her Indian parent or Indian custodian shall be a last resort.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the draft first revision of the recovery plan for the threatened Alaska-breeding population of Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri). We request review and comment on the revised plan from local, State and Federal agencies, Tribes, and the public. We will also accept any new information on the status of the Alaska-breeding population of Steller's eiders throughout its range to assist in finalizing the recovery plan.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) from endangered to threatened (downlist) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Fender's blue butterfly is endemic to the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The proposed downlisting is based on our evaluation of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the species' status has improved such that it is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but that it is still likely to become so in the foreseeable future. We also propose a rule under section 4(d) of the Act that provides for the conservation of the species.