Fish and Wildlife Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 90-day finding and 12-month determination on how to proceed in response to a petition to revise critical habitat for Sonora chub (Gila ditaenia) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The petition requests that the Service revise the existing critical habitat designation in Arizona by adding California Gulch. Our 90-day finding is that the petition, in conjunction with information readily available in our files, presents substantial scientific information indicating that the requested revision may be warranted. Our 12-month determination is that we intend to proceed with processing the petition by assessing critical habitat during the next 5-year status review for Sonora chub scheduled for release as soon as fiscal year 2027, as resources allow.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), list the Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), a freshwater turtle species from the Pearl River drainage in Mississippi and Louisiana as a threatened species with 4(d) protective regulations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. Due to similarity of appearance, we also list the Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra), Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti), and Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) as threatened species with 4(d) protective regulations under the Act. This rule adds these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have issued permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Barrens topminnow (Fundulus julisia) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares) of spring pool and 11.4 miles (18.3 kilometers) of spring run in Cannon, Coffee, Dekalb, Franklin, Grundy, and Warren Counties, Tennessee, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. We also announce the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Barrens topminnow.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew information collection without change.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened species status for the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura rainierensis), a bird subspecies in Washington, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This rule adds the subspecies to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extends the Act's protections to the subspecies. We also finalize a rule under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan.

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 up to 20 viable eggs salvaged from the nests of wild piping plover (Charadrius melodus), an endangered bird species. We issue this permit under the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

On June 20, 2024, we published a notification of findings regarding three species not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The notification of findings contained a table with incorrect docket numbers in the ADDRESSES section. This document corrects those docket numbers.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Vivek Investment Corporation (Watersong Phase III) (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink and bluetail mole skink (skinks) incidental to the construction of a residential development in Polk 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 Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus) incidental to the construction of an industrial facility in Polk 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 Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that three species are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Kiamichi crayfish (Faxonius saxatilis), Rio Grande chub (Gila pandora), and Rio Grande sucker (Pantosteus plebeius, formerly Catostomus plebeius). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act for 59 animal and plant species. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review to ensure the accuracy of the species' classification as endangered or threatened. We are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the previous status review for each species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew a currently approved information collection without change.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Dixie Valley toad (Anaxyrus williamsi) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 930 acres (376 hectares) in Churchill County, Nevada, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species' critical habitat. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Dixie Valley toad.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct 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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the coastal distinct population segment of Pacific marten (coastal marten) (Martes caurina), a mammal species from coastal California and Oregon, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, approximately 1,213,752 acres (491,188 hectares) in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. This rule extends the Act's protections to this entity's designated critical habitat.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from California Resources Corporation for an incidental take permit (ITP), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, under the approved General Conservation Plan for Oil and Gas Activities (GCP). If granted, the ITP would authorize take of the California red- legged frog (Rana draytonii) and the Santa Barbara County distinct population segment (DPS) of the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), incidental to excavation and remediation of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons and restoration on the California (CAL) Lease (Site) within the North Cat Canyon Oil Field east of Santa Maria, California. The Service prepared a draft screening form in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects of the specific project to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the applicant. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on the draft screening form and the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus), a lizard species found only in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. This rule extends the protections of the Act to this species. Because we have concluded that the designation of critical habitat for the dunes sagebrush lizard is prudent but not determinable at this time, we will consider critical habitat for the species in a separate, future rulemaking.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on an application to conduct certain activities with a foreign species that is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), promulgate new regulations pertaining to wetland easements to bring consistency, transparency, and clarity for both easement landowners and the Service in the administration of conservation easements, pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. These regulations codify the process by which landowners can request and the Service will provide drain tile setbacks under wetland easement contracts. Under these regulations, if landowners fully comply with Service-provided setbacks when installing drain tile and do not later replace or modify the drain tile, the Service grants the landowners a safe harbor from legal action in the event that the setback drain tile nevertheless results in the draining of an easement wetland. Setback distances are calculated based upon the best available science considering soil characteristics, tile diameter, the depth of the tile below the surface, and/or topography sufficient to the easement contract's standard of protection that ensures no drainage of adjacent protected wetland areas. The regulations apply only to setbacks provided by the Service beginning on the effective date of this final rule.