[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31343]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 21, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Availability of Draft Section 7 Endangered Species 
Consultation Handbook--Procedures for Conducting Section 7 
Consultations and Conferences

AGENCIES: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine 
Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (hereafter referred to as Services) announce the 
availability of their Draft Section 7 Endangered Species Consultation 
Handbook--Procedures for Conducting Section 7 Consultations and 
Conferences. This draft document provides internal guidance for 
conducting section 7 consultations and conferences under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Its purpose is to provide policy 
and guidance for section 7 procedures to promote efficiency and 
nationwide consistency within and between the Services. The Services 
seek public comment on this draft guidance document.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Endangered Species Consultation Handbook 
must be received on or before February 21, 1995 to be considered during 
preparation of a final guidance document.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the Draft Endangered Species 
Consultation Handbook may obtain a copy by contacting the Division of 
Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax 
Drive, room 452, Arlington, Virginia 22203 (telephone 703/358-2106). 
Written comments and materials regarding the Draft guidance should be 
directed to the same address. Comments and materials received will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jamie Rappaport Clark, Chief, Division of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, at the above address (703-358-2171), or Russell 
Bellmer, Chief, Endangered Species Division, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1335 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (301-
713-2322).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) requires each Federal agency to ensure, through consultation with 
the Secretary of the Interior or Commerce, that any activity they 
authorize, fund, or carry out is not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of its critical habitat. Section 7(a)(4) requires similar 
conference procedures for activities likely to result in jeopardy to 
proposed species or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat.
    This draft handbook would provide consistent procedures for Service 
compliance with the affirmative conservation responsibilities of 
section 7(a)(1) of the Act, and for the conduct of section 7(a)(2)-(4) 
consultations and conferences. This consistency would be achieved by 
(1) providing national procedural and policy guidance, (2) providing 
standardized formats and language for section 7 consultation documents, 
(3) ensuring Service compliance with section 7, (4) providing 
assistance to other agencies in their compliance with section 7 of the 
Act, and (5) providing for conservation of listed, proposed and 
candidate species.
    Although the procedures and definitions in the Handbook are 
supported by both Services, not all are applicable to the National 
Marine Fisheries Service due to organizational differences between the 
two Services, as well as differences in the special character of 
species under the jurisdiction of each Service. Further guidance 
clarifying National Marine Fisheries Service specific organizational 
requirements would be included in the final handbook.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Services intend that a final decision on the Draft Endangered 
Species Handbook take advantage of information and recommendations from 
all interested parties. Therefore, comments or suggestions from the 
public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific 
community, industry, or any other interested party concerning this 
draft document are hereby solicited. All comments and materials 
received will be considered prior to the approval of any final 
document.

    Author/Editor: The editor of this document is James J. Slack, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species (see 
ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: November 4, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Dated: November 9, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31343 Filed 12-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M