[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: 94-31368]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Availability of Draft Petition Management Guidance for 
Petitions Received Under the Endangered Species Act for Review and 
Comment

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

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries 
Service (Services) announce the availability of their draft Petition 
Management Guidance for public review. This draft document provides 
internal guidance for the management of petitions submitted to the 
Services under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). 
Its purpose is to provide policy and guidance for managing petitions to 
promote efficiency and nationwide consistency within the Services. The 
Services seeks public comment on this draft guidance document.

DATES: Comments on the draft Petition Management Guidance 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 Petition Management 
Guidance 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 703/358-2105). 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comments and materials regarding the draft guidance should be directed 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 4(b)(3) of the Act allows any interested individual to 
petition the Services to list, delist, or reclassify species, or to 
revise a listed species' critical habitat. The draft Petition 
Management Guidance provides specific guidance on petition 
identification, data/information submission standards, lead Region 
responsibilities, timeframes for submitting 90-day and 12-month 
findings, petition tracking, preparation of administrative findings and 
notices, and petitioner notification. The draft guidance differentiates 
among petitions requesting (1) actions petitionable under the 
provisions of section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act, (2) 
actions encompassed by other provisions of the Endangered Species Act, 
and (3) actions petitionable only under the Administrative Procedure 
Act.
    The draft Petition Management Guidance identifies four petition 
categories under section 4(b)(3) of the Act as follows:
    (1) Petitions to list species that have not been identified by the 
Service as candidates for listing,
    (2) Petitions to list species that have been identified by the 
Service as candidates for listing,
    (3) Petitions to reclassify or delist species, and
    (4) Petitions to revise critical habitat.
    Under each of these four categories, situations are described to 
assist Service employees and ensure consistency in the determination of 
90-day and 12-month petition findings.
    Ultimately, the Services intend to ensure that the petition process 
serves its function by calling appropriate attention to situations 
affecting the welfare of species or of any other change in biological 
status of species that would justify rulemaking under section 4 of the 
Act. In this manner, the petition process will operate consistent with 
the Services' own listing priority system for species already 
identified as candidates for listing under the Act.
    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 the differences in the special character of 
species under the jurisdiction of each Service. Further guidance 
clarifying National Marine Fisheries Service specific organizational 
requirements will be included in the final guidance.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Services intend that a final decision on the draft Petition 
Management Guidance 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 guidance are hereby solicited. All comments and materials 
received will be considered prior to the approval of a final document.
    Author/Editor: The editors of this document are Sandra L. 
MacPherson and Susan M. Lawrence, 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: July 11, 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. 94-31368 Filed 12-20-94; 8:45 am]
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