[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: 94-31369]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Notice of Availability of Draft Guidance for Candidate Species 
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; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries 
Service (Services) announce the availability of their draft guidance 
for candidate species for public review. This draft document would 
provide internal guidance for the assessment, monitoring, and 
conservation of species that are candidates for listing under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Its purpose would be 
to provide policy and guidance to promote efficiency and nationwide 
consistency within the Services in identifying species as candidates 
for listing, assessing and monitoring their status, and seeking 
opportunities to stabilize and recover them before listing becomes a 
high priority. The Services seek public comment on this draft guidance 
document.

DATES: Comments on the draft guidance must be received on or before 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ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft guidance may obtain a 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regarding the draft guidance should be directed to the same address.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

    The Endangered Species Act requires the Services to identify 
species of wildlife and plants that are endangered or threatened based 
on the best available scientific and commercial data. To fulfill this 
responsibility, the Services must have an effective program to identify 
species as candidates for listing and to assess and monitor their 
status.
    A credible, up-to-date list of candidate species provides a 
foundation for the Services' candidate conservation efforts. Regular 
assessment to determine and monitor trends in species' status helps to 
ensure that conservation efforts, as well as species listings, are 
appropriately directed and in accordance with established priorities.
    An emphasis on early conservation efforts for candidate species 
allows the Services to seek opportunities for Federal and non-Federal 
entities to stabilize and recover these species and their ecosystems 
before listing becomes a high priority. By addressing the conversation 
of candidate species, the Services and other Federal and non-Federal 
entities can retain management flexibility, reduce conflict with 
development, minimize the costs of recovery if listing is pursued, and 
sometimes alleviate the potential need for restrictive land use 
policies in the future.
    Principal components of the draft guidance include:
    1. Standard procedures for addressing taxonomic questions regarding 
candidates;
    2. Standards for acceptance of candidates to administrative 
categories and documenting changes in the status of candidates;
    3. An explanation of monitoring requirements and means for carrying 
them out, as well as a sample format for a monitoring plan;
    4. An explanation of comprehensive notices of review;
    5. A description of the overall purposes of candidate conservation 
actions and a discussion of the authorities and opportunities available 
to carry out candidate conservation;
    6. Principles upon which to set priorities among species and 
projects;
    7. General rules for the development and implementation of 
Conservation Agreements intended to promote conservation of candidate 
species; and
    8. An explanation of how implementation of Conservation Agreements 
might serve to eliminate or reduce the need to list some candidate 
species.
    The draft guidance being made available through publication of this 
notice would supersede the Fish and Wildlife Service's 1983 policy 
entitled ``Conservation Agreements for Candidate Species--Final Policy 
and Guidelines.'' The 1983 policy has a much narrower scope than the 
draft guidance. The draft guidance expands upon the 1983 policy by:
    1. Providing information on how to identify species as candidates 
for listing, and
    2. Providing direction to ensure that the Service complies with the 
1988 amendments to the Act, which require that the status of petitioned 
candidates be monitored to ensure that they do not become extinct while 
awaiting listing.
    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 will be included in the final guidance.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Services intend that a final decision on the draft guidance for 
candidate species 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 Uvetta Dozier, 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: September 20, 1994.
Bruce Blanchard,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Dated: November 9, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31369 Filed 12-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M