Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revisions to the Regulations for Petitions
endangered-species · US Fish and Wildlife Service · Published 2016-09-27 · Effective 2016-10-27 · 81 FR 66462
Document
Document number
2016-23003
Federal Register citation
81 FR 66462
CFR reference
50 CFR 424
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
endangered-species
Sub-agency
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Publication date
2016-09-27
Effective date
2016-10-27
Interior docket
Docket Nos. FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0016 and DOC 150506429-6767-04
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (Services), finalize changes to the regulations concerning petitions, to improve the content and specificity of petitions and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the petition process to support species conservation. Our revisions to the regulations clarify and enhance the procedures by which the Services evaluate petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. These revisions will also maximize the efficiency with which the Services process petitions, making the best use of available resources.