Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice Describing Fish and Wildlife Service Priority Listing Activities From October 1, 1995 Through November 13, 1995

In this notice the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) describes those activities that it believes may be lawfully conducted pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act while operating under the continuing resolution from October 1, 1995 through November 13, 1995. The Service interprets the provisions of the continuing resolution to prohibit the issuance of final rules adding species to the list of endangered or threatened wildlife and plants. Emergency listing and designation of critical habitat are also prohibited. Activities the Service believes are authorized include--review and issuance of findings on petitions; conducting public hearings and accepting public comments on proposed listings and critical habitat designations; and preparing, publishing, or withdrawing proposed rules to list, delist, or reclassify species. Highest priority listing activities during the period covered by the continuing resolution will include--completing ongoing public comment periods and conducting scheduled or requested public hearings; completing review and publishing findings on petitions received prior to July 15, 1995; and processing listing actions that would delist species or reclassify endangered species to threatened species.