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Browse 60 rules and proposed rules from the Federal Register.
60
Total Regulations
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In response to a court order, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) are removing the northern and the southern distinct population segments (DPSs) of the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Additionally, we are rescinding the rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act for the northern DPS. As a result of the court's orders, the regulatory protections under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) no longer apply to either DPS.
In response to a court order, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) are initiating a new 12-month petition finding process for the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We ask the public to submit to us any information relevant to the status of the lesser prairie-chicken or its habitat.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove Geocarpon minimum from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Our review indicates that the threats to Geocarpon minimum have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, we propose to delist Geocarpon minimum. This proposed rule completes the 5-year status review for the species. If we finalize this rule as proposed, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act, particularly through sections 4 and 7, would no longer apply to Geocarpon minimum.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Southeast U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of the wood stork (Mycteria americana) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that delisting the species is warranted. Our review indicates that the threats to the Southeast U.S. DPS of the wood stork have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act, particularly through sections 4 and 7, will no longer apply to the Southeast U.S. DPS of the wood stork.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reopening the comment period on our May 21, 2025, proposed rule to list the Fish Lake Valley tui chub (Siphateles obesus ssp.), a fish found in Esmeralda County in southwestern Nevada, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are taking this action to conduct a public hearing and to allow all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in our development of the final rule.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on 10 petitions to add species to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions to list the Alvord chub (Siphateles alvordensis), Donner und Blitzen pebblesnail (Fluminicola insolitus), gray cat's-eye (Oreocarya leucophaea), Mount Pinos sooty grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus howardi), mysterious lantern firefly (Photuris mysticalampas), Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus), San Joaquin tiger beetle (Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis), stippled studfish (Fundulus bifax), Wilson's phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), and wonder caddisfly (Neothremma prolata) present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we are initiating status reviews of these species to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.
This direct final rule (DFR) rescinds portions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) regulations containing general provisions related to requirements for programs and subprograms authorized under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. This DFR removes redundancies and eliminates superfluous sections. These recissions will result in regulations that better serve the American public, streamline government operations, and increase efficiencies for recipients of our financial assistance programs.
This direct final rule removes certain regulations related to enforcement of various activities on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, and Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Specifically, the rescinded regulations relate to activities such as use of fireworks, damaging vegetation, dogs that disturb wildlife or habitat, use of firearms and other weapons, littering, alcohol use, and boat speed. These regulations are redundant and therefore can be rescinded without adverse impact.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made deregulatory actions pertaining to Federal financial assistance programs and subprograms authorized under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to better serve the American public, streamline government operations, and increase efficiencies for recipients of our financial assistance programs. This final rule reflects recent legislation; aligns with the Office of Management and Budget's administrative rules for Federal financial assistance; aligns with other laws, standards, and administrative processes; responds to comments and feedback on our 2019 rulemaking action; and provides clarity to help ensure consistency in administering our financial assistance programs and subprograms across the Nation.
We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review for the Olympic Peninsula (OP) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, in response to a petition to list this species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have determined that OP steelhead is a DPS under the ESA and that listing is not warranted at this time. Accordingly, NMFS will continue to monitor the OP steelhead DPS status, including working closely with Tribal and State co-managers.
We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of the Oregon Coast (OC) and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal (SONCC) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) in response to a petition to list these species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate critical habitat concurrently with the listings. Based on the best scientific and commercial information available, including the status review report, and taking into account efforts being made to protect the species, we have determined that the OC and SONCC Chinook salmon ESUs do not warrant listing.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS; collectively, the "Services") propose to revise portions of our regulations for section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA or Act). The proposed revisions to the interagency cooperation regulations confirm the Services' application of statutory requirements for interagency cooperation, while continuing to provide for the conservation of listed species.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS; collectively, the "Services"), propose to revise portions of our regulations for section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA or Act). The proposed revisions to the regulations clarify and interpret portions of the Act concerning the procedures and criteria used for listing, reclassifying, and delisting species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and designating critical habitat.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or the Service), propose to amend portions of our regulations for section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act or ESA). Specifically, we propose to revise regulations related to section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Section 4(b)(2) requires consideration of the economic impact, the impact on national security, and any other relevant impact of designating any particular area as critical habitat; and authorizes the exclusion of areas from critical habitat if the benefits of excluding the area outweigh the benefits of designating it as critical habitat. These proposed revisions articulate when and how we determine whether the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of designating the area as critical habitat (exclusion analysis). This proposed rule reflects the Service's experience and existing case law. The intended effect of this proposed rule is to provide greater transparency and certainty for the public and stakeholders.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise our regulations concerning protections of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (Act). We are proposing to remove the "blanket rule" option for protecting newly listed threatened species pursuant to section 4(d) of the Act. The Service intends to create species- specific rules for all threatened species currently protected under the "blanket rule" option. Until such species-specific rules are promulgated, threatened species that receive protections under the "blanket rule" option will continue to receive those protections.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Okinawa woodpecker (Dendrocopos noguchii) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Okinawa woodpecker is a relatively large woodpecker endemic to northern Okinawa, Japan. After a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the Okinawa woodpecker as an endangered, or threatened, species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us, at any time, any new information relevant to the status of the Okinawa woodpecker, or its habitat.
In this candidate notice of review (CNOR), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or FWS), present an updated list of plant and animal species that we regard as candidates for or have proposed for addition to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This document also includes our findings on resubmitted petitions and describes our progress in revising the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists) during the period October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2024. Combined with other decisions for individual species that were published separately from this CNOR in the past two years, the current number of species that are candidates for listing or uplisting is 16 (as of September 30, 2024). Identification of candidate species can assist environmental planning efforts by providing advance notice of potential listings, and by allowing landowners, resource managers, States, Tribes, range countries, and other stakeholders to take actions to alleviate threats and thereby possibly remove the need to list species as endangered or threatened. Even if we subsequently list a candidate species, the early notice provided here could result in more options for species management and recovery by prompting earlier candidate conservation measures to alleviate threats to the species.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise regulations issued under section 4(e) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) related to furthering the conservation of the following listed endangered species and threatened species: Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), bog turtle (northern distinct population segment [DPS]) (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri), Desert tortoise (Mojave DPS) (Gopherus agassizii), Florida panther (Puma (=Felis) concolor coryi), and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). We propose to amend or remove regulations concerning taking or commerce in the following 11 similarity of appearance species: Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra), Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti), Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi), bog turtle (southern DPS), cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius theonus), ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus antibubastus), nickerbean blue butterfly (Cyclargus ammon), desert tortoise (Sonoran population), puma (=mountain lion) (Puma (=Felis) concolor (all subspecies except coryi)), and shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). We are proposing these changes to eliminate unnecessary regulations and to ensure that species treated as endangered or threatened under section 4(e) of the Act meet the three required criteria as directed in section 4(e) of the Act.
FHWA is rescinding the regulations issued on February 27, 2004 on the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Management Systems.
In response to an order by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are providing our final explanation related to a specific issue regarding our listing determination under the Endangered Species Act (ESA or Act) for the northern distinct population segment (DPS) of the southern subspecies of the scarlet macaw (Ara macao macao). We explain why we did not conduct an analysis under section 4(e) of the Act pertaining to the DPS.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that five species are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data available, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Jackson Prairie crayfish (Procambarus barbiger), Ozark shiner (Notropis ozarcanus), speckled burrowing crayfish (Creaserinus danielae), spiny scale crayfish (Cambarus jezerinaci), and spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), a small, fossorial snake species from the coastal plains and sandhills across the southeastern United States, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the southern hognose snake. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the southern hognose snake as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species. We find that designating critical habitat for this species is prudent but not determinable at this time.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), open or expand hunting or sport fishing opportunities on 16 National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) stations and 1 National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) station. This includes inaugural hunting opportunities at Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the newest addition to the NWRS, and the formal opening of hunting opportunities at Grasslands Wildlife Management Area (WMA), as well as inaugural sport fishing at North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery (NFH). These actions open or expand 42 opportunities for hunting and fishing across more than 87,000 acres of Service-managed lands and waters. We also make administrative changes to existing station-specific regulations to improve the clarity and accuracy of regulations, reduce the regulatory burden on the public, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain- language standards.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on the status of the Northern California-Southern Oregon distinct population segment (NCSO DPS) of fisher (Pekania pennanti) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The fisher is a mammal species in the weasel family found primarily in mature conifer and mixed hardwood forests. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the NCSO DPS of fisher as an endangered or threatened species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the NCSO DPS of fisher or its habitat.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on eight petitions to add species to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and one petition to revise critical habitat for a listed species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions to list the cinnamon juga (Juga canella), Great Basin ramshorn (Helisoma newberryi), montane peaclam (Pisidium ultramontanum), painted woolly bat (Kerivoula picta), Southern Cascades population of the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), and Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we are initiating status reviews of these species to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act. We also find that the petition to revise critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) presents substantial scientific information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we announce that we plan to determine how we will proceed with the request to revise a critical habitat designation for the species. We further find that the petitions to list the Alaskan glacier buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis subsp. alaskensis) and eastern population of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, we are not initiating a status review of the Alaskan glacier buttercup or the eastern population of golden eagle.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Borneo earless monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis), a lizard species from Borneo, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the Borneo earless monitor. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the Borneo earless monitor as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove Virginia sneezeweed (Helenium virginicum) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Our review indicates that the threats to Virginia sneezeweed have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, we propose to delist Virginia sneezeweed. If we finalize this rule as proposed, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act, particularly through sections 7 and 9, would no longer apply to Virginia sneezeweed.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Roanoke logperch (Percina rex), a freshwater fish in the perch family (Percidae), from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that delisting the species is warranted. Our review indicates that the threats to the Roanoke logperch have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act, particularly through sections 7 and 9, will no longer apply to the Roanoke logperch.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reopening the comment period on our December 26, 2024, proposed rule to list the blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei), a lizard species from Indonesia, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are taking this action to allow interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule and to conduct a public hearing. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.
We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to revise the critical habitat designation for the Southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition requests that we revise the designated critical habitat to remove an approximately 9-mile (15- kilometer) stream reach from the confluence of the Santa Clara River and Hopper Creek upstream to the face of Santa Felicia Dam on Piru Creek. We find that the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. We are hereby initiating a review of the currently designated critical habitat to determine whether the requested revision is warranted. To ensure a comprehensive review, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to this action.