Guidance for Development of Species-Specific 4(d) Rules Under the Endangered Species Act

This document provides internal guidance for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) personnel on the development of species-specific 4(d) rules for threatened species. The guidance reflects encouragement of creative thinking and emphasizes the breadth of discretion afforded in developing the provisions of each species-specific 4(d) rule. The guidance provides best practices and considerations for 4(d) rules, and similar to all guidance, any substantial deviation warrants further coordination with Headquarters. The guidance may be revised and refined as we learn from our experiences in developing and implementing species-specific 4(d) rules.