Press Release
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Review Status of 133 Pacific Region Species
The Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating 5-year reviews of 133 species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The species are found in Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.
The species to be reviewed are Bradshaw’s desert-parsley (found in Oregon and Washington), Howell’s spectacular thelypody (found in Oregon), MacFarlane’s four-o’-clock (found in Idaho and Oregon), and 130 species of plants and animals from Hawaii. A list of the species, their current listing classifications, and more information about them is available at www.fws.gov/pacific/2015review/LIST-5-yearReviews_2015_NR.pdf.
To assist in its reviews, the Service is opening a 60-day public comment period for the submission of scientific and commercial information produced since the original listing of each of these species. The public, government agencies, tribes, industry and the scientific and conservation communities are asked to submit information by April 14, 2015.
Status reviews of all listed species are required by the ESA at least once every five years to determine whether a species’ classification as threatened or endangered is still appropriate. If the best scientific and commercial data produced since the time of listing are not consistent with the current classification of any species, the Service will recommend a change in the species’ federal classification. A species could be recommended for reclassification from endangered to threatened (downlisting), from threatened to endangered (uplisting), or for removal from the federal list of threatened and endangered species (delisting).
Any recommended change in classification would be subject to a separate rule-making process that includes opportunities for public review and comment. If no change in classification is recommended, the species would remain under its current listing status.
For more information on the 5-year reviews and where to submit comments and information please see today’s Federal Register. More information on each of the species can be found at www.fws.gov/endangered/species/index.html
The species to be reviewed are Bradshaw’s desert-parsley (found in Oregon and Washington), Howell’s spectacular thelypody (found in Oregon), MacFarlane’s four-o’-clock (found in Idaho and Oregon), and 130 species of plants and animals from Hawaii. A list of the species, their current listing classifications, and more information about them is available at www.fws.gov/pacific/2015review/LIST-5-yearReviews_2015_NR.pdf.
To assist in its reviews, the Service is opening a 60-day public comment period for the submission of scientific and commercial information produced since the original listing of each of these species. The public, government agencies, tribes, industry and the scientific and conservation communities are asked to submit information by April 14, 2015.
Status reviews of all listed species are required by the ESA at least once every five years to determine whether a species’ classification as threatened or endangered is still appropriate. If the best scientific and commercial data produced since the time of listing are not consistent with the current classification of any species, the Service will recommend a change in the species’ federal classification. A species could be recommended for reclassification from endangered to threatened (downlisting), from threatened to endangered (uplisting), or for removal from the federal list of threatened and endangered species (delisting).
Any recommended change in classification would be subject to a separate rule-making process that includes opportunities for public review and comment. If no change in classification is recommended, the species would remain under its current listing status.
For more information on the 5-year reviews and where to submit comments and information please see today’s Federal Register. More information on each of the species can be found at www.fws.gov/endangered/species/index.html
