NEPA Planning
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to undertake an assessment of the environmental effects of their proposed
actions prior to making decisions. The environmental impact assessment process conducted under NEPA is intended to ensure agencies make better
informed decisions and that the public has a meaningful opportunity to participate in the process. The Fish & Wildlife Service's NEPA goal is to
make better environmental decisions in a cost and time-efficient manner to further our mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife
and their habitats for the continued benefit of the American people.
The NEPA process starts when an agency identifies the need for action and develops a proposal. The agency's experience with a particular kind of
action and its environmental effects determines the level of environmental review to pursue. For actions where the environmental effects are
uncertain, an Environmental Assessment (EA) may be prepared. The EA process concludes with either a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or a
determination to proceed to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An agency must prepare an EIS if it is proposing a major
federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment or if there are extraordinary circumstances, which under agency
guidelines dictate a higher level of environmental review.
2020-2021 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Mexican wolf 10(j) Remand Process
The Service is currently working with 24 Cooperating Agencies to develop a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS). We anticipate publication of a draft revised 10(j) rule and DSEIS in the Federal Register for public review and comment by early summer of 2021. Additional information on how to review these documents and participate in virtual public meetings or hearings will become available as we near publication.
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Record of Decision: January, 2015
On January 06, 2015 the Regional Director for the Southwest Region signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the
Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). The final rule for Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental
Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) implements the decision recorded in the Final ROD.
For the Final EIS, Final ROD and final experimental population rule please visit the following links:
Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf
(Canis lupus baileyi) - November 2014
Final Record of Decision for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) - January 06, 2015
Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (2015 Final Rule) - January 2015
Additional supporting information is provided in the links below:
News Release - January 12, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions - Revised Mexican Wolf 10(j) Rule/Revised Listing - January 12, 2015
NEPA Planning: 2007-2015
We initiated the NEPA planning process for an expanded reintroduction effort for the Mexican wolf on August 07, 2007 with a Notice
of Intent (72 FR 44065) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed amendment of our 1998 Final 10(j) Rule
(1998 Final Rule). We received over 13,000 comments and held twelve public hearings in Arizona and New Mexico during the scoping period.
Following the completion of our analysis and review of the public comments we determined that it was appropriate to move forward
with a proposed modification to the management guidance which limits the area available for the direct initial release of captive wolves.
A Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment (PDEA) was prepared for internal Service review. During this same period we also developed
a PDEA for the implementation of a management plan for wolves in areas in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas that are outside of the Mexican
Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA). In response to early feedback we decided to incorporate the proposed actions of both of these
PDEAs into the proposed action of an EIS to be initiated in 2013.
On June 13, 2013 we published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to revise our existing Mexican wolf nonessential experimental
population designation in Arizona and New Mexico (78 FR 35719). A new Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS was published in the
Federal Register on August 5, 2013 (78 FR 47268). The NOI announced the availability of a preliminary draft of Chapters One and Two
of the EIS and solicited comments from the public, government agencies and tribes concerning the scope of the EIS, pertinent issues
to address, and alternatives that should be analyzed. Two public hearings were held in Arizona and New Mexico during the scoping
period. Substantive comments received during scoping were considered in the preparation of the draft EIS.
On July 25, 2014, we published a Notice of Availability (NOA) for a revised proposed rule (79 FR 43358) in the Federal Register and
announced the availability of a draft EIS. Two public hearings were held in Arizona and New Mexico during the 60-day public review period.
Each public hearing was preceded by a public information session. We received over 36,000 comments on the draft EIS and revised proposed
rule. We carefully reviewed all substantive comments in the preparation of the Final EIS and a draft Record of Decision (ROD).
The availability of the Final EIS and draft ROD was announced by the Service in the Federal Register on November 25, 2014 (79 FR 701545).
The documents were made available for public review and comment for a period of 30 days which began with the publication of the Environmental
Protection Agency's Federal Register Notice of Availability of the Final EIS on November 28, 2014 (79 FR 70865). Over 1,300 comments were
received during the 30-day review period for the Final EIS and draft ROD. Substantive comments were considered in our decision-making
process and a response to them was provided in the Final ROD.
Completed NEPA planning and supporting documents 2007-2015
1. August, 2007 - Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Amendment of the Rule Establishing a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Arizona and New Mexico Population of the Gray Wolf ("Mexican Gray Wolf")
2. May, 2008 - Mexican Wolf EIS: Public Comment Process and Analysis for Scoping Phase. Final Report to USFWS, May 22, 2008
3. June, 2013 - Proposed Rule: Proposed Revision to the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf
4. July, 2013 - Fact Sheet #1 - (para Espanol clique aqui)
5. August, 2013 - News Release
6. August, 2013 - Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Revision to the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
7. August, 2013 - Preliminary draft Chapters One and Two - PDEIS
8. July, 2014 - News Release
9. July, 2014 - Proposed rule: Proposed Revision to the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf and Notice of Availability of a draft Environmental Impact Statement
10. July, 2014 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Revision to the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
11. July, 2014- Frequently Asked Questions - Proposal to revise Mexican wolf 10(j) Rule
12. July, 2014 - Fact Sheet # 2 - (para Espanol clique aqui)
13. August, 2014 - Draft EIS public hearing presentation - August 2014
14. August, 2014 - Transcript of public hearing held on August 11, 2014 in Pinetop, AZ
15. August, 2014 - Transcript of public hearing held on August 13, 2014 in Truth or Consequences, NM
16. November, 2014 - News Release
17. November, 2014 - Notice of Availability of a final environmental impact statement and a draft record of decision. 79 FR 70154
18. November, 2014 - Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
19. November, 2014 - Draft Record of Decision for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
20. November, 2014- Frequently Asked Questions - Proposal to Revise Mexican Wolf 10(j) Rule
21. December, 2014 - Fact Sheet #3 - December 2014
22. January, 2015 - Final Record of Decision for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
23. List of Cooperating Agencies
24. Project timeline in the development of the Final EIS and Record of Decision
NEPA Planning: 1996 - 2000
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NEPA Information
A Citizen's Guide to the NEPA: Having Your Voice Heard
NEPA's Forty Most Asked Questions
Final EIS, ROD,
Experimental Population
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) - November 2014
Final Record of Decision for the Proposed Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) - January 06, 2015
Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf (2015 Final Rule) - January 2015 |