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.

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

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.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with
others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

All images Credit to and Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unless specified otherwise.