The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries today issued new regulations that will accelerate Endangered Species Act review of National Fire Plan actions, allowing land managers to better protect communities and wildlife habitat from catastrophic fires.
Under the Endangered Species Act, federal agencies must consult with either FWS or NOAA Fisheries whenever they authorize, fund, or carry out an action that may adversely affect a listed species or its designated critical habitat. The regulations issued today will improve the process by allowing trained biologists within these federal agencies to make the initial determination of whether there is likely to be an adverse effect. This will free up FWS and NOAA Fisheries biologists from routine and often duplicative
