Latest scientific and commercial information sought for update
The Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it is initiating status reviews of 33 species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The species are found in Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
To assist in its reviews, the Service is seeking the latest scientific and commercial information from the public, government agencies, tribes, industry and the scientific and conservation communities.
"This is an opportunity for the scientific community and other interested parties to actively engage in the evaluation of the status of some of our nation's threatened and endangered species," said Dave Allen, Pacific regional director. "We would like to receive this information in the next 60 days so we can complete our reviews in a timely manner, hopefully within a year."
The species to be reviewed include 16 plants, 8 birds and 2 invertebrates found in Hawaii; a fruit bat found in Guam and the Marianas; a butterfly and four plants found in Oregon; and a plant found in Oregon and Washington. A list of the species, their current listing classifications and more information about them is at the end of this news release.
Periodic status reviews of all listed species are required by the ESA to determine whether a species? classification as threatened or endangered is still appropriate. The Service is seeking any new information that has become available since the time of listing of these species. If the best scientific and commercial data 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 rulemaking 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.
Information that is considered in a status review includes:
* Species biology, including but not limited to, population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics and genetics;
* Habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount, distribution and suitability;
* Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the species;
* Threat status and trends; and
* Other new information, data or corrections including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the list, and improved analytical methods.
For more information on the status reviews please see todays Federal Register.
For a list of the species being reviewed, Click here.
To submit information or comments on the Guam and Hawaiian species, please contact the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850. Information also may be submitted electronically at pifwo-5yr-review@fws.gov.
For the Oregon species, submit comments and information to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, 2600 SE 98th Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97266, or electronically at FW1OR5yearReview@fws.gov.
For the Washington species, comments and information may be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-year Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102, Lacey , Washington 98503-1273, or electronically at oldenpaintbrush@fws.gov.
NOTE:
To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must receive your information no later than September 6, 2005. However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any time.
