The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today published its proposal in the Federal Register to remove remaining protected populations of the brown pelican from protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Secretary of the Interior announced this action on February 8, 2008, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The remaining populations occur along the Gulf and Pacific coasts, the Caribbean, and across Central and South America. On February 4, 1985, the Service delisted the brown pelican in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and points northward along the Atlantic Coast However, the brown pelican continued to be listed as endangered throughout the remainder of its range, including Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, California, Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will accept comments on this proposal received or postmarked on or before April 21, 2008. Requests for public hearings must be received in writing by April 7, 2008.
Please see todays Federal Register Notice (Volume 73, Number 34, Pages 9407-9433) or . To submit comments or request a public hearing by U.S. mail or hand-delivery, Public Comments Processing, Attn: RIN 1018-AV28; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
E-mails or faxes will not be accepted. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov">.
