SEC. 4. (a) GENERAL.—
(1) The Secretary shall by regulation promulgated in accordance
with subsection (b) determine whether any species is an endangered species
or a threatened species because of any of the following factors:
(A) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of
its habitat or range;
(B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational
purposes;
(C) disease or predation;
(D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or
(E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.
(2) With respect to any species over which program responsibilities have been
vested in the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Reorganization Plan Numbered 4
of 1970—
(A) in any case in which the Secretary of Commerce determines that such
species should—
(i) be listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, or
(ii) be changed in status from a threatened species to an endangered species,
he shall so inform the Secretary of the Interior, who shall list such
species in accordance with this section;
(B) in any case in which the Secretary of Commerce determines that such
species should—
(i) be removed from any list published pursuant to subsection (c) of this
section, or
(ii) be changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened species,
he shall recommend such action to the Secretary of the Interior, and
the Secretary of the Interior, if he concurs in the recommendation, shall
implement such action; and
(C) the Secretary of the Interior may not list or
remove from any list any such species, and may not change the status of any
such species which are listed, without a prior favorable determination made
pursuant to this section by the Secretary of Commerce.
(3)(A) The Secretary, by regulation promulgated in accordance with subsection
(b) and to the maximum extent prudent and determinable—
(i) shall, concurrently with making a determination under paragraph (1)
that a species is an endangered species or a threatened species, designate any
habitat of such species which is then considered to be critical habitat; and
(ii) may, from time-to-time thereafter as appropriate, revise such designation.
(B)(i) The Secretary shall not designate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical
areas owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated
for its use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management plan prepared
under section 101of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if the Secretary determines
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in writing that such plan provides a benefit to the species for which critical habitat is
proposed for designation.
(ii) Nothing in this paragraph affects the requirement to consult under section
7(a)(2) with respect to an agency action (as that term is defined in that
section).
(iii) Nothing in this paragraph affects the obligation of the Department of
Defense to comply with section 9, including the prohibition preventing extinction
and taking of endangered species and threatened species.
(b) BASIS FOR DETERMINATIONS.—(1)(A) The Secretary shall make determinations
required by subsection (a)(1) solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial
data available to him after conducting a review of the status of the species and
after taking into account those efforts, if any, being made by any State or foreign
nation, or any political subdivision of a State or foreign nation, to protect such species,
whether by predator control, protection of habitat and food supply, or other
conservation practices, within any area under its jurisdiction, or on the high seas.
(B) In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give consideration to species
which have been—
(i) designated as requiring protection from unrestricted commerce by any
foreign nation, or pursuant to any international agreement; or
(ii) identified as in danger of extinction, or likely to become so within the
foreseeable future, by any State agency or by any agency of a foreign nation
that is responsible for the conservation of fish or wildlife or plants.
(2) The Secretary shall designate critical habitat, and make revisions thereto, under
subsection (a)(3) on the basis of the best scientific data available and after taking
into consideration the economic impact, the impact on national security, and any
other relevant impact, of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary
may exclude any area from critical habitat if he determines that the benefits
of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such area as part of the critical
habitat, unless he determines, based on the best scientific and commercial data available,
that the failure to designate such area as critical habitat will result in the extinction
of the species concerned.
(3)(A) To the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the petition
of an interested person under section 553(e) of title 5, United States Code, to
add a species to, or to remove a species from, either of the lists published under
subsection (c), the Secretary shall make a finding as to whether the petition presents
substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned
action may be warranted. If such a petition is found to present such information, the
Secretary shall promptly commence a review of the status of the species concerned.
The Secretary shall promptly publish each finding made under this subparagraph
in the Federal Register.
(B) Within 12 months after receiving a petition that is found under subparagraph
(A) to present substantial information indicating that the petitioned action may be
warranted, the Secretary shall make one of the following findings:
(i) The petitioned action is not warranted, in which case the Secretary shall
promptly publish such finding in the Federal Register.
(ii) The petitioned action is warranted, in which case the Secretary shall
promptly publish in the Federal Register a general notice and the complete
text of a proposed regulation to implement such action in accordance with paragraph
(5).
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(iii) The petitioned action is warranted, but that—
(I) the immediate proposal and timely promulgation of a final regulation
implementing the petitioned action in accordance with paragraphs
(5) and (6) is precluded by pending proposals to determine whether any
species is an endangered species or a threatened species, and
(II) expeditious progress is being made to add qualified species to either
of the lists published under subsection (c) and to remove from such
lists species for which the protections of the Act are no longer necessary,
in which case the Secretary shall promptly publish such finding in the Federal
Register, together with a description and evaluation of the reasons and
data on which the finding is based.
(C)(i) A petition with respect to which a finding is made under subparagraph (B)(iii)
shall be treated as a petition that is resubmitted to the Secretary under subparagraph
(A) on the date of such finding and that presents substantial scientific or
commercial information that the petitioned action may be warranted.
(ii) Any negative finding described in subparagraph (A) and any finding described
in subparagraph (B)(i) or (iii) shall be subject to judicial review.
(iii) The Secretary shall implement a system to monitor effectively the status of all
species with respect to which a finding is made under subparagraph (B)(iii) and
shall make prompt use of the authority under paragraph 7 to prevent a significant
risk to the well being of any such species.
(D)(i) To the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the petition
of an interested person under section 553(e) of title 5, United States Code, to
revise a critical habitat designation, the Secretary shall make a finding as to whether
the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating that the revision
may be warranted. The Secretary shall promptly publish such finding in the Federal
Register.
(ii) Within 12 months after receiving a petition that is found under clause (i) to
present substantial information indicating that the requested revision may be warranted,
the Secretary shall determine how he intends to proceed with the requested
revision, and shall promptly publish notice of such intention in the Federal Register.
(4) Except as provided in paragraphs (5) and (6) of this subsection, the provisions
of section 553 of title 5, United States Code (relating to rulemaking procedures),
shall apply to any regulation promulgated to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(5) With respect to any regulation proposed by the Secretary to implement a determination,
designation, or revision referred to in subsection (a)(1) or (3), the Secretary
shall—
(A) not less than 90 days before the effective date of the regulation—
(i) publish a general notice and the complete text of the proposed regulation
in the Federal Register, and
(ii) give actual notice of the proposed regulation (including the complete
text of the regulation) to the State agency in each State in which the species
is believed to occur, and to each county or equivalent jurisdiction in which
the species is believed to occur, and invite the comment of such agency, and
each such jurisdiction, thereon;
(B) insofar as practical, and in cooperation with the Secretary of State, give
notice of the proposed regulation to each foreign nation in which the species is
believed to occur or whose citizens harvest the species on the high seas, and invite
the comment of such nation thereon;
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(C) give notice of the proposed regulation to such professional scientific organizations
as he deems appropriate;
(D) publish a summary of the proposed regulation in a newspaper of general
circulation in each area of the United States in which the species is believed to
occur; and
(E) promptly hold one public hearing on the proposed regulation if any person
files a request for such a hearing within 45 days after the date of publication
of general notice.
(6)(A) Within the one-year period beginning on the date on which general notice is
published in accordance with paragraph (5)(A)(i) regarding a proposed regulation,
the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register—
(i) if a determination as to whether a species is an endangered species or
a threatened species, or a revision of critical habitat, is involved, either—
(I) a final regulation to implement such determination,
(II) a final regulation to implement such revision or a finding that such
revision should not be made,
(III) notice that such one-year period is being extended under subparagraph
(B)(i), or
(IV) notice that the proposed regulation is being withdrawn under subparagraph
(B)(ii), together with the finding on which such withdrawal is
based; or
(ii) subject to subparagraph (C), if a designation of critical habitat is involved,
either—
(I) a final regulation to implement such designation, or
(II) notice that such one-year period is being extended under such subparagraph.
(B)(i) If the Secretary finds with respect to a proposed regulation referred to in
subparagraph (A)(i) that there is substantial disagreement regarding the sufficiency
or accuracy of the available data relevant to the determination or revision concerned,
the Secretary may extend the one-year period specified in subparagraph (A) for not
more than six months for purposes of soliciting additional data.
(ii) If a proposed regulation referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) is not promulgated
as a final regulation within such one-year period (or longer period if extension under
clause (i) applies) because the Secretary finds that there is not sufficient evidence
to justify the action proposed by the regulation, the Secretary shall immediately
withdraw the regulation. The finding on which a withdrawal is based shall be
subject to judicial review. The Secretary may not propose a regulation that has previously
been withdrawn under this clause unless he determines that sufficient new
information is available to warrant such proposal.
(iii) If the one-year period specified in subparagraph (A) is extended under clause
(i) with respect to a proposed regulation, then before the close of such extended
period the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register either a final regulation
to implement the determination or revision concerned, a finding that the revision
should not be made, or a notice of withdrawal of the regulation under clause (ii),
together with the finding on which the withdrawal is based.
(C) A final regulation designating critical habitat of an endangered species or a
threatened species shall be published concurrently with the final regulation implementing
the determination that such species is endangered or threatened, unless the
Secretary deems that—
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(i) it is essential to the conservation of such species that the regulation implementing
such determination be promptly published; or
(ii) critical habitat of such species is not then determinable, in which case
the Secretary, with respect to the proposed regulation to designate such habitat,
may extend the one-year period specified in subparagraph (A) by not more
than one additional year, but not later than the close of such additional year
the Secretary must publish a final regulation, based on such data as may be
available at that time, designating, to the maximum extent prudent, such habitat.
(7) Neither paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of this subsection nor section 553 of title 5,
United States Code, shall apply to any regulation issued by the Secretary in regard
to any emergency posing a significant risk to the well-being of any species of fish or
wildlife or plants, but only if—
(A) at the time of publication of the regulation in the Federal Register the
Secretary publishes therein detailed reasons why such regulation is necessary;
and
(B) in the case such regulation applies to resident species of fish or wildlife,
or plants, the Secretary gives actual notice of such regulation to the State
agency in each State in which such species is believed to occur.
Such regulation shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, take effect immediately
upon the publication of the regulation in the Federal Register. Any regulation promulgated
under the authority of this paragraph shall cease to have force and effect
at the close of the 240-day period following the date of publication unless, during
such 240-day period, the rulemaking procedures which would apply to such regulation
without regard to this paragraph are complied with. If at any time after issuing
an emergency regulation the Secretary determines, on the basis of the best appropriate
data available to him, that substantial evidence does not exist to warrant such
regulation, he shall withdraw it.
(8) The publication in the Federal Register of any proposed or final regulation
which is necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act shall include
a summary by the Secretary of the data on which such regulation is based and shall
show the relationship of such data to such regulation; and if such regulation designates
or revises critical habitat, such summary shall, to the maximum extent practicable,
also include a brief description and evaluation of those activities (whether
public or private) which, in the opinion of the Secretary, if undertaken may adversely
modify such habitat, or may be affected by such designation.
(c) LISTS.—(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall publish in the Federal Register
a list of all species determined by him or the Secretary of Commerce to be endangered
species and a list of all species determined by him or the Secretary of Commerce
to be threatened species. Each list shall refer to the species contained therein
by scientific and common name or names, if any, specify with respect to each such
species over what portion of its range it is endangered or threatened, and specify
any critical habitat within such range. The Secretary shall from time to time revise
each list published under the authority of this subsection to reflect recent determinations,
designations, and revisions made in accordance with subsections (a) and
(b).
(2) The Secretary shall—
(A) conduct, at least once every five years, a review of all species included in
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a list which is published pursuant to paragraph (1) and which is in effect at the
time of such review; and
(B) determine on the basis of such review whether any such species should—
(i) be removed from such list;
(ii) be changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened
species; or
(iii) be changed in status from a threatened species to an endangered
species.
Each determination under subparagraph (B) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of subsections (a) and (b).
(d) PROTECTIVE REGULATIONS.—Whenever any species is listed as a threatened species
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary shall issue such regulations
as he deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of such
species. The Secretary may by regulation prohibit with respect to any threatened
species any act prohibited under section 9(a)(1), in the case of fish or wildlife, or
section 9(a)(2), in the case of plants, with respect to endangered species; except that
with respect to the taking of resident species of fish or wildlife, such regulations
shall apply in any State which has entered into a cooperative agreement pursuant to
section 6(c) of this Act only to the extent that such regulations have also been adopted
by such State.
(e) SIMILARITY OF APPEARANCE CASES.—The Secretary may, by regulation of commerce
or taking, and to the extent he deems advisable, treat any species as an endangered
species or threatened species even though it is not listed pursuant to section
4 of this Act if he finds that—
(A) such species so closely resembles in appearance, at the point in question,
a species which has been listed pursuant to such section that enforcement
personnel would have substantial difficulty in attempting to differentiate
between the listed and unlisted species;
(B) the effect of this substantial difficulty is an additional threat to an endangered
or threatened species; and
(C) such treatment of an unlisted species will substantially facilitate the enforcement
and further the policy of this Act.
(f)(1) RECOVERY PLANS.—The Secretary shall develop and implement plans (hereinafter
in this subsection referred to as “recovery plans”) for the conservation and
survival of endangered species and threatened species listed pursuant to this section,
unless he finds that such a plan will not promote the conservation of the species.
The Secretary, in developing and implementing recovery plans, shall, to the
maximum extent practicable—
(A) give priority to those endangered species or threatened species, without
regard to taxonomic classification, that are most likely to benefit from such
plans, particularly those species that are, or may be, in conflict with construction
or other development projects or other forms of economic activity;
(B) incorporate in each plan—
(i) a description of such site-specific management actions as may be
necessary to achieve the plan’s goal for the conservation and survival of
the species;
(ii) objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a
determination, in accordance with the provisions of this section, that the
species be removed from the list; and
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(iii) estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures
needed to achieve the plan’s goal and to achieve intermediate steps
toward that goal.
(2) The Secretary, in developing and implementing recovery plans, may procure
the services of appropriate public and private agencies and institutions, and other
qualified persons. Recovery teams appointed pursuant to this subsection shall not
be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
(3) The Secretary shall report every two years to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
of the House of Representatives on the status of efforts to develop and implement
recovery plans for all species listed pursuant to this section and on the status
of all species for which such plans have been developed.
(4) The Secretary shall, prior to final approval of a new or revised recovery plan,
provide public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment on such
plan. The Secretary shall consider all information presented during the public comment
period prior to approval of the plan.
(5) Each Federal agency shall, prior to implementation of a new or revised recovery
plan, consider all information presented during the public comment period under
paragraph (4).
(g) MONITORING.—(1) The Secretary shall implement a system in cooperation with
the States to monitor effectively for not less than five years the status of all species
which have recovered to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to this
Act are no longer necessary and which, in accordance with the provisions of this
section, have been removed from either of the lists published under subsection (c).
(2) The Secretary shall make prompt use of the authority under paragraph 7 of
subsection (b) of this section to prevent a significant risk to the well being of any
such recovered species.
(h) AGENCY GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall establish, and publish in the Federal
Register, agency guidelines to insure that the purposes of this section are achieved
efficiently and effectively. Such guidelines shall include, but are not limited to—
(1) procedures for recording the receipt and the disposition of petitions submitted
under subsection (b)(3) of this section;
(2) criteria for making the findings required under such subsection with
respect to petitions;
(3) a ranking system to assist in the identification of species that should
receive priority review under subsection (a)(1) of this section; and
(4) a system for developing and implementing, on a priority basis, recovery
plans under subsection (f) of this section. The Secretary shall provide to the
public notice of, and opportunity to submit written comments on, any guideline
(including any amendment thereto) proposed to be established under this
subsection.
(i) If, in the case of any regulation proposed by the Secretary under the authority
of this section, a State agency to which notice thereof was given in accordance with
subsection (b)(5)(A)(ii) files comments disagreeing with all or part of the proposed
regulation, and the Secretary issues a final regulation which is in conflict with such
comments, or if the Secretary fails to adopt a regulation pursuant to an action petitioned
by a State agency under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall submit to the
State agency a written justification for his failure to adopt regulations consistent with
the agency’s comments or petition.
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