Determination to De-list the Brown PelicanAbout the Document Title: Proposed Rule to Remove the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) from theFederal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife | |
Purpose: The document describes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) proposal to de-list the endangered Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act). The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register for public review and is an assessment of the best scientific data available at this time. It will be the basis, in addition to any comments received, for a decision by the Service on whether or not to finalize the rule to remove the Brown Pelican from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife. About the Peer Review Process Type of Review: Influential Estimated Peer Review Timeline: March-April 2008 Estimated Dissemination Date : February 22, 2008 Process: The Service will conduct peer review of the portion of the proposed rule for de-listing that includes a discussion of the scientific information reviewed and our analysis. The Service will solicit peer review through letters to 5 or more independent scientific reviewers with input from affected state agencies and others involved in the study and conservation of the Brown Pelican. Peer reviewers will be selected based on the following criteria: Expertise: Reviewers should have knowledge in one or more of the following areas: conservation biology of the brown pelican, ecology of the brown pelican, and coastal ecosystem management.
About Public Participation Public comments on the proposed de-listing will be sought concurrently with the peer review by a Federal Register announcement and the distribution by mail and press release of this announcement to interested parties We expect to publish our decision on de-listing of the Brown Pelican in the Federal Register on or about February 2009, including a summary of the results of the peer review process.Both the proposed and final rules will be published on the Service’s website at http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/SpeciesReport.do?spcode=B02L Contact: Adam Zerrenner, Austin Ecological Service Field Office, at file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/lwhittle/Local%20Settings/Temp/notesE1EF34/Adam_Zerrenner@fws.gov or 512-490-0057, ext. 237. |