Peer Review of Scientific Information
Southeast Region
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Peer Review of Scientific Information:

Enhancing Quality and Credibility

In order to ensure the quality and credibility of the scientific information we use to make regulatory decisions, the Fish and Wildlife Service has implemented a formal “peer review” process for influential scientific documents.

While we have always consulted experts to ensure that our decisions are based on sound science, through this peer review process we follow the guidelines for Federal agencies spelled out in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) “Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review,” (PDF, 263 KB) released December 16, 2004.

Part of the peer review process is to provide information on the Web about how each peer review is to be conducted, as described in this checklist.


Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2016

Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2015


Florida bristle fern (Trichomanes punctatum ssp. floridanum)

Final Listing Rule

Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2014

Proposed Listings and Critical Habitat

Proposed Endangered Species Status

Florida bristle fern (Trichomanes punctatum ssp. floridanum)


Threatened Species Status and Critical Habitat Designation

Georgia rockcress (Arabis georgiana)


Endangered Species Status and Critical Habitat Designation

Short's bladderpod (Physaria globosa), Whorled sunflower (Helianthus verticillatus), and Fleshy-fruit gladecress (Leavenworthia crassa)


Endangered Species Status and Critical Habitat Designation

Florida brickell-bush (Brickellia mosieri) and Carter’s small-flowered flax (Linum carteri var. carter)


Endangered/Threatened Species Status and Critical Habitat Designation

Agave eggersiana and Gonocalyx concolor as Endangered and Varronia rupicola as Threatened


Endangered Species Status (with corrections) and Critical Habitat Designation

Florida leafwing (Anaea troglodyta floridalis) and Bartram's scrub-hairstreak (Strymon acis bartrami)


Designation of Critical Habitat

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment (DPS)


Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2013

Final Listing Rule

Endangered Status for the Neosho Mucket and Threatened Status for the Rabbitsfoot

Proposed Listings and Critical Habitat

Proposed Critical Habitat Designation

Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle:

Notice of Availability draft economic Analysis Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the Loggerhead Sea turtle;

Peer Review Plan Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the Loggerhead Sea turtle;


Proposed rules to list and designate critical habitat

Proposed listing of the Florida Leafwing and Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak Butterflies

Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Florida Leafwing and Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak Butterflies

Peer Review plan Florida Leafwing and Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak Butterflies


Proposed listing of:

Agave eggersiana and Gonocalyx concolor as endangered and Varronia rupicola as threatened including Designation of its Critical Habitat


Proposed rules to list:

Brickellia mosieri and Linum carteri var. carteri as endangered and to designate critical habitat.


Proposed Endangered Species Status for:

Physaria Globosa (Short’s bladderpod), Helianthus Verticillatus (whorled sunflower), and Leavenworthia Crassa (fleshyfruit gladecress), and Designation of Critical Habitat


Proposed Threatened Status for:

the Georgia rockcress (Arabis Georgiana)


Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2012

Proposed Listings and Critical Habitat

Proposed Listing and Designation of Critical Habitat for Neosho Mucket and Rabbitsfoot


Proposed Listing and Designation of Critical Habitat for the Spring Pygmy Sunfish


Proposed rule to list the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus) as endangered


Proposed rule listing of two Cumberlandian mussel species and designation of their critical habitat


Cape Sable thoroughwort (Chromolaena frustrata), Florida semaphore cactus (Consolea corallicola) and Aboriginal prickly-apple (Harrisia aboriginum), and Designation of Critical Habitat for Chromolaena frustrata


Proposed Delistings

Magazine mountain shagreen - June 18, 2012


Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2011

Proposed Listings and Critical Habitat

Coqui llanero (Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi)


Five Southeastern Fishes

Cumberland darter (Etheostoma susanae)
rush darter (Etheostoma phytophilum)
yellowcheek darter (Etheostoma moorei)
chucky madtom (Noturus crypticus)
laurel dace (Chrosomus saylori)


Final Rules:


Mississippi Gopher Frog (Rana sevosa)


Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri)

Document also includes:
cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius theonus)
ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus antibubastus)
nickerbean blue butterfly (Cyclargus ammon)



5-Year Reviews

See webpage


Peer Review Agenda by Year: 2010

Proposed Listings and Critical Habitat

Golden sedge (Carex lutea )


Vermilion darter (Etheostoma chermocki)


5-Year Reviews

See webpage


Injurious Wildlife Evaluation

Large Constrictor Snakes

Species included:
Indian or Burmese Python (Python molurus)
Reticulated Python (Broghammerus reticulatus or Python reticulatus)
Northern African Python (Python sebae)
Southern African Python (Python natalensis)
Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor)
Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
DeSchauensee’s Anaconda (Eunectes deschauenseei)
Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Beni Anaconda (Eunectes beniensis)


Last updated: December 14, 2016