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Show Endangered Species Comment Period Reopened The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it is reopening the comment period for 15 days on a proposed revision revi-sion to regulations governing permits for various types of activities involving Federally designated threatened and endangered species. The proposal, entitled "Revisions to the Regulations Applicable to Permits Issued Under the Endangered Species Act," was originally published in the Sept. 10, 2003 Federal Register, with comments due by Nov. 10, 2003. With the reopening of the comment period, peri-od, announced in the Feb. 23 Federal Register, the Service will now accept comments until Mar. 9. The proposal would revise existing regulations to more clearly describe the full range of (See PROPOSAL on page 2A) Proposal From Front Page activities for which permits can be issued to enhance species survival, sur-vival, primarily those activities related to domestic species in conjunction with Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). These agreements are intended to remove potential disincentives for landow'ners to manage their property for the benefit of listed and candidate species. Some landowners have made it clear that they need a better understanding under-standing of the obligations and benefits provided by Safe Harbor Agreements and CCAAs before they will participate in agreements. In many cases, property owners own-ers may be willing to actively help protect endangered or threatened species through Safe Harbor Agreements or CCAAs only if they can limit the area to be occupied by the species through intentional take, particularly partic-ularly when species expansion would interfere with activities outside of the area covered by the agreement. The proposed rule is intended to expand citizen citi-zen conservation by addressing landowner concerns and more fully describe the range of activ (See PROPOSAL on page 3A) Endangered Species Proposal From Page 2A ities that can be permitted in conjunction with a Safe Harbor Agreement or CCAA. The proposed revision is being reopened for comment because of apparent confusion with a separate policy proposal involving foreign species that was open for comment during the same time period. This reopening relates solely to the proposed rule that was covered under the Sept. 10, 2003 Federal Register notice. The proposed rule would specifically make change in the regulations for permits associated associat-ed with Safe Harbor Agreements and CCAAs to more clearly state the Service's ability to authorize "take" (capturing, killing or otherwise disturbing or harming a species or its habitat) habi-tat) in conjunction with activities activi-ties such as reintroduction and habitat restoration when the benefits of habitat protection or restoration provided by, the asso ciated agreements outweigh any impacts caused by anticipated take of protected species. By ensuring that traditional agricultural uses can continue alongside habitat improvements, this provision can make it easier for landowners to enter into SHAs and CCAAs that will provide pro-vide overall benefits to the species. The Service encourages the public to send comments on the proposed rule to Division of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Room 420, Arlington Square Building, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203; or by e-mail e-mail to fw9commentsfws.gov Comments must be received by the close of business on Mar. 9, 2004. The text of the proposed rule can be found in the September 10, 2003 Federal Register, beginning on page 53327 and online at http:endangered.fws.gov |