FWS Allows Add'l 30 Days to Comment on ESA's "Range" Definition

The Fish and Wildlife Service is allowing an additional 30 days, until March 8, 2012, to comment on its draft policy on the interpretation of the phrase “significant portion of its range” in the Endangered Species Act’s definitions of “endangered species” and “threatened species”.

FWS issued its draft policy on the interpretation of “significant portion of its range” on December 9, 2011. The phrase has not shared a uniform interpretation between the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior since May 4, 2011, when an opinion issued by Interior was withdrawn after rejection by two recent district court decisions.

FWS draft policy (FR Pub 12/09/11) available here.

FWS extension of comment period (FR Pub 02/07/12) available here.