In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to
publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a
summary of all comments related to the information collection
contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency
should clearly indicate any changes made to the information
collection as a result of these comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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The Endangered Species Act of 1973
(Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), specifies the process
by which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine
Fisheries Service (we, Services) make decisions on listing,
delisting, changing the status of a listed species or revising
critical habitat. Any interested person may submit a written
petition to the Services requesting to add a species to the Lists
of Endangered or Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists), remove a
species from the Lists, change the listed status of a species, or
revise the boundary of an area designated as critical habitat. The
petition process is a central feature of the Act (Act; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), and serves a beneficial public purpose. A petition
may direct the attention of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
the National Marine Fisheries Service to make necessary revisions
to critical habitat designations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (we, Services)
are jointly proposing changes to the regulations at 50 CFR 424.14
concerning petitions to improve the content and specificity of
petitions and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the
petitions process to support species conservation. Our proposed
revisions to § 424.14 will clarify and enhance the procedures by
which the Services will evaluate petitions under section 4(b)(3) of
the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3). We propose to revise the regulations
pertaining to the petition process to provide greater clarity to
the public on the petition-submission process, which will assist
petitioners in providing complete petitions. These revisions would
also maximize the efficiency with which the Services process
petitions, making the best use of available resources. These
changes would improve the quality of petitions through expanded
content requirements and guidelines, and, in so doing, better focus
the Services’ energies on petitions that merit further analysis. We
are proposing to require that the petitioner (1) prepare petitions
in accordance with § 424.14 and (2) notify applicable States that a
petition is being submitted to one of the Services.
US Code:
16 USC 1531 et seq Name of Law: Endangered Species Act of 1973
as amended
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
1018-Petitions - SS-A - PR 4-20-16.rtf
Notification of States - ESA Petitions (private sector)