9669

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9669
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Policy and Guidelines for Planning and Coordinating Recovery of Endangered and Threatened Species.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

;.

2

Coordination among Federal, State, and local agencies, academic
researchers, conservation organizations, private individuals, and major
land users is perhaps the most essential ingredient for the development
and implementation of an effective recovery program. In its role as
coordinator of the recovery process, the Service must emphasize cooperation
and teamwork among all involved parties.

Although recovery plans do not, of themselves, commit manpower or funds,
they are used in setting regional and national funding priorities. They
also justify Service and'other Federal agency recovery appropriations to
Congress. Therefore, recovery plans must be as specific as possible in
identifying: (I) recovery goals, (2) recovery tasks, (3) the duration and
cost of recovery actions, and(4} responsible parties and interests.

"

B. The EndanQered SDecies Act Amendments of 1988

The 1988 Amendments, and their relation to recovery planning and
implementation, are discussed below.

1. Public Review of Recovery Plans

Section 4(f) of the amended Act requires public review of all new or
revised recovery plans prior to approval. The intent is to inform the
public, promote public involvement in the recovery planning process, and
increase the information available to all involved Federal agencies. At a
minimum, the Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register notifying
the public of the availability of a technical/agency draft or agency draft
recov,ery plan. The not ice wi 11 open a formal pub 1 i c comment peri od.
Notices or press releases in newspapers within the range of the species
will also be considered as appropriate. The Regional Director of the lead
Region is responsible for deciding if additional methods, such as public
meetings, are warranted. (See guidance in Section II and Appendix III of
these guidelines.) Any relevant comments received during the public comment
period that require coordination with other agencies in order to address
the issue in the final plan should be forwarded to that agency for '
consideration prior to plan approval. Otherwise, any other comments
received may be summarized in the final approved plan.

2. Recovery Plan Status Report

Section 4(f) of the Act was also amended to require the Service to
report every 2 years to Congress on the preparation and implementation of
recovery plans and on the status of each listed species with a recovery
plan. The first report is due in October 1990. The intent is to: (1)
measure progress in developing and implementing recovery plans, and (2)

OS/25/90