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0023~9 . . FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. LISTING OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not made timely progress in officially listing endangered and threatened species. We found that while the Service had listed about 550 species since the Endangered Species Act became law, an additional 600 known and 3,000 probable endangered or threatened animals and plants had not been listed. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 requires that the Secretary of the Interior determine whether any animal or plant species are endangered or threatened based on certain factors and that a published list of such species be maintained. According to personnel in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the lack of priority afforded to listing endangered species, which is the first step toward their protection and recovery I and the corresponding lack of sufficient personnel and funding were the primary reasons why the Service had such large backlogs in achieving its mission. As a result, during the last 10 years. we found that at least 34 animal and plant species have been determined to be extinct without the full benefit of the Act's protection. Also, other species currently known or expected by the Service to merit the Ace's protection are similarly in jeopardy of extinction. Determination of Status The Endangered Species Act of 1973. as amended. requires ehe Secretary of the Interior to determine whether a species is endangered or threatened based on any of the following factors: (A) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overucilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or man made factors affecting its continued existence. Determinations made in accordance with these factors are to be based solely on the best scientific and commercial data available after the status of a species has been reviewed. Determinations of species status, or status surveys. can be initiated either internally by the Service or through petitions filed by "intereseed" people. The Service is mandated to respond to petitions as set forth in Section 4.(b)(3)(A) of the Act as follows: I To the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receLvLng the petition of an interested person under section 553(e) of title 5, United States Code, to add a species to, or to remove a species from, either of the lists published under subsection (c), the Secretary shall make a finding as to whether the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. If such a petition is found to present such 5