Title 50—Wildlife and Fisheries--Volume 1
PART 17—ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS
§ 17.1   Purpose of regulations.
(a) The regulations in this part implement the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543, except for those provisions in the Act concerning the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, for which regulations are provided in part 23 of this subchapter.
(b) The regulations identify those species of wildlife and plants determined by the Director to be endangered or threatened with extinction under section 4(a) of the Act and also carry over the species and subspecies of wildlife designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 (83 Stat. 275, 16 U.S.C. 668cc-1 to 6) which are deemed endangered species under section 4(c)(3) of the Act.
§ 17.2   Scope of regulations.
(a) The regulations of this part apply only to endangered and threatened wildlife and plants, except for § 17.22(b) and (c) and § 17.32(b) and (c), which may apply to wildlife and plant species that are not listed as endangered or threatened if they meet the definition of “covered species.”
(b) Permits authorized under this part include:
(1) Scientific purposes or enhancement of propagation or survival permits for take associated with research, captive propagation programs, or conservation activities to enhance and recover populations of covered species; and
(2) Incidental take permits for take that is incidental to otherwise lawful activities.
(c) By agreement between the Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce has been specifically defined to include certain species, while jurisdiction is shared in regard to certain other species. Such species are footnoted in subpart B of this part, and reference is given to special rules of the National Marine Fisheries Service for those species.
(d) The provisions in this part are in addition to, and are not in lieu of, other regulations of this subchapter B which may require a permit or prescribe additional restrictions or conditions for the importation, exportation, and interstate transportation of wildlife.
(e) The examples used in this part are provided solely for the convenience of the public, and to explain the intent and meaning of the regulation to which they refer. They have no legal significance.
(f) Certain of the wildlife and plants listed in §§ 17.11 and 17.12 as endangered or threatened are included in Appendix I, II or III to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The importation, exportation and reexportation of such species are subject to additional regulations provided in part 23 of this subchapter.
§ 17.3   Definitions.
In addition to the definitions contained in part 10 of this subchapter, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this part 17:
Act means the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 87 Stat. 884);
Adequately covered means, with respect to species listed pursuant to section 4 of the Act, that a proposed conservation plan has satisfied the permit issuance criteria under section 10(a)(2)(B) of the Act for the species covered by the plan, and, with respect to non-listed species, that a proposed conservation plan has satisfied the permit issuance criteria under section 10(a)(2)(B) of the Act that would apply if the non-listed species covered by the plan were listed. For the Service to cover a species under a conservation plan, it must be identified as a covered species on the section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
Alaskan Native means a person defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1603(b) (85 Stat. 588)) as a citizen of the United States who is of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian Indians enrolled or not enrolled in the Metlaktla Indian Community), Eskimo, or Aleut blood, or combination thereof. The term includes any Native, as so defined, either or both of whose adoptive parents are not Natives. It also includes, in the absence of proof of a minimum blood quantum, any citizen of the United States who is regarded as an Alaska Native by the Native village or town of which he claims to be a member and whose father or mother is (or, if deceased, was) regarded as Native by any Native village or Native town. Any citizen enrolled by the Secretary pursuant to section 5 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act shall be conclusively presumed to be an Alaskan Native for purposes of this part;
Applicant means the person(s), as defined in the Act, who is named and identified on the application and, by signing the application, assumes the responsibility for implementing the terms of an issued permit. Other parties including, without limitations, affiliates, associates, subsidiaries, corporate families, and assigns of an applicant are not applicants or permittees unless, in accordance with applicable regulations, an application or permit has been amended to include them or unless a permit has been transferred consistent with § 13.25.
Authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing means items made by an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo that are composed wholly or in some significant respect of natural materials and are significantly altered from their natural form and are produced, decorated, or fashioned in the exercise of traditional native handicrafts without the use of pantographs, multiple carvers, or similar mass-copying devices. Improved methods of production utilizing modern implements such as sewing machines or modern techniques at a tannery registered pursuant to § 18.23(c) of this subchapter (in the case of marine mammals) may be used as long as no large-scale mass production industry results. Traditional native handicrafts include, but are not limited to, weaving, carving, stitching, sewing, lacing, beading, drawing, and painting. The formation of traditional native groups, such as cooperatives, is permitted as long as no large-scale mass production results;
Baseline condition means population estimates and distribution or habitat characteristics across the enrolled property that currently sustains seasonal or permanent use by the covered species at the time a conservation benefit agreement is executed by the Service and the property owner, or by a programmatic permit holder and the property owner, under §§ 17.22(c) and 17.32(c) of this part, as applicable.
Bred in captivity or captive-bred refers to wildlife, including eggs, born or otherwise produced in captivity from parents that mated or otherwise transferred gametes in captivity, if reproduction is sexual, or from parents that were in captivity when development of the progeny began, if development is asexual.
Captivity means that living wildlife is held in a controlled environment that is intensively manipulated by man for the purpose of producing wildlife of the selected species, and that has boundaries designed to prevent animal, eggs or gametes of the selected species from entering or leaving the controlled environment. General characteristics of captivity may include but are not limited to artificial housing, waste removal, health care, protection from predators, and artificially supplied food.
Changed circumstances are changes in circumstances affecting a species or geographic area covered by a conservation plan that can reasonably be anticipated by the plan's developers and the Service for which responses can be identified in a conservation plan (e.g., the listing of new species, effects of climate change, or a fire or other natural catastrophic event in areas prone to those events).
Conservation plan means the plan required by section 10(a)(2)(A) of the ESA that an applicant must submit when applying for an incidental take permit. Conservation plans also are known as “habitat conservation plans” or “HCPs.”
Conserved habitat areas means areas explicitly designated for habitat restoration, acquisition, protection, or other conservation purposes under a conservation plan.
Convention means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, TIAS 8249 (see part 23 of this chapter).
Convention means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, TIAS 8249.
Covered activity means an action or series of actions that causes take of a covered species and for which take is authorized by a permit under § 17.22(b) and (c) or § 17.32(b) and (c), as applicable.
Covered species means any species that are included in a conservation plan or agreement and for which take is authorized through an incidental take or enhancement of survival permit.
(1) Covered species include species listed as endangered or threatened.
(2) Covered species may include species that are proposed or candidates for listing, at-risk species, or species that have other Federal protective status. An at-risk species is a non-listed species the status of which is declining and that is at risk of becoming a candidate for listing under the Act; at-risk species may include, but are not limited to, State-listed species, species identified by States as species of greatest conservation need, or species with State heritage ranks of G1 or G2.
(3) An incidental take or enhancement of survival permit need not include a listed species.
Enhance the propagation or survival, when used in reference to wildlife in captivity, includes but is not limited to the following activities when it can be shown that such activities would not be detrimental to the survival of wild or captive populations of the affected species:
(a) Provision of health care, management of populations by culling, contraception, euthanasia, grouping or handling of wildlife to control survivorship and reproduction, and similar normal practices of animal husbandry needed to maintain captive populations that are self-sustaining and that possess as much genetic vitality as possible;
(b) Accumulation and holding of living wildlife that is not immediately needed or suitable for propagative or scientific purposes, and the transfer of such wildlife between persons in order to relieve crowding or other problems hindering the propagation or survival of the captive population at the location from which the wildlife would be removed; and
(c) Exhibition of living wildlife in a manner designed to educate the public about the ecological role and conservation needs of the affected species.
Endangered means a species of wildlife listed in § 17.11 or a species of plant listed in § 17.12 and designated as endangered.
Harass in the definition of “take” in the Act means an intentional or negligent act or omission which creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering. This definition, when applied to captive wildlife, does not include generally accepted:
(1) Animal husbandry practices that meet or exceed the minimum standards for facilities and care under the Animal Welfare Act,
(2) Breeding procedures, or
(3) Provisions of veterinary care for confining, tranquilizing, or anesthetizing, when such practices, procedures, or provisions are not likely to result in injury to the wildlife.
Harm in the definition of “take” in the Act means an act which actually kills or injures wildlife. Such act may include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.
Incidental taking means any taking otherwise prohibited, if such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity.
Industry or trade in the definition of “commercial activity” in the Act means the actual or intended transfer of wildlife or plants from one person to another person in the pursuit of gain or profit;
Native village or town means any community, association, tribe, clan or group;
Net conservation benefit means the cumulative benefit provided through implementation of a conservation benefit agreement that is designed to improve the existing baseline condition of a covered species by reducing or eliminating threats, or otherwise improving the status of covered species, minus the adverse impacts to covered species from ongoing land or water use activities and conservation measures, so that the condition of the covered species or the amount or quality of its habitat is reasonably expected to be greater with implementation of the agreement than without it. If the Service determines that the species and habitat are already adequately managed to the benefit of the species, a net conservation benefit will be achieved if the property owner commits to continuing the species' management for a specified period of time, including addressing any likely future threats that are under the property owner's control, with the anticipation that the population will increase, habitat quality will improve, or both.
Operating conservation program means those conservation management activities which are expressly agreed upon and described in a conservation plan or its Implementing Agreement, if any, and which are to be undertaken for the affected species when implementing an approved conservation plan, including measures to respond to changed circumstances.
Permit area means the geographic area where the take permit applies. The permit area must be delineated in the permit and be included within a conservation plan or agreement.
Permittee means the named applicant who has been issued a permit and who assumes responsibility for implementing the permit. Other parties including, without limitation, affiliates, associates, subsidiaries, corporate families, and assigns of a permittee are not permittees unless the permit has been amended or transferred consistent with § 13.25.
Plan area means the geographic area where covered activities, including mitigation, described in the conservation plan associated with an incidental take permit may occur. The plan area must be identified in the conservation plan.
Population means a group of fish or wildlife in the same taxon below the subspecific level, in common spatial arrangement that interbreed when mature;
Programmatic permit associated with a conservation benefit agreement means an enhancement of survival permit issued under § 17.22(c) or § 17.32(c), with an accompanying conservation benefit agreement that allows at least one named permittee to extend the incidental take authorization to enrolled property owners who are capable of carrying out and agree to properly implement the conservation benefit agreement.
Programmatic permit associated with a conservation plan means an incidental take permit issued under § 17.22(b) or § 17.32(b), with an accompanying conservation plan that allows at least one named permittee to extend the incidental take authorization to participants who are capable of carrying out and agree to properly implement the conservation plan.
Properly implemented conservation plan means any conservation plan, Implementing Agreement and permit whose commitments and provisions have been or are being fully implemented by the permittee.
Property owner, with respect to conservation benefit agreements and plans outlined under § 17.22(b) and (c) and § 17.32(b) and (c), means a person or other entity with a property interest (including owners of rights to water or other natural resources) sufficient to carry out the proposed activities, subject to applicable State, Tribal, and Federal laws and regulations.
Specimen means any animal or plant, or any part, product, egg, seed or root of any animal or plant;
Subsistence means the use of endangered or threatened wildlife for food, clothing, shelter, heating, transportation and other uses necessary to maintain the life of the taker of the wildlife, or those who depend upon the taker to provide them with such subsistence, and includes selling any edible portions of such wildlife in native villages and towns in Alaska for native consumption within native villages and towns;
Threatened means a species of wildlife listed in § 17.11 or plant listed in § 17.12 and designated as threatened.
Unforeseen circumstances means changes in circumstances affecting a species or geographic area covered by a conservation plan or agreement that could not reasonably have been anticipated by plan or agreement developers and the Service at the time of the conservation plan's or agreement's negotiation and development, and that result in a substantial and adverse change in the status of the covered species.
Wasteful manner means any taking or method of taking which is likely to result in the killing or injury of endangered or threatened wildlife beyond those needed for subsistence purposes, or which results in the waste of a substantial portion of the wildlife, and includes without limitation the employment of a method of taking which is not likely to assure the capture or killing of the wildlife, or which is not immediately followed by a reasonable effort to retrieve the wildlife.
§ 17.4   Pre-Act wildlife.
(a) The prohibitions defined in subparts C and D of this part 17 shall not apply to any activity involving endangered or threatened wildlife which was held in captivity or in a controlled environment on December 28, 1973: Provided,
(1) That the purposes of such holding were not contrary to the purposes of the Act; and
(2) That the wildlife was not held in the course of a commercial activity.
(b) Service officers or Customs officers may refuse to clear endangered or threatened wildlife for importation into or exportation from the United States, pursuant to § 14.53 of this subchapter, until the importer or exporter can demonstrate that the exemption referred to in this section applies. Exempt status may be established by any sufficient evidence, including an affidavit containing the following:
(1) The affiant's name and address;
(2) Identification of the affiant;
(3) Identification of the endangered or threatened wildlife which is the subject of the affidavit;
(4) A statement by the affiant that to the best of his knowledge and belief, the endangered or threatened wildlife which is the subject of the affidavit was in captivity or in a controlled environment on December 28, 1973, and was not being held for purposes contrary to the Act or in the course of a commercial activity;
(5) A statement by the affiant in the following language:
The foregoing is principally based on the attached exhibits which, to the best of my knowledge and belief, are complete, true and correct. I understand that this affidavit is being submitted for the purpose of inducing the Federal Government to recognize an exempt status regarding ( insert description of wildlife ), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543), and regulations promulgated thereunder, and that any false statements may subject me to the criminal penalties of 18 U.S.C. 1001.
(6) As an attachment, records or other available evidence to show:
(i) That the wildlife in question was being held in captivity or in a controlled environment on December 28, 1973;
(ii) The purpose for which the wildlife was being held; and
(iii) The nature of such holding (to establish that no commercial activity was involved).
(c) This section applies only to wildlife born on or prior to December 28, 1973. It does not apply to the progeny of any such wildlife born after December 28, 1973.
§ 17.5   Alaska natives.
(a) The provisions of subpart C of this part relating to the importation or the taking of endangered wildlife, and any provision of subpart D of this part relating to the importation or the taking of threatened wildlife, shall not apply to:
(1) Any Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who is an Alaskan native and who resides in Alaska; or
(2) Any non-native permanent resident of an Alaskan native village who is primarily dependent upon the taking of wildlife for consumption or for the creation and sale of authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing:
(b) Edible portions of endangered or threatened wildlife taken or imported pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section may be sold in native villages or towns in Alaska for native consumption within native villages and towns in Alaska.
(c) Non-edible by-products of endangered or threatened wildlife taken or imported pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section may be sold in interstate commerce when made into authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing.
§ 17.6   State cooperative agreements. [Reserved]
§ 17.7   Raptor exemption.
(a) The prohibitions found in §§ 17.21 and 17.31 do not apply to any raptor [a live migratory bird of the Order Falconiformes or the Order Strigiformes, other than a bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) or a golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos )] legally held in captivity or in a controlled environment on November 10, 1978, or to any of its progeny, which is:
(1) Possessed and banded in compliance with the terms of a valid permit issued under part 21 of this chapter; and
(2) Identified in the earliest applicable annual report required to be filed by a permittee under part 21 of this chapter as in a permittee's possession on November 10, 1978, or as the progeny of such a raptor.
(b) This section does not apply to any raptor intentionally returned to the wild.
§ 17.8   Import exemption for threatened, CITES Appendix-II wildlife.
(a) Except as provided in a species-specific rule in §§ 17.40 through 17.48 or in paragraph (b) of this section, all provisions of §§ 17.31 and 17.32 apply to any specimen of a threatened species of wildlife that is listed in Appendix II of the Convention.
(b) Except as provided in a species-specific rule in §§ 17.40 through 17.48, any live or dead specimen of a fish and wildlife species listed as threatened under this part may be imported without a threatened species permit under § 17.32 provided all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The specimen was not acquired in foreign commerce or imported in the course of a commercial activity;
(2) The species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention.
(3) The specimen is imported and subsequently used in accordance with the requirements of part 23 of this subchapter, except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(4) Personal and household effects (see § 23.5) must be accompanied by a CITES document.
(5) At the time of import, the importer must provide to the FWS documentation that shows the specimen was not acquired in foreign commerce in the course of a commercial activity.
(6) All applicable requirements of part 14 of this subchapter are satisfied.
§ 17.9   Permit applications and information collection requirements.
(a) Address permit applications for activities affecting species listed under the Endangered Species Act, as amended, as follows:
(1) Address activities affecting endangered and threatened species that are native to the United States to the Regional Director for the Region in which the activity is to take place. You can find addresses for the Regional Directors in 50 CFR 2.2. Send applications for interstate commerce in native endangered and threatened species to the Regional Director with lead responsibility for the species. To determine the appropriate region, call the nearest Regional Office:
(2) Submit permit applications for activities affecting native endangered and threatened species in international movement or commerce, and all activities affecting nonnative endangered and threatened species, to the attention of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at the address listed for the Division of Management Authority at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
(b) The Office of Management and Budget approved the information collection requirements contained in this part 17 under 44 U.S.C. 3507 and assigned OMB Control Numbers 1018-0093 and 1018-0094. The Service may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. We are collecting this information to provide information necessary to evaluate permit applications. We will use this information to review permit applications and make decisions, according to criteria established in various Federal wildlife conservation statutes and regulations, on the issuance, suspension, revocation, or denial of permits. You must respond to obtain or retain a permit. We estimate the public reporting burden for these reporting requirements to vary from 2 to 2 1/2 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the forms. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of these reporting requirements to the Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b).
§ 17.11   Endangered and threatened wildlife.
(a) The list in paragraph (h) of this section contains the wildlife species determined by the Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as “the Services”) to be endangered species or threatened species. It also contains the wildlife species treated as endangered species or threatened species because they are similar in appearance to and may be confused with endangered or threatened species (see §§ 17.50 through 17.52). The “Common name,” “Scientific name,” “Where listed,” and “Status” columns provide regulatory information; together, they identify listed wildlife species within the meaning of the Act and describe where they are protected. When a taxon has more than one entry, the “Where listed” or “Status” column will identify its status in each relevant geographic area. The listing of a particular taxon includes all lower taxonomic units.
(b) “Common name” column. Although common names are included, they cannot be relied upon for identification of any specimen, since they may vary greatly in local usage. In cases where confusion might arise, one or more synonyms are provided in parentheses within the “Common name” column. If a species has been listed as an Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) or a Distinct Vertebrate Population Segment (DPS), the ESU or DPS names will be provided in brackets “[ ]” following the common name.
(c) “Scientific name” column. The Services use the most recently accepted scientific name. In cases where confusion might arise, one or more synonyms are provided in parentheses within the “Scientific name” column. The Services rely, to the extent practicable, on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) to determine a species' scientific name. ITIS incorporates the naming principles established by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (see paragraph (g) of this section). If the scientific name in ITIS differs from the scientific name adopted for use under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the CITES nomenclature is provided in brackets “[ ]” within the “Scientific name” column following the ITIS nomenclature.
(d) “Where listed” column. The “Where listed” column sets forth the geographic area where the species is listed for purposes of the Act. Except when providing a geographic description of a DPS or ESU, or an experimental population designation, “Wherever found” will be used to indicate the Act's protections apply to all individuals of the species, wherever found.
(e) “Status” column. Within the “Status” column, the following abbreviations are used:
(f) “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column. The “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column is nonregulatory in nature and is provided for informational and navigational purposes only.
(1) Within the “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column, the following superscripts are used:
(2) Listing citations contain the volume, document starting page number, and publication date of the Federal Register publication(s) in which a species was given status, listed, or reclassified. At least since 1973, these documents have included a statement indicating the basis for the listing, as well as the effective date(s) of the listing or other rules that changed how the species was identified in the List in paragraph (h) of this section.
(3) “Critical habitat” and “Species-specific” rules superscripts provide cross-references to other sections in this part or part 222, 223, or 226 of chapter II of this title where critical habitat and species-specific rules are found. The species-specific superscripts also identify experimental populations. Experimental populations (superscript “10j”) are a separate citation, with one of the following symbols in the “Status” column: “XE” for an essential experimental population and “XN” for a nonessential experimental population.
(4) This column is for reference and navigational purposes only. All other appropriate rules in this part, parts 217 through 226 of chapter II of this title, and part 402 of chapter IV of this title apply, if no species-specific rules are referenced. In addition, other rules in this title could relate to such species (for example, port-of-entry requirements). The references in the “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column do not comprise a comprehensive list of all regulations that the Services might apply to the species or to the regulations of other Federal agencies or State or local governments.
(g) The Services will rely to the extent practicable on ITIS ( http://www.itis.gov ) and standard references adopted for CITES ( http://cites.org ).
(h) The “List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife” is provided in the table in this paragraph (h):
§ 17.12   Endangered and threatened plants.
(a) The list in paragraph (h) of this section contains the plant species determined by the Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as “the Services”) to be endangered species or threatened species. It also contains the plant species treated as endangered or threatened because they are similar in appearance to and may be confused with endangered or threatened species (see §§ 17.50 through 17.52). The “Common name,” “Scientific name,” “Where listed,” and “Status” columns provide regulatory information; together, they identify listed plant species within the meaning of the Act and describe where they are protected. When a taxon has more than one entry, the “Where listed” or “Status” column will identify its status in each relevant geographic area. The listing of a particular taxon includes all lower taxonomic units.
(b) “Scientific name” column. The Services use the most recently accepted scientific name. In cases where confusion might arise, one or more synonyms are provided in parentheses within the “Scientific name” column. The Services will rely to the extent practicable on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) to determine a species' scientific name. ITIS incorporates the naming principles established by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (see paragraph (g) of this section). If the scientific name in ITIS differs from the scientific name adopted for use under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the CITES nomenclature will be provided in brackets “[ ]” within the “Scientific name” column following the ITIS nomenclature.
(c) “Common name” column. Although common names are included, they cannot be relied upon for identification of any specimen, since they may vary greatly in local usage. In cases where confusion might arise, one or more synonyms are provided in parentheses within the “Common name” column.
(d) “Where listed” column. The “Where listed” column sets forth the geographic area where the species is listed for purposes of the Act. Except when providing a geographic description of an experimental population designation, “Wherever found” will be used to indicate the Act's protections apply to all individuals of the species, wherever found.
(e) “Status” column. Within the “Status” column, the following abbreviations are used:
(f) “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column. The “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column is nonregulatory in nature and is provided for informational and navigational purposes only. Please note that the sections of part 17 that include designations of critical habitat for plants are organized by family name. A link to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), which displays the taxonomic hierarchy of a species, including its family name, is provided on each species' profile page accessible through the Service's Web site ( http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ ) or information is available directly through the ITIS ( http://www.itis.gov/ ).
(1) Within the “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column, the following superscripts are used:
(2) Listing citations contain the volume, document starting page number, and publication date of the Federal Register publication(s) in which a species' status was assessed. At least since 1973, these documents have included a statement indicating the basis for the listing or reclassification, as well as the effective date(s) of the listing or other rules that changed how the species was identified in the list in paragraph (h) of this section.
(3) “Critical habitat” and “Species-specific” rules superscripts provide cross-references to other sections in part 17 or part 222, 223, or 226 of chapter II of this title where critical habitat and species-specific rules are found. The species-specific superscripts also identify experimental populations. Experimental populations (superscript “10j”) are a separate citation, with one of the following symbols in the “Status” column: “XE” for an essential experimental population and “XN” for a nonessential experimental population.
(4) This column is for reference and navigational purposes only. All other appropriate rules in part 17, parts 217 through 226 of chapter II of this title, and part 402 of chapter IV of this title apply, if no species-specific rules are referenced. In addition, other rules in this title could relate to such species (for example, port-of-entry requirements). The references in the “Listing Citations and Applicable Rules” column do not comprise a comprehensive list of all regulations that the Services might apply to the species or to the regulations of other Federal agencies or State or local governments.
(g) The Services will rely to the extent practicable on ITIS ( http://www.itis.gov ) and standard references adopted for CITES ( http://cites.org ).
(h) The “List of Endangered and Threatened Plants” is provided in the table in this paragraph (h):
§ 17.21   Prohibitions.
(a) Except as provided in subpart A of this part, or under permits issued pursuant to § 17.22 or § 17.23, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to commit, to attempt to commit, to solicit another to commit or to cause to be committed, any of the acts described in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section in regard to any endangered wildlife.
(b) Import or export. It is unlawful to import or to export any endangered wildlife. Any shipment in transit through the United States is an importation and an exportation, whether or not it has entered the country for customs purposes.
(c) Take. (1) It is unlawful to take endangered wildlife within the United States, within the territorial sea of the United States, or upon the high seas. The high seas include all waters seaward of the territorial sea of the United States, except waters officially recognized by the United States as the territorial sea of another country, under international law.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, any person may take endangered wildlife in defense of their own life or the lives of others.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, any employee or agent of the Service, any other Federal land management agency, the National Marine Fisheries Service, or a State conservation agency, who is designated by their agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of their official duties, take endangered wildlife without a permit if such action is necessary to:
(i) Aid a sick, injured, or orphaned specimen; or
(ii) Dispose of a dead specimen; or
(iii) Salvage a dead specimen that may be useful for scientific study; or
(iv) Remove specimens that constitute a demonstrable but nonimmediate threat to human safety, provided that the taking is done in a humane manner; the taking may involve killing or injuring only if it has not been reasonably possible to eliminate such threat by live-capturing and releasing the specimen unharmed in an appropriate area.
(4) Any taking under paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section must be reported in writing to the Office of Law Enforcement via contact methods listed at https://www.fws.gov, within 5 calendar days. The specimen may only be retained, disposed of, or salvaged under directions from the Office of Law Enforcement.
(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, any qualified employee or agent of a State conservation agency that is a party to a cooperative agreement with the Service in accordance with section 6(c) of the Act, who is designated by their agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of their official duties, take those endangered species that are covered by an approved cooperative agreement for conservation programs in accordance with the cooperative agreement, provided that such taking is not reasonably anticipated to result in:
(i) The death or permanent disabling of the specimen;
(ii) The removal of the specimen from the State where the taking occurred;
(iii) The introduction of the specimen so taken, or of any progeny derived from such a specimen, into an area beyond the historical range of the species; or
(iv) The holding of the specimen in captivity for a period of more than 45 consecutive days.
(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, any person acting under a valid migratory bird rehabilitation permit issued pursuant to § 21.76 of this subchapter may take endangered migratory birds without an endangered species permit if such action is necessary to aid a sick, injured, or orphaned endangered migratory bird, provided the permittee is adhering to the conditions of the migratory bird rehabilitation permit.
(7) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section and consistent with § 21.76(a) of this subchapter:
(i) Any person who finds a sick, injured, or orphaned endangered migratory bird may, without a permit, take and possess the bird in order to immediately transport it to a permitted rehabilitator; and
(ii) Persons exempt from the permit requirements of § 21.12(b)(2) and (c) of this subchapter may take sick and injured endangered migratory birds without an endangered species permit in performing the activities authorized under § 21.12(b)(2) and (c) of this subchapter.
(d) Possession and other acts with unlawfully taken wildlife. (1) It is unlawful to possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever, any endangered wildlife that was taken in violation of paragraph (c) of this section.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, Federal and State law enforcement officers may possess, deliver, carry, transport, or ship any endangered wildlife taken in violation of the Act as necessary in performing their official duties.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, any person acting under a valid migratory bird rehabilitation permit issued pursuant to § 21.76 of this subchapter may possess and transport endangered migratory birds without an endangered species permit when such action is necessary to aid a sick, injured, or orphaned endangered migratory bird, provided the permittee is adhering to the conditions of those permits.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, and consistent with § 21.76(a) of this subchapter, persons exempt from the permit requirements of § 21.12(b)(2) and (c) of this subchapter may possess and transport sick and injured endangered migratory bird species without an endangered species permit in performing the activities authorized under § 21.12(b)(2) and (c) of this subchapter.
(e) Interstate or foreign commerce. It is unlawful to deliver, receive, carry transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce, by any means whatsoever, and in the course of a commercial activity, any endangered wildlife.
(f) Sale or offer for sale. (1) It is unlawful to sell or to offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any endangered wildlife.
(2) An advertisement for the sale of endangered wildlife which carries a warning to the effect that no sale may be consummated until a permit has been obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall not be considered an offer for sale within the meaning of this section.
(g) Captive-bred wildlife. (1) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b), (c), (e) and (f) of this section, any person may take; export or re-import; deliver, receive, carry, transport or ship in interstate or foreign commerce, in the course of a commercial activity; or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any endangered wildlife that is bred in captivity in the United States provided either that the wildlife is of a taxon listed in paragraph (g)(6) of this section, or that the following conditions are met:
(i) The wildlife is of a species having a natural geographic distribution not including any part of the United States, or the wildlife is of a species that the Director has determined to be eligible in accordance with paragraph (g)(5) of this section;
(ii) The purpose of such activity is to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species;
(iii) Such activity does not involve interstate or foreign commerce, in the course of a commercial activity, with respect to non-living wildlife;
(iv) Each specimen of wildlife to be re-imported is uniquely identified by a band, tattoo or other means that was reported in writing to an official of the Service at a port of export prior to export from the United States; and
(v) Any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States who engages in any of the activities authorized by this paragraph does so in accordance with paragraphs (g) (2), (3) and (4) of this section, and with all other applicable regulations in this Subchapter B.
(2) Any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States seeking to engage in any of the activities authorized by this paragraph must first register with the Service's Division of Management Authority at the address provided at 50 CFR 2.1(b). Requests for registration must be submitted on an official application form (Form 3-200-41) provided by the Service, and must include the following information:
(i) The types of wildlife sought to be covered by the registration, identified by common and scientific name to the taxonomic level of family, genus or species;
(ii) A description of the applicant's experience in maintaining and propagating the types of wildlife sought to be covered by the registration, and when appropriate, in conducting research directly related to maintaining and propagating such wildlife;
(iii) Photograph(s) or other evidence clearly depicting the facilities where such wildlife will be maintained; and
(iv) a copy of the applicant's license or registration, if any, under the animal welfare regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (9 CFR part 2).
(3) Upon receipt of a complete application for registration, or the renewal or amendment of an existing registration, under this section, the Service will publish notice of the application in the Federal Register. Each notice will invite the submission from interested parties, within 30 days after the date of the notice, of written data, views, or arguments with respect to the application. All information received as part of each application will be made available to the public, upon request, as a matter of public record at every stage of the proceeding, including, but not limited to, information needed to assess the eligibility of the applicant, such as the original application, materials, any intervening renewal applications documenting a change in location or personnel, and the most recent annual report.
(i) At the completion of this comment period, the Director will decide whether to approve the registration. In making this decision, the Director will consider, in addition to the general criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, whether the expertise, facilities, or other resources available to the applicant appear adequate to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected wildlife. Public education activities may not be the sole basis to justify issuance of a registration or to otherwise establish eligibility for the exception granted in paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
(ii) If the Director approves the registration, the Service will publish notice of the decision in the Federal Register that the registration was applied for in good faith, that issuing the registration will not operate to the disadvantage of the species for which registration was sought, and that issuing the registration will be consistent with the purposes and policy set forth in section 2 of the Act.
(iii) Each person so registered must maintain accurate written records of activities conducted under the registration and allow reasonable access to Service agents for inspection purposes as set forth in §§ 13.46 and 13.47 of this chapter. Each person so registered must also submit to the Director an individual written annual report of activities, including all births, deaths, and transfers of any type.
(4) Any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States seeking to export or conduct foreign commerce in captive-bred endangered wildlife that will not remain under the care of that person must first obtain approval by providing written evidence to satisfy the Director that the proposed recipient of the wildlife has expertise, facilities or other resources adequate to enhance the propagation or survival of such wildlife and that the proposed recipient will use such wildlife for purposes of enhancing the propagation or survival of the affected species.
(5)(i) The Director will use the following criteria to determine if wildlife of any species having a natural geographic distribution that includes any part of the United States is eligible for the provisions of this paragraph:
(A) Whether there is a low demand for taking of the species from wild populations, either because of the success of captive breeding or because of other reasons, and
(B) Whether the wild populations of the species are effectively protected from unauthorized taking as a result of the inaccessibility of their habitat to humans or as a result of the effectiveness of law enforcement.
(ii) The Director will follow the procedures set forth in the Act and in the regulations thereunder with respect to petitions and notification of the public and governors of affected States when determining the eligibility of species for purposes of this paragraph.
(iii) In accordance with the criteria in paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this section, the Director has determined the following species to be eligible for the provisions of this paragraph:
(6) Exemption from registration requirement. (i) If the conditions in paragraph (g)(6)(ii) of this section are met, then any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States seeking to engage in any of the activities authorized by paragraph (g)(1) of this section may do so without first registering with the Service with respect to the following species:
(A) The bar-tailed pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae), Elliot's pheasant (S. ellioti), Mikado pheasant (S. mikado), brown eared pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum), white eared pheasant (C. crossoptilon), cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii), Edward's pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), Swinhoe's pheasant (L. swinhoii), Chinese monal (Lophophorus lhuysii), and Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron emphanum);
(B) Parakeets of the species Neophema pulchella and N. splendida;
(C) The Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis); and
(D) The white-winged wood duck (Cairina scutulata).
(ii) Conditions for exemption to register. The following conditions must exist for persons dealing with the species listed in paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this section to be eligible for exemption from the requirement to register with the Service:
(A) The purpose of the activity is to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected exempted species.
(B) Such activity does not involve interstate or foreign commerce, in the course of a commercial activity, with respect to nonliving wildlife.
(C) Each specimen to be reimported is uniquely identified by a band, tattoo, or other means that was reported in writing to an official of the Service at a port of export prior to export of the specimen from the United States.
(D) No specimens of the taxa in paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this section that were taken from the wild may be imported for breeding purposes absent a definitive showing that the need for new bloodlines can be met only by wild specimens, that suitable foreign-bred, captive individuals are unavailable, and that wild populations can sustain limited taking. In addition, an import permit must be issued under § 17.22.
(E) Any permanent exports of such specimens meet the requirements of paragraph (g)(4) of this section.
(F) Each person claiming the benefit of the exception in paragraph (g)(1) of this section must maintain accurate written records of activities, including births, deaths, and transfers of specimens, and make those records accessible to Service agents for inspection at reasonable hours as set forth in §§ 13.46 and 13.47 of this chapter.
(h) U.S. captive-bred scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b), (c), (e), and (f) of this section, any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may take; export or re-import; deliver, receive, carry, transport or ship in interstate or foreign commerce, in the course of a commercial activity; or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce live wildlife, including embryos and gametes, and sport-hunted trophies of scimitar-horned oryx ( Oryx dammah ), addax ( Addax nasomaculatus ), and dama gazelle ( Gazella dama ) provided:
(1) The purpose of such activity is associated with the management or transfer of live wildlife, including embryos and gametes, or sport hunting in a manner that contributes to increasing or sustaining captive numbers or to potential reintroduction to range countries;
(2) The specimen was captive-bred, in accordance with § 17.3, within the United States;
(3) All live specimens of that species held by the captive-breeding operation are managed in a manner that prevents hybridization of the species or subspecies;
(4) All live specimens of that species held by the captive-breeding operation are managed in a manner that maintains genetic diversity;
(5) Any export of or foreign commerce in a specimen meets the requirements of paragraph (g)(4) of this section, as well as parts 13, 14, and 23 of this chapter;
(6) Each specimen to be re-imported is uniquely identified by a tattoo or other means that is reported on the documentation required under paragraph (h)(5) of this section; and
(7) Each person claiming the benefit of the exception of this paragraph (h) must maintain accurate written records of activities, including births, deaths, and transfers of specimens, and make those records accessible to Service officials for inspection at reasonable hours set forth in §§ 13.46 and 13.47 of this chapter.
(8) The sport-hunted trophy consists of raw or tanned parts, such as bones, hair, head, hide, hooves, horns, meat, skull, rug, taxidermied head, shoulder, or full body mount, of a specimen that was taken by the hunter during a sport hunt for personal use. It does not include articles made from a trophy, such as worked, manufactured, or handicraft items for use as clothing, curios, ornamentation, jewelry, or other utilitarian items for commercial purposes.
§ 17.22   Permits for endangered species.
Upon receipt of a complete application, the Director may issue a permit authorizing any activity otherwise prohibited by § 17.21, in accordance with the issuance criteria of this section, for scientific purposes, for enhancing the propagation or survival, or for the incidental taking of endangered wildlife. Such permits may authorize a single transaction, a series of transactions, or a number of activities over a specific period of time. (See § 17.32 for permits for threatened species.) The Director shall publish notice in the Federal Register of each application for a permit that is made under this section. Each notice shall invite the submission from interested parties, within 30 days after the date of the notice, of written data, views, or arguments with respect to the application. The 30-day period may be waived by the Director in an emergency situation where the life or health of an endangered animal is threatened and no reasonable alternative is available to the applicant. Notice of any such waiver shall be published in the Federal Register within 10 days following issuance of the permit.
(a)(1) Application requirements for permits for scientific purposes or for the enhancement of propagation or survival. A person wishing to get a permit for an activity prohibited by § 17.21 submits an application for activities under this paragraph. The Service provides Form 3-200 for the application to which all of the following must be attained:
(i) The common and scientific names of the species sought to the covered by the permit, as well as the number, age, and sex of such species, and the activity sought to be authorized (such as taking, exporting, selling in interstate commerce);
(ii) A statement as to whether, at the time of application, the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit (A) is still in the wild, (B) has already been removed from the wild, or (C) was born in captivity;
(iii) A resume of the applicant's attempts to obtain the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit in a manner which would not cause the death or removal from the wild of such wildlife;
(iv) If the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit has already been removed from the wild, the country and place where such removal occurred; if the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit was born in captivity, the country and place where such wildlife was born;
(v) A complete description and address of the institution or other facility where the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit will be used, displayed, or maintained;
(vi) If the applicant seeks to have live wildlife covered by the permit, a complete description, including photographs or diagrams, of the facilities to house and/or care for the wildlife and a resume of the experience of those person who will be caring for the wildlife;
(vii) A full statement of the reasons why the applicant is justified in obtaining a permit including the details of the activities sought to be authorized by the permit;
(viii) If the application is for the purpose of enhancement of propagation, a statement of the applicant's willingness to participate in a cooperative breeding program and to maintain or contribute data to a studbook;
(2) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the Director will decide whether or not a permit should be issued. In making this decision, the Director shall consider, in addition to the general criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, the following factors:
(i) Whether the purpose for which the permit is required is adequate to justify removing from the wild or otherwise changing the status of the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(ii) The probable direct and indirect effect which issuing the permit would have on the wild populations of the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(iii) Whether the permit, if issued, would in any way, directly or indirectly, conflict with any known program intended to enhance the survival probabilities of the population from which the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit was or would be removed;
(iv) Whether the purpose for which the permit is required would be likely to reduce the threat of extinction facing the species of wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(v) The opinions or views of scientists or other persons or organizations having expertise concerning the wildlife or other matters germane to the application; and
(vi) Whether the expertise, facilities, or other resources available to the applicant appear adequate to successfully accomplish the objectives stated in the application.
(3) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under this paragraph shall be subject to the special condition that the escape of living wildlife covered by the permit shall be immediately reported to the Service office designated in the permit.
(4) Duration of permits. The duration of permits issued under this paragraph shall be designated on the face of the permit.
(b)(1) Application requirements for an incidental take permit. A person seeking authorization for incidental take that would otherwise be prohibited by § 17.31 or §§ 17.40 through 17.48 submits Form 3-200-56, a processing fee (if applicable), and a conservation plan. The Service will process the application when the Director determines the application is complete. A conservation plan must include the following:
(i) Project description. A complete description of the project, including purpose, location, timing, and proposed covered activities.
(ii) Covered species. As defined in § 17.3, common and scientific names of species sought to be covered by the permit, as well as the number, age, and sex, if known.
(iii) Goals and objectives. The measurable biological goals and objectives of the conservation plan.
(iv) Anticipated take. Expected timing, geographic distribution, type and amount of take, and the likely impact of take on the species.
(v) Conservation program: That explains the:
(A) Conservation measures that will be taken to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the incidental take for all covered species commensurate with the taking;
(B) Roles and responsibilities of all entities involved in implementation of the conservation plan;
(C) Changed circumstances and the planned responses in an adaptive management plan; and
(D) Procedures for dealing with unforeseen circumstances.
(vi) Conservation timing. The timing of mitigation relative to the incidental take of covered species.
(vii) Permit duration. The rationale for the requested permit duration.
(viii) Monitoring. Monitoring of the effectiveness of the mitigation and minimization measures, progress towards achieving the biological goals and objectives, and permit compliance. The scope of the monitoring program should be commensurate with the scope and duration of the conservation program and the project impacts.
(ix) Funding needs and sources. An accounting of the costs for properly implementing the conservation plan and the sources and methods of funding.
(x) Alternative actions. The alternative actions to the taking the applicant considered and the reasons why such alternatives are not being used.
(xi) Additional actions. Other measures that the Director requires as necessary or appropriate, including those necessary or appropriate to meet the issuance criteria or other statutory responsibilities of the Service.
(2) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the Director will decide whether a permit should be issued. The Director will consider the general issuance criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, except for § 13.21(b)(4). In making a decision, the Director will consider the anticipated duration and geographic scope of the applicant's planned activities, including the amount of covered species' habitat that is involved and the degree to which covered species and their habitats are affected. The Director will issue the permit if the Director finds:
(i) The taking will be incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity.
(ii) The applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking.
(iii) The applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the conservation plan implementation will be provided.
(iv) The applicant has provided procedures to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
(v) The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild.
(vi) The measures and conditions, if any, required under paragraph (b)(1)(xi) of this section will be met.
(vii) The applicant has provided any other assurances the Director requires to ensure that the conservation plan will be implemented.
(3) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under the regulations in this section will contain terms and conditions that the Director deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the permit and the conservation plan, including, but not limited to, additional conservation measures, if any, that may be required pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(xi) of this section, specified deadlines, and monitoring and reporting requirements deemed necessary for determining whether the permittee is complying with those terms and conditions. The Director will rely upon existing reporting requirements to the maximum extent practicable.
(4) Permit duration and effective date. In determining the duration of a permit, the Director will consider the duration of the activities for which coverage is requested; the time necessary to fully minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking; and uncertainties related to the impacts of the taking, success of the mitigation, and external factors that could affect the success of the conservation plan.
(i) Permits issued under this paragraph (b) become effective for listed covered species upon the date the permittee signs the incidental take permit, which must occur within 90 calendar days of issuance. For non-listed covered species, the permit's take authorization becomes effective upon the effective date of the species' listing provided the permittee signed the permit within 90 calendar days of issuance and has properly implemented the conservation plan.
(ii) The permit expires on the date indicated on the face of the permit.
(5) Assurances provided to permittee in case of changed or unforeseen circumstances. The assurances in this paragraph (b)(5) apply only to incidental take permits issued in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section where the conservation plan is being properly implemented and the permittee is properly complying with the incidental take permit. The assurances apply only with respect to species covered by the conservation plan. These assurances do not apply to Federal agencies or to incidental take permits issued prior to March 25, 1998. The assurances provided in incidental take permits issued prior to March 25, 1998, remain in effect, and those permits will not be revised.
(i) Changed circumstances provided for in the plan. If additional conservation and mitigation measures are deemed necessary to respond to changed circumstances and were provided for in the plan's operating conservation program, the permittee will implement the measures specified in the plan.
(ii) Changed circumstances not provided for in the plan. If additional conservation and mitigation measures are deemed necessary to respond to changed circumstances and were not provided for in the plan's operating conservation program, the Director will not require any conservation and mitigation measures in addition to those provided for in the plan without the consent of the permittee, provided the Director determines that the plan is being properly implemented.
(iii) Unforeseen circumstances. (A) In negotiating a response to unforeseen circumstances, the Director will not require the commitment of additional land, water, or financial compensation or additional restrictions on the use of land, water, or other natural resources beyond the level otherwise agreed upon for the species covered by the conservation plan without the consent of the permittee.
(B) If additional conservation and mitigation measures are deemed necessary to respond to unforeseen circumstances, the Director may require additional measures of the permittee where the conservation plan is being properly implemented, but only if such measures:
( 1 ) Are limited to modifications within conserved habitat areas, if any, or to the conservation plan's operating conservation program for the affected species; and
( 2 ) Maintain the original terms of the conservation plan to the maximum extent possible.
( 3 ) Additional conservation and mitigation measures will not involve the commitment of additional land, water, or financial compensation or additional restrictions on the use of land, water, or other natural resources otherwise available for development or use under the original terms of the conservation plan, without the consent of the permittee.
(C) The Director will have the burden of demonstrating that unforeseen circumstances exist, using the best scientific and commercial data available. These findings must be clearly documented and based upon reliable technical information regarding the status and habitat requirements of the affected species. The factors to be considered by the Director include, but are not limited to, the following:
( 1 ) Size of the current range of the affected species;
( 2 ) Percentage of range adversely affected by the conservation plan;
( 3 ) Percentage of range conserved by the conservation plan;
( 4 ) Ecological significance of that portion of the range affected by the conservation plan;
( 5 ) Level of knowledge about the affected species and the degree of specificity of the species' conservation program under the conservation plan; and
( 6 ) Whether failure to adopt additional conservation measures would appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the affected species in the wild.
(6) Additional actions. Nothing in this section will be construed to limit or constrain the Director, any Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agency, or a private entity from taking additional actions, at their own expense, to protect or conserve a species included in a conservation plan.
(7) Permit amendment or renewal. Any amendment or renewal of an existing permit issued under this part is a new agency decision and is therefore subject to all current relevant laws and regulations. The application will be evaluated based on the current policies and guidance in effect at the time of the amendment or renewal decision. Evaluation of an amendment extends only to the portion(s) of the conservation plan or permit for which the amendment is requested. Amendment or renewal applications must meet issuance criteria based upon the best available commercial and scientific data at the time of the permit decision.
(8) Discontinuance of permit activity. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.26 of this subchapter, a permittee under this paragraph (b) remains responsible for any outstanding minimization and mitigation measures required under the terms of the permit for take that occurs prior to surrender of the permit and such minimization and mitigation measures as may be required pursuant to the termination provisions of an implementing agreement, conservation plan, or permit even after surrendering the permit to the Service pursuant to § 13.26 of this subchapter.
(i) The Service will deem the permit canceled only upon a determination that such minimization and mitigation measures have been implemented.
(ii) Upon surrender of the permit, no further take by the permittee will be authorized under the terms of the surrendered permit.
(9) Criteria for revocation. A permit issued under this paragraph (b) may not be revoked for any reason except:
(i) The reasons set forth in § 13.28(a)(1) through (4) of this subchapter; or
(ii) If continuation of the permitted activity would be inconsistent with the criterion set forth in 16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(2)(B)(iv) and the inconsistency has not been remedied.
(c)(1) Application requirements for an enhancement of survival permit associated with conservation benefit agreements. The applicant must submit Form 3-200-54, the processing fee (if applicable), and a conservation benefit agreement. The Service will process the application when the Director determines the application has met all statutory and regulatory requirements for a complete application. A conservation benefit agreement must include the following:
(i) Conservation measures. A complete description of the conservation measure or measures, including the location of the activity or activities to be covered by the permit, and their intended outcome for the covered species.
(ii) Covered species. The common and scientific names of the covered species for which the applicant will conduct conservation measures and may need authorization for take.
(iii) Goals and objectives. The measurable biological goals and objectives of the conservation measures in the agreement.
(iv) Enrollment baseline. The baseline condition of the property or area to be enrolled as defined in § 17.3.
(v) Net conservation benefit. A description of how the measures are reasonably expected to improve each covered species' existing baseline condition on the enrolled property and result in a net conservation benefit as defined at § 17.3.
(vi) Monitoring. The steps the applicant will take to monitor and adaptively manage to ensure the goals and objectives of the conservation benefit agreement are met, the responsibilities of all parties are carried out, and the conservation benefit agreement will be properly implemented.
(vii) Neighboring property owners. A description of the enrollment process to provide neighboring property owners take coverage under paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, if applicable, or any other measures developed to protect the interests of neighboring property owners.
(viii) Return to baseline condition. The applicant's choice between including authorization to return the enrolled property to baseline condition or forgoing that authorization. For applicants seeking authority to return to baseline condition, a description of steps that may be taken to return the property to baseline condition and measures to reduce the effects of the take to the covered species.
(ix) Additional actions. Any other measures that the Director may require as necessary or appropriate to meet the issuance criteria in paragraph (c)(2) of this section or to avoid conflicts with other Service conservation efforts.
(2) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the Director will decide whether to issue a permit. The Director will consider the general issuance criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, except for § 13.21(b)(4), and may issue the permit if the Director finds:
(i) The take will be incidental to an otherwise lawful activity or purposeful if it is necessary for the implementation of the conservation benefit agreement and will be in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
(ii) The implementation of the terms of the conservation benefit agreement is reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the affected covered species on the enrolled property that is included in the permit and for each individual property within a programmatic conservation benefit agreement, based upon: condition of the species or habitat, effects of conservation measures, and anticipated impacts of any permitted take.
(iii) The direct and indirect effects of any authorized take are unlikely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery in the wild of any listed species.
(iv) Implementation of the terms of the conservation benefit agreement will not conflict with any ongoing conservation or recovery programs for listed species and the covered species included in the permit.
(v) The applicant has shown a capability for and commitment to implementing all terms of the conservation benefit agreement.
(3) Permit conditions. In addition to any applicable general permit conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under this paragraph (c) is subject to the following special conditions:
(i) The participating property owner must notify the Service of any transfer of property subject to a conservation benefit agreement, at least 30 calendar days prior to the transfer.
(ii) The permittee must give the Service reasonable advance notice (generally at least 30 calendar days) of when take of any covered species is expected to occur, to provide the Service an opportunity to relocate affected individuals of the species, if possible and appropriate.
(iii) Any additional requirements or conditions the Director deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the permit and the conservation benefit agreement.
(4) Permit duration and effective date. The duration of permits issued under paragraph (c) of this section must be sufficient to provide a net conservation benefit to species covered in the enhancement of survival permit on the enrolled property.
(i) In determining the duration of a permit, the Director will consider the duration of the planned activities, the uncertainties related to the impacts of the taking, and the positive and negative effects of the planned activities covered by the permit on species covered by the conservation benefit agreement.
(ii) Permits issued under this paragraph (c) become effective for listed covered species upon the date the permittee signs the enhancement of survival permit, which must be within 90 calendar days of issuance. For non-listed covered species, the take authorized through the permit becomes effective upon the effective date of the species' listing provided the permittee signed the permit within 90 calendar days of issuance and has properly implemented the conservation benefit agreement since signing the permit.
(5) Assurances. The assurances in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section apply only to enhancement of survival permits issued in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section where the conservation benefit agreement is being properly implemented, apply only with respect to species covered by the permit, and are effective until the permit expires. The assurances provided in this section apply only to enhancement of survival permits issued after July 19, 1999.
(i) Permittee and participating property owners. The Director and the permittee may agree to revise or modify the conservation measures set forth in a conservation benefit agreement if the Director determines that those revisions or modifications do not change the Director's prior determination that the conservation benefit agreement is reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the covered species. However, the Director may not require additional or different conservation measures to be undertaken by a permittee without the consent of the permittee.
(ii) Neighboring property owners. The Director may provide take coverage in the enhancement of survival permit for owners of properties adjacent to properties covered by the conservation benefit agreement through enrollment procedures contained in the agreement. The take covered and the method of providing take coverage will be tailored to the specific conservation benefit agreement and needs of adjacent property owners. One method is to have the neighboring property owner sign a certificate that applies the authorization and assurances in the permit to the neighboring property owner. The certificate must:
(A) Establish a baseline condition for the covered species on their property; and
(B) Give permission to the Service, the permittee, or a representative of either to enter the property, with reasonable notice, to capture and relocate, salvage, or implement measures to reduce anticipated take of the covered species.
(6) Additional actions. Nothing in this section will be construed to limit or constrain the Director, any Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agency, or a private entity from taking additional actions, at their own expense, to protect or conserve a species included in a conservation benefit agreement.
(7) Permit amendment or renewal. Any amendment or renewal of an existing permit issued under this part is a new agency decision and is therefore subject to all current relevant laws and regulations. The application will be evaluated based on the current policies and guidance in effect at the time of the amendment or renewal decision. Evaluation of an amendment extends only to the portion(s) of the conservation benefit agreement or permit for the which the amendment is requested. Amendment or renewal applications must meet issuance criteria based upon the best available commercial and scientific data at the time of the permit decision.
(8) Discontinuance of permit activity. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.26 of this subchapter, a permittee under this paragraph (c) remains responsible for any outstanding conservation measures required under the terms of the permit for take that occurs prior to surrender of the permit and any conservation measures required pursuant to the termination provisions of the conservation benefit agreement or permit even after surrendering the permit to the Service pursuant to § 13.26 of this subchapter.
(i) The permittee of a programmatic conservation benefit agreement that conveys take authorization and assurances to participants or enrollees must follow the provisions of § 13.26 of this subchapter.
(ii) The permit will be deemed canceled only upon a determination by the Service that those conservation measure(s) have been implemented and the permittee has had ample time to return the permittee's property to baseline condition, if the permit authorized take associated with return to baseline and if the permittee chooses to exercise that authorization.
(iii) Upon surrender of the permit, no further take will be authorized under the terms of the surrendered permit, and the assurances in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section will no longer apply.
(9) Criteria for revocation. The Director may not revoke a permit issued under this paragraph (c) except as provided in this paragraph (c)(9).
(i) The Director may revoke a permit for any reason set forth in § 13.28(a)(1) through (4) of this subchapter. The Director may revoke a permit if continuation of the covered activity would either:
(A) Appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery in the wild of any covered species; or
(B) Directly or indirectly alter designated critical habitat such that the value of that critical habitat is appreciably diminished for both the survival and recovery of a covered species.
(ii) Before revoking a permit for either of the reasons in paragraphs (c)(9)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, the Director, with the consent of the permittee, will pursue all appropriate options to avoid permit revocation. These options may include, but are not limited to, extending or modifying the existing permit, capturing and relocating the species, compensating the property owner to forgo the activity, purchasing an easement or fee simple interest in the property, or arranging for a third-party acquisition of an interest in the property.
(d) Objection to permit issuance. (1) In regard to any notice of a permit application published in the Federal Register, any interested party that objects to the issuance of a permit, in whole or in part, may, during the comment period specified in the notice, request notification of the final action to be taken on the application. A separate written request must be made for each permit application. Such a request must specify the Service's permit application number and state the reasons why the interested party believes the applicant does not meet the issuance criteria contained in this section and § 13.21 of this subchapter, or other reasons why the permit should not be issued.
(2) If the Service decides to issue a permit despite objections received pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the Service will, at least 10 days prior to issuance of the permit, make reasonable efforts to contact by telephone, or other expedient means, any party who has made a request pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section and inform that party of the issuance of the permit. However, the Service may reduce the time period or dispense with such notice if the Service determines that time is of the essence and that delay in issuance of the permit would:
(i) Harm the specimen or population involved; or
(ii) Unduly hinder the actions authorized under the permit.
(3) The Service will notify any party filing an objection and request for notice under paragraph (d)(1) of this section of the final action taken on the application, in writing. If the Service has reduced or dispensed with the notice period referred to in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the Service will include its reasons in such written notice.
§ 17.23   Economic hardship permits.
Upon receipt of a complete application, the Director may issue a permit authorizing any activity otherwise prohibited by § 17.21, in accordance with the issuance criteria of this section in order to prevent undue economic hardship. The Director shall publish notice in the Federal Register of each application for a permit that is made under this section. Each notice shall invite the submission from interested parties, within 30 days after the date of the notice, of written data, views, or arguments with respect to the application. The 30-day period may be waived by the Director in an emergency situation where the life or health of an endangered animal is threatened and no reasonable alternative is available to the applicant. Notice of any such waiver shall be published in the Federal Register within 10 days following issuance of the permit.
(a) Application requirements. Applications for permits under this section must be submitted to the Director by the person allegedly suffering undue economic hardship because his desired activity is prohibited by § 17.21. Each application must be submitted on an official application form (Form 3-200) provided by the Service, and must include, as an attachment, all of the information required in § 17.22 plus the following additional information:
(1) The possible legal, economic or subsistence alternatives to the activity sought to be authorized by the permit;
(2) A full statement, accompanied by copies of all relevant contracts and correspondence, showing the appli- cant's involvement with the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit (as well as his involvement with similar wildlife), including, where applicable, that portion of applicant's income derived from the taking of such wildlife, or the subsistence use of such wildlife, during the calendar year immediately preceding either the notice in the Federal Register of review of the status of the species or of the proposal to list such wildlife as endangered, whichever is earliest;
(3) Where applicable, proof of a contract or other binding legal obligation which:
(i) Deals specifically with the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(ii) Became binding prior to the date when the notice of a review of the status of the species or the notice of proposed rulemaking proposing to list such wildlife as endangered was published in the Federal Register, whichever is earlier; and
(iii) Will cause monetary loss of a given dollar amount if the permit sought under this section is not granted.
(b) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, the Director will decide whether or not a permit should be issued under any of the three categories of economic hardship, as defined in section 10(b)(2) of the Act. In making his decisions, the Director shall consider, in addition to the general criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, the following factors:
(1) Whether the purpose for which the permit is being requested is adequate to justify removing from the wild or otherwise changing the status of the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(2) The probable direct and indirect effect which issuing the permit would have on the wild populations of the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(3) The economic, legal, subsistence, or other alternatives or relief available to the applicant;
(4) The amount of evidence that the applicant was in fact party to a contract or other binding legal obligation which;
(i) Deals specifically with the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit; and
(ii) Became binding prior to the date when the notice of a review of the status of the species or the notice of proposed rulemaking proposing to list such wildlife as endangered was published in the Federal Register, whichever is earlier.
(5) The severity of economic hardship which the contract or other binding legal obligation referred to in paragraph (b)(4) of this section would cause if the permit were denied;
(6) Where applicable, the portion of the applicant's income which would be lost if the permit were denied, and the relationship of that portion to the balance of his income;
(7) Where applicable, the nature and extent of subsistence taking generally by the applicant; and
(8) The likelihood that applicant can reasonably carry out his desired activity within one year from the date a notice is published in the Federal Register to review status of such wildlife, or to list such wildlife as endangered, whichever is earlier.
(c) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under this section shall be subject to the following special conditions:
(1) In addition to any reporting requirements contained in the permit itself, the permittee shall also submit to the Director a written report of his activities pursuant to the permit. Such report must be postmarked or actually delivered no later than 10 days after completion of the activity.
(2) The death or escape of all living wildlife covered by the permit shall be immediately reported to the Service's office designated in the permit.
(d) Duration of permits issued under this section shall be designated on the face of the permit. No permit issued under this section, however, shall be valid for more than one year from the date a notice is published in the Federal Register to review status of such wildlife, or to list such wildlife as endangered, whichever is earlier.
§ 17.31   Prohibitions.
(a) Except as provided in §§ 17.4 through 17.8, or in a permit issued pursuant to § 17.32, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section and all of the provisions of § 17.21 (for endangered species of wildlife), except § 17.21(c)(3) and (5), apply to threatened species of wildlife, unless the Secretary has promulgated species-specific provisions (see paragraph (c) of this section).
(b)(1) Notwithstanding § 17.21(c)(1), and unless otherwise specified, any employee or agent of the Service, any other Federal land management agency, the National Marine Fisheries Service, a State conservation agency, or a federally recognized Tribe, who is designated by their agency or Tribe for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of their official duties, take threatened wildlife without a permit if such action is necessary to:
(i) Aid a sick, injured, or orphaned specimen; or
(ii) Dispose of a dead specimen; or
(iii) Salvage a dead specimen that may be useful for scientific study; or
(iv) Remove specimens that constitute a demonstrable but nonimmediate threat to human safety, provided that the taking is done in a humane manner; the taking may involve killing or injuring only if it has not been reasonably possible to eliminate such threat by live-capturing and releasing the specimen unharmed, in an appropriate area.
(2) Any taking under paragraph (b)(1) of this section must be reported in writing to the Office of Law Enforcement, via contact methods listed at https://www.fws.gov, within 5 calendar days. The specimen may only be retained, disposed of, or salvaged under directions from the Office of Law Enforcement.
(3) Notwithstanding § 17.21(c)(1), and unless otherwise specified, any employee or agent of the Service, of the National Marine Fisheries Service, or of a State conservation agency that is operating a conservation program pursuant to the terms of an approved cooperative agreement with the Service that covers the threatened species of wildlife in accordance with section 6(c) of the Act, who is designated by their agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of their official duties, take those species.
(c) For threatened species of wildlife that have a species-specific rule in §§ 17.40 through 17.48, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section and § 17.32 apply unless otherwise specified, and the species-specific rule will contain all of the prohibitions and any additional exceptions that apply to that species.
§ 17.32   Permits for threatened species.
Upon receipt of a complete application, the Director may issue a permit for any activity otherwise prohibited with regard to threatened wildlife. The permit shall be governed by the provisions of this section unless a species-specific rule applicable to the wildlife and set forth in §§ 17.40 through 17.48 provides otherwise. A permit issued under this section must be for one of the following purposes: scientific purposes, or the enhancement of propagation or survival, or economic hardship, or zoological exhibition, or educational purposes, or incidental taking, or special purposes consistent with the purposes of the Act. Such a permit may authorize a single transaction, a series of transactions, or a number of activities over a specific period of time.
(a)(1) Application requirements for permits for scientific purposes, or the enhancement of propagation or survival, or economic hardship, or zoological exhibition, or educational purposes, or special purposes consistent with the purposes of the Act. A person wishing to get a permit for an activity prohibited by § 17.31 submits an application for activities under this paragraph. The Service provides Form 3-200 for the application to which as much of the following information relating to the purpose of the permit must be attached:
(i) The Common and scientific names of the species sought to be covered by the permit, as well as the number, age, and sex of such species, and the activity sought to be authorized (such as taking, exporting, selling in interstate commerce);
(ii) A statement as to whether, at the time of application, the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit (A) is still in the wild, (B) has already been removed from the wild, or (C) was born in captivity;
(iii) A resume of the applicant's attempts to obtain the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit in a manner which would not cause the death or removal from the wild of such wildlife;
(iv) If the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit has already been removed from the wild, the country and place where such removal occurred; if the wildlife sought to be covered by permit was born in captivity, the country and place where such wildlife was born;
(v) A complete description and address of the institution or other facility where the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit will be used, displayed, or maintained;
(vi) If the applicant seeks to have live wildlife covered by the permit, a complete description, including photographs or diagrams, of the facilities to house and/or care for the wildlife and a resume of the experience of those persons who will be caring for the wildlife;
(vii) A full statement of the reasons why the applicant is justified in obtaining a permit including the details of the activities sought to be authorized by the permit;
(viii) If the application is for the purpose of enhancement of propagation, a statement of the applicant's willingness to participate in a cooperative breeding program and to maintain or contribute data to a studbook;
(2) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the Director will decide whether or not a permit should be issued. In making this decision, the Director shall consider, in addition to the general criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, the following factors:
(i) Whether the purpose for which the permit is required is adequate to justify removing from the wild or otherwise changing the status of the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(ii) The probable direct and indirect effect which issuing the permit would have on the wild populations of the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(iii) Whether the permit, if issued, would in any way, directly or indirectly, conflict with any known program intended to enhance the survival probabilities of the population from which the wildlife sought to be covered by the permit was or would be removed;
(iv) Whether the purpose for which the permit is required would be likely to reduce the threat of extinction facing the species of wildlife sought to be covered by the permit;
(v) The opinions or views of scientists or other persons or organizations having expertise concerning the wildlife or other matters germane to the application; and
(vi) Whether the expertise, facilities, or other resources available to the applicant appear adequate to successfully accomplish the objectives stated in the application.
(3) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under this paragraph shall be subject to the special condition that the escape of living wildlife covered by the permit shall be immediately reported to the Service office designated in the permit.
(4) Duration of permits. The duration of permits issued under this paragraph shall be designated on the face of the permit.
(b)(1) Application requirements for an incidental take permit. A person seeking authorization for incidental take that would otherwise be prohibited by § 17.31 or §§ 17.40 through 17.48 submits Form 3-200-56, a processing fee (if applicable), and a conservation plan. The Service will process the application when the Director determines the application is complete. A conservation plan must include the following:
(i) Project description. A complete description of the project, including purpose, location, timing, and proposed covered activities.
(ii) Covered species. As defined in § 17.3, common and scientific names of species sought to be covered by the permit, as well as the number, age, and sex, if known.
(iii) Goals and objectives. The measurable biological goals and objectives of the conservation plan.
(iv) Anticipated take. Expected timing, geographic distribution, type and amount of take, and the likely impact of take on the species.
(v) Conservation program: That explains the:
(A) Conservation measures that will be taken to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the incidental take for all covered species commensurate with the taking;
(B) Roles and responsibilities of all entities involved in implementation of the conservation plan;
(C) Changed circumstances and the planned responses in an adaptive management plan; and
(D) Procedures for dealing with unforeseen circumstances.
(vi) Conservation timing. The timing of mitigation relative to the incidental take of covered species.
(vii) Permit duration. The rationale for the requested permit duration.
(viii) Monitoring. Monitoring of the effectiveness of the mitigation and minimization measures, progress towards achieving the biological goals and objectives, and permit compliance. The scope of the monitoring program should be commensurate with the scope and duration of the conservation program and the project impacts.
(ix) Funding needs and sources. An accounting of the costs for properly implementing the conservation plan and the sources and methods of funding.
(x) Alternative actions. The alternative actions to the taking the applicant considered and the reasons why such alternatives are not being used.
(xi) Additional actions. Other measures that the Director requires as necessary or appropriate, including those necessary or appropriate to meet the issuance criteria or other statutory responsibilities of the Service.
(2) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the Director will decide whether a permit should be issued. The Director will consider the general issuance criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, except for § 13.21(b)(4). In making a decision, the Director will consider the anticipated duration and geographic scope of the applicant's planned activities, including the amount of covered species' habitat that is involved and the degree to which covered species and their habitats are affected. The Director will issue the permit if the Director finds:
(i) The taking will be incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity.
(ii) The applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking.
(iii) The applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the conservation plan implementation will be provided.
(iv) The applicant has provided procedures to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
(v) The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in the wild.
(vi) The measures and conditions, if any, required under paragraph (b)(1)(xi) of this section will be met.
(vii) The applicant has provided any other assurances the Director requires to ensure that the conservation plan will be implemented.
(3) Permit conditions. In addition to the general conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under the regulations in this section will contain terms and conditions that the Director deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the permit and the conservation plan, including, but not limited to, additional conservation measures, if any, that may be required pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(xi) of this section, specified deadlines, and monitoring and reporting requirements deemed necessary for determining whether the permittee is complying with those terms and conditions. The Director will rely upon existing reporting requirements to the maximum extent practicable.
(4) Permit duration and effective date. In determining the duration of a permit, the Director will consider the duration of the activities for which coverage is requested; the time necessary to fully minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking; and uncertainties related to the impacts of the taking, success of the mitigation, and external factors that could affect the success of the conservation plan.
(i) Permits issued under this paragraph (b) become effective for listed covered species upon the date the permittee signs the incidental take permit, which must occur within 90 calendar days of issuance. For non-listed covered species, the permit's take authorization becomes effective upon the effective date of the species' listing provided the permittee signed the permit within 90 calendar days of issuance and has properly implemented the conservation plan.
(ii) The permit expires on the date indicated on the face of the permit.
(5) Assurances provided to permittee in case of changed or unforeseen circumstances. The assurances in this paragraph (b)(5) apply only to incidental take permits issued in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section where the conservation plan is being properly implemented and the permittee is properly complying with the incidental take permit. The assurances apply only with respect to species covered by the conservation plan. These assurances do not apply to Federal agencies or to incidental take permits issued prior to March 25, 1998. The assurances provided in incidental take permits issued prior to March 25, 1998, remain in effect, and those permits will not be revised.
(i) Changed circumstances provided for in the plan. If additional conservation and mitigation measures are deemed necessary to respond to changed circumstances and were provided for in the plan's operating conservation program, the permittee will implement the measures specified in the plan.
(ii) Changed circumstances not provided for in the plan. If additional conservation and mitigation measures are deemed necessary to respond to changed circumstances and were not provided for in the plan's operating conservation program, the Director will not require any conservation and mitigation measures in addition to those provided for in the plan without the consent of the permittee, provided the Director determines that the plan is being properly implemented.
(iii) Unforeseen circumstances. (A) In negotiating a response to unforeseen circumstances, the Director will not require the commitment of additional land, water, or financial compensation or additional restrictions on the use of land, water, or other natural resources beyond the level otherwise agreed upon for the species covered by the conservation plan without the consent of the permittee.
(B) If additional conservation and mitigation measures are deemed necessary to respond to unforeseen circumstances, the Director may require additional measures of the permittee where the conservation plan is being properly implemented, but only if such measures:
( 1 ) Are limited to modifications within conserved habitat areas, if any, or to the conservation plan's operating conservation program for the affected species; and
( 2 ) Maintain the original terms of the conservation plan to the maximum extent possible.
( 3 ) Additional conservation and mitigation measures will not involve the commitment of additional land, water, or financial compensation or additional restrictions on the use of land, water, or other natural resources otherwise available for development or use under the original terms of the conservation plan, without the consent of the permittee.
(C) The Director will have the burden of demonstrating that unforeseen circumstances exist, using the best scientific and commercial data available. These findings must be clearly documented and based upon reliable technical information regarding the status and habitat requirements of the affected species. The factors to be considered by the Director include, but are not limited to, the following:
( 1 ) Size of the current range of the affected species;
( 2 ) Percentage of range adversely affected by the conservation plan;
( 3 ) Percentage of range conserved by the conservation plan;
( 4 ) Ecological significance of that portion of the range affected by the conservation plan;
( 5 ) Level of knowledge about the affected species and the degree of specificity of the species' conservation program under the conservation plan; and
( 6 ) Whether failure to adopt additional conservation measures would appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the affected species in the wild.
(6) Additional actions. Nothing in this section will be construed to limit or constrain the Director, any Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agency, or a private entity from taking additional actions, at their own expense, to protect or conserve a species included in a conservation plan.
(7) Permit amendment or renewal. Any amendment or renewal of an existing permit issued under this part is a new agency decision and is therefore subject to all current relevant laws and regulations. The application will be evaluated based on the current policies and guidance in effect at the time of the amendment or renewal decision. Evaluation of an amendment extends only to the portion(s) of the conservation plan or permit for which the amendment is requested. Amendment or renewal applications must meet issuance criteria based upon the best available commercial and scientific data at the time of the permit decision.
(8) Discontinuance of permit activity. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.26 of this subchapter, a permittee under this paragraph (b) remains responsible for any outstanding minimization and mitigation measures required under the terms of the permit for take that occurs prior to surrender of the permit and such minimization and mitigation measures as may be required pursuant to the termination provisions of an implementing agreement, conservation plan, or permit even after surrendering the permit to the Service pursuant to § 13.26 of this subchapter.
(i) The Service will deem the permit canceled only upon a determination that such minimization and mitigation measures have been implemented.
(ii) Upon surrender of the permit, no further take by the permittee will be authorized under the terms of the surrendered permit.
(9) Criteria for revocation. A permit issued under this paragraph (b) may not be revoked for any reason except:
(i) The reasons set forth in § 13.28(a)(1) through (4) of this subchapter; or
(ii) If continuation of the permitted activity would be inconsistent with the criterion set forth in 16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(2)(B)(iv) and the inconsistency has not been remedied.
(c)(1) Application requirements for an enhancement of survival permit associated with conservation benefit agreements. The applicant must submit Form 3-200-54, the processing fee (if applicable), and a conservation benefit agreement. The Service will process the application when the Director determines the application has met all statutory and regulatory requirements for a complete application. A conservation benefit agreement must include the following:
(i) Conservation measures. A complete description of the conservation measure or measures, including the location of the activity or activities to be covered by the permit, and their intended outcome for the covered species.
(ii) Covered species. The common and scientific names of the covered species for which the applicant will conduct conservation measures and may need authorization for take.
(iii) Goals and objectives. The measurable biological goals and objectives of the conservation measures in the agreement.
(iv) Enrollment baseline. The baseline condition of the property or area to be enrolled as defined in § 17.3.
(v) Net conservation benefit. A description of how the measures are reasonably expected to improve each covered species' existing baseline condition on the enrolled property and result in a net conservation benefit as defined at § 17.3.
(vi) Monitoring. The steps the applicant will take to monitor and adaptively manage to ensure the goals and objectives of the conservation benefit agreement are met, the responsibilities of all parties are carried out, and the conservation benefit agreement will be properly implemented.
(vii) Neighboring property owners. A description of the enrollment process to provide neighboring property owners take coverage under paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, if applicable, or any other measures developed to protect the interests of neighboring property owners.
(viii) Return to baseline condition. The applicant's choice between including authorization to return the enrolled property to baseline condition or forgoing that authorization. For applicants seeking authority to return to baseline condition, a description of steps that may be taken to return the property to baseline condition and measures to reduce the effects of the take to the covered species.
(ix) Additional actions. Any other measures that the Director may require as necessary or appropriate to meet the issuance criteria in paragraph (c)(2) of this section or to avoid conflicts with other Service conservation efforts.
(2) Issuance criteria. Upon receiving an application completed in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the Director will decide whether to issue a permit. The Director will consider the general issuance criteria in § 13.21(b) of this subchapter, except for § 13.21(b)(4), and may issue the permit if the Director finds:
(i) The take will be incidental to an otherwise lawful activity or purposeful if it is necessary for the implementation of the conservation benefit agreement and will be in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
(ii) The implementation of the terms of the conservation benefit agreement is reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the affected covered species on the enrolled property that is included in the permit and for each individual property within a programmatic conservation benefit agreement, based upon: condition of the species or habitat, effects of conservation measures, and anticipated impacts of any permitted take.
(iii) The direct and indirect effects of any authorized take are unlikely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery in the wild of any listed species.
(iv) Implementation of the terms of the conservation benefit agreement will not conflict with any ongoing conservation or recovery programs for listed species and the covered species included in the permit.
(v) The applicant has shown a capability for and commitment to implementing all terms of the conservation benefit agreement.
(3) Permit conditions. In addition to any applicable general permit conditions set forth in part 13 of this subchapter, every permit issued under this paragraph (c) is subject to the following special conditions:
(i) The participating property owner must notify the Service of any transfer of property subject to a conservation benefit agreement, at least 30 calendar days prior to the transfer.
(ii) The permittee must give the Service reasonable advance notice (generally at least 30 calendar days) of when take of any covered species is expected to occur, to provide the Service an opportunity to relocate affected individuals of the species, if possible and appropriate.
(iii) Any additional requirements or conditions the Director deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the permit and the conservation benefit agreement.
(4) Permit duration and effective date. The duration of permits issued under paragraph (c) of this section must be sufficient to provide a net conservation benefit to species covered in the enhancement of survival permit on the enrolled property.
(i) In determining the duration of a permit, the Director will consider the duration of the planned activities, the uncertainties related to the impacts of the taking, and the positive and negative effects of the planned activities covered by the permit on species covered by the conservation benefit agreement.
(ii) Permits issued under this paragraph (c) become effective for listed covered species upon the date the permittee signs the enhancement of survival permit, which must be within 90 calendar days of issuance. For non-listed covered species, the take authorized through the permit becomes effective upon the effective date of the species' listing provided the permittee signed the permit within 90 calendar days of issuance and has properly implemented the conservation benefit agreement since signing the permit.
(5) Assurances. The assurances in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section apply only to enhancement of survival permits issued in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section where the conservation benefit agreement is being properly implemented, apply only with respect to species covered by the permit, and are effective until the permit expires. The assurances provided in this section apply only to enhancement of survival permits issued after July 19, 1999.
(i) Permittee and participating property owners. The Director and the permittee may agree to revise or modify the conservation measures set forth in a conservation benefit agreement if the Director determines that those revisions or modifications do not change the Director's prior determination that the conservation benefit agreement is reasonably expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the covered species. However, the Director may not require additional or different conservation measures to be undertaken by a permittee without the consent of the permittee.
(ii) Neighboring property owners. The Director may provide take coverage in the enhancement of survival permit for owners of properties adjacent to properties covered by the conservation benefit agreement through enrollment procedures contained in the agreement. The take covered and the method of providing take coverage will be tailored to the specific conservation benefit agreement and needs of adjacent property owners. One method is to have the neighboring property owner sign a certificate that applies the authorization and assurances in the permit to the neighboring property owner. The certificate must:
(A) Establish a baseline condition for the covered species on their property; and
(B) Give permission to the Service, the permittee, or a representative of either to enter the property, with reasonable notice, to capture and relocate, salvage, or implement measures to reduce anticipated take of the covered species.
(6) Additional actions. Nothing in this section will be construed to limit or constrain the Director, any Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agency, or a private entity from taking additional actions, at their own expense, to protect or conserve a species included in a conservation benefit agreement.
(7) Permit amendment or renewal. Any amendment or renewal of an existing permit issued under this part is a new agency decision and is therefore subject to all current relevant laws and regulations. The application will be evaluated based on the current policies and guidance in effect at the time of the amendment or renewal decision. Evaluation of an amendment extends only to the portion(s) of the conservation benefit agreement or permit for the which the amendment is requested. Amendment or renewal applications must meet issuance criteria based upon the best available commercial and scientific data at the time of the permit decision.
(8) Discontinuance of permit activity. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 13.26 of this subchapter, a permittee under this paragraph (c) remains responsible for any outstanding conservation measures required under the terms of the permit for take that occurs prior to surrender of the permit and any conservation measures required pursuant to the termination provisions of the conservation benefit agreement or permit even after surrendering the permit to the Service pursuant to § 13.26 of this subchapter.
(i) The permittee of a programmatic conservation benefit agreement that conveys take authorization and assurances to participants or enrollees must follow the provisions of § 13.26 of this subchapter.
(ii) The permit will be deemed canceled only upon a determination by the Service that those conservation measure(s) have been implemented and the permittee has had ample time to return the permittee's property to baseline condition, if the permit authorized take associated with return to baseline and if the permittee chooses to exercise that authorization.
(iii) Upon surrender of the permit, no further take will be authorized under the terms of the surrendered permit, and the assurances in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section will no longer apply.
(9) Criteria for revocation. The Director may not revoke a permit issued under this paragraph (c) except as provided in this paragraph (c)(9).
(i) The Director may revoke a permit for any reason set forth in § 13.28(a)(1) through (4) of this subchapter. The Director may revoke a permit if continuation of the covered activity would either:
(A) Appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery in the wild of any covered species; or
(B) Directly or indirectly alter designated critical habitat such that the value of that critical habitat is appreciably diminished for both the survival and recovery of a covered species.
(ii) Before revoking a permit for either of the reasons in paragraphs (c)(9)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, the Director, with the consent of the permittee, will pursue all appropriate options to avoid permit revocation. These options may include, but are not limited to, extending or modifying the existing permit, capturing and relocating the species, compensating the property owner to forgo the activity, purchasing an easement or fee simple interest in the property, or arranging for a third-party acquisition of an interest in the property.