‘‘(i) Objective, measurable criteria that, when 
met, would result in a determination, in accordance 
with this section, that the species to which the recov-
ery plan applies be removed from the lists published 
under section 4(c) or be reclassified from an endan-
gered species to a threatened species. 
‘‘(ii) A description of such site-specific or other 
measures that would achieve the criteria established 
under clause (i), including such intermediate meas-
ures as are warranted to effect progress toward 
achievement of the criteria. 
‘‘(iii) Estimates of the time required and the 
costs, including direct, indirect and cumulative costs, 
to carry out those measures described under clause 
(ii), including, to the extent practicable, estimated 
costs for any recommendations, by the recovery 
team, or by the Secretary if no recovery team is se-
lected, that any of the areas identified under clause 
(iv) be acquired on a willing seller basis. 
‘‘(iv) An identification of those specific areas 
that are of special value to the conservation of the 
species. 
‘‘(B) Those members of any recovery team appointed 
pursuant to subsection (d) with relevant scientific exper-
tise, or the Secretary if no recovery team is appointed,
shall, based solely on the best available scientific data, es-
tablish the objective, measurable criteria required under 
subparagraph (A)(i). 
‘‘(C)(i) If the recovery team, or the Secretary if no 
recovery team is appointed, determines in the recovery 
plan that insufficient best available scientific data exist 
to determine criteria or measures under subparagraph (A) 
that could achieve a determination to remove the species 
from the lists published under section 4(c), the recovery 
plan shall contain interim criteria and measures that are 
likely to improve the status of the species. 
‘‘(ii) If a recovery plan does not contain the criteria 
and measures provided for by clause (i) of subparagraph 
(A), the recovery team for the plan, or the Secretary if 
no recovery team is appointed, shall review the plan at 
intervals of no greater than 5 years and determine if the 
plan can be revised to contain the criteria and measures 
required under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(iii) If the recovery team or the Secretary, respec-
tively, determines under clause (ii) that a recovery plan 
can be revised to add the criteria and measures provided 
for under subparagraph (A), the recovery team or the Sec-
retary, as applicable, shall revise the recovery plan to add 
such criteria and measures within 2 years after the date 
of the determination.
‘‘(D) In specifying measures in a recovery plan under 
subparagraph (A), a recovery team or the Secretary, as 
applicable, shall—
‘‘(i) whenever possible include alternative meas-
ures; and 
‘‘(ii) in developing such alternative measures, 
the Secretary shall seek to identify, among such al-
ternative measures of comparable expected efficacy, 
the alternative measures that are least costly. 
‘‘(E) Estimates of time and costs pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A)(iii), and identification of the least costly al-
ternatives pursuant to subparagraph (D)(ii), are not re-
quired to be based on the best available scientific data. 
‘‘(2) Any area that, immediately before the enactment 
of the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act 
of 2005, is designated as critical habitat of an endangered 
species or threatened species shall be treated as an area 
described in subparagraph (A)(iv) until a recovery plan 
for the species is developed or the existing recovery plan 
for the species is revised pursuant to subsection (b)(3). 
‘‘(d) RECOVERY TEAMS.—(1) The Secretary shall 
promulgate regulations that provide for the establishment 
of recovery teams for development of recovery plans under 
this section. 
‘‘(2) Such regulations shall—
‘‘(A) establish criteria and the process for se-
lecting the members of recovery teams, and the proc-
ess for preparing recovery plans, that ensure that 
each team—
‘‘(i) is of a size and composition to enable 
timely completion of the recovery plan; and 
‘‘(ii) 
includes 
sufficient 
representation 
from constituencies with a demonstrated direct 
interest in the species and its conservation or in 
the economic and social impacts of its conserva-
tion to ensure that the views of such constitu-
encies will be considered in the development of 
the plan; 
‘‘(B) include provisions regarding operating 
procedures of and recordkeeping by recovery teams; 
‘‘(C) ensure that recovery plans are scientif-
ically rigorous and that the evaluation of costs re-
quired by paragraphs (1)(A)(iii) and (1)(D) of sub-
section (c) are economically rigorous; and 
‘‘(D) provide guidelines for circumstances in 
which the Secretary may determine that appoint-
ment of a recovery team is not necessary or advis-
able to develop a recovery plan for a specific species, 
including procedures to solicit public comment on 
any such determination.
‘‘(3) The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 App. 
U.S.C.) shall not apply to recovery teams appointed in ac-
cordance with regulations issued by the Secretary under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(e) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—(1) The Secretary 
shall report every two years to the Committee on Re-
sources of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate 
on the status of all domestic endangered species and 
threatened species and the status of efforts to develop and 
implement recovery plans for all domestic endangered spe-
cies and threatened species. 
‘‘(2) In reporting on the status of such species since 
the time of its listing, the Secretary shall include—
‘‘(A) an assessment of any significant change in 
the well-being of each such species, including—
‘‘(i) changes in population, range, or 
threats; and 
‘‘(ii) the basis for that assessment; and 
‘‘(B) for each species, a measurement of the de-
gree of confidence in the reported status of such spe-
cies, based upon a quantifiable parameter developed 
for such purposes. 
‘‘(f) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—The Secretary 
shall, prior to final approval of a new or revised recovery
plan, provide public notice and an opportunity for public 
review and comment on such plan. The Secretary shall 
consider all information presented during the public com-
ment period prior to approval of the plan. 
‘‘(g) STATE COMMENT.—The Secretary shall, prior 
to final approval of a new or revised recovery plan, provide 
a draft of such plan and an opportunity to comment on 
such draft to the Governor of, and State agency in, any 
State to which such draft would apply. The Secretary shall 
include in the final recovery plan the Secretary’s response 
to the comments of the Governor and the State agency. 
‘‘(h) CONSULTATION.—(1) The Secretary shall, prior 
to final approval of a new or revised recovery plan, consult 
with any pertinent State, Indian tribe, or regional or local 
land use agency or its designee. 
‘‘(2) For purposes of this Act, the term ‘Indian tribe’ 
means—
‘‘(A) with respect to the 48 contiguous States, any 
federally recognized Indian tribe, organized band, pueblo, 
or community; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to Alaska, the Metlakatla Indian 
Community. 
‘‘(i) USE OF PLANS.—(1) Each Federal agency shall 
consider any relevant best available scientific data con-
tained in a recovery plan in any analysis conducted under