The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service have released a proposed rule regarding Incidental Take Statements (ITS) for endangered species. The proposed rule relates to the use of “surrogates” to imply the likely extent of take created by a project or development. The rule would also provide for the use of “Programmatic Incidental Take Statements” for ongoing or long-term federal actions. A 60-day comment period will follow the publication of the rule in the Federal Register. Read the full press release from the FWS HERE.
