Endangered Species Act Guidance, Policies, and Regulations
The following is a list of the policies, guidance, and regulations we use to administer the ESA.
ESA Interagency Cooperative Policies
| Policy, Guidance, or Regulation | Year | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Revised Interagency Cooperative Policy Regarding the Role of State Agencies in Endangered Species Act | 2016 | 81 FR 8663 |
| Notice of Interagency Cooperative Policy for Endangered Species Act Section 9 Prohibitions | 1994 | 59 FR 34272 |
| Notice of Interagency Cooperative Policy for the Ecosystem Approach to the Endangered Species Act | 1994 | 59 FR 34237 |
| Notice of Interagency Cooperative Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered Species Act | 1994 | 59 FR 25271 |
| Notice of Interagency Cooperative Policy for Peer Review in Endangered Species Act Activities | 1994 | 59 FR 34270 |
Listing and Critical Habitat (ESA Section 4)
Learn more about the Listing Program
Learn more about Critical Habitat
| Policy, Guidance, or Regulation | Year | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat (ESA Section 4 Regulations) | Various | 50 CFR 424 |
| Guidance for Treatment of Climate Change in NMFS Endangered Species Act Decisions (updated 2023) | 2016 | PDF, 8 pages |
| Revisions to the Regulations for Petitions under the Endangered Species Act | 2016 | 81 FR 66461 |
| Designation of Experimental Populations under the Endangered Species Act | 2016 | 81 FR 33416 |
| Policy Regarding Implementation of Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act | 2016 | 81 FR 7226 |
| Guidance on Responding to Petitions and Conducting Status Reviews under the Endangered Species Act (updated 2021) | 2017 | PDF, 56 pages |
| Significant Portion of its Range Policy | 2014 | 79 FR 37577 |
| Impact Analyses of Critical Habitat | 2013 | 78 FR 53058 |
| Textual Description Requirements of Critical Habitat | 2012 | 77 FR 25611 |
| Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan Guidance | 2018 | PDF, 25 pages |
| Procedures for Conducting 5-Year Reviews Under the ESA | 2006 | |
| Hatchery Listing Policy for Pacific salmonids | 2005 | 70 FR 37204 |
| Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts (PECE) | 2003 | 68 FR 15100 |
| Recognition of Distinct Vertebrate Population Segments (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (U.S. FWS and NMFS) | 1996 | 61 FR 4722 |
| Applying the Definition of Species to Pacific Salmon (ESU Policy) | 1991 | 56 FR 58612 |
| Guidelines on Species Priority for Listing and Recovery | 2019 | 84 FR 18243 |
| Memorandum of Understanding between U.S. FWS and NMFS Regarding Jurisdictional Responsibilities and Listing Procedures | 1974 | PDF, 8 pages |
| Reorganization Plan No. 4 (establishing NOAA) | 1970 | PDF, 4 pages |
Recovery (ESA Section 4)
Learn more about the Recovery Program
| Policy, Guidance, or Regulation | Year | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery Planning Handbook (Version 1.0) | 2020 | Recovery Planning Handbook |
| Guidelines on Species Priority for Listing and Recovery | 2019 | 84 FR 18243 |
| Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan Guidance | 2018 | PDF, 25 pages |
| MOU Defining the Roles of U.S. FWS and NOAA Fisheries in Joint Administration of the ESA as to Sea Turtles | 2015 | PDF, 6 pages |
| Procedures for Conducting 5-Year Reviews under the ESA | 2006 | |
| Controlled Propagation Policy for ESA-Listed Species | 2000 | 65 FR 56916 |
| Interagency Cooperative Policy on Recovery Plan Participation and Implementation Under the ESA | 1994 | 59 FR 34272 |
Interagency Consultation (ESA Section 7)
Learn more about ESA Interagency Consultations
| Policy, Guidance, or Regulation | Year | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Memorandum Between the Department of the Army (Civil Works) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 2022 | PDF, 7 pages |
|
ESA Section 7 Regulations |
Various | 50 CFR 402 |
| Guidance for Treatment of Climate Change in NMFS Endangered Species Act Decisions (updated 2023) | 2016 | PDF, 8 pages |
| Definition of Destruction or Adverse Modification of Critical Habitat | 2016 | 81 FR 7214 |
| U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NMFS, agree to revoke the 2004 National Fire Plan* Counterpart Regulation Alternative Consultation Agreements (ACAs) (76 FR 61090; October 3, 2011)
|
2011 | 76 FR 61090 |
| Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act | 2004 | 69 FR 47732 |
| National Fire Plan | 2003 | 68 FR 68254 |
| Guidance on Alternative Approaches for Streamlining Section 7 Consultation on Hazardous Fuels Treatment Projects (issued 10/11/2002) | 2003 | 68 FR 1628 |
| Guidance on Evaluating the Net Benefit of Hazardous Fuels Treatment Projects (issued 12/10/2002) | 2003 | 68 FR 1629 |
| Memorandum of Agreement between EPA, U.S. FWS, and NMFS to Enhance Coordination under the Clean Water Act and the ESA for Section 7 Consultations | 2001 | 66 FR 11202 |
| Improving Coordination of ESA Section 7 Consultation with the FERC Licensing Process | 2000 | PDF, 19 pages |
| ESA Section 7 Consultation Handbook | 1998 | PDF, 315 pages |
Permits and Habitat Conservation Plans (ESA Section 10)
Learn more about Permits and Habitat Conservation Plans
| Policy, Guidance, or Regulation | Year | Document |
|---|---|---|
| ESA Section 10 Regulations | Various | 50 CFR 222 |
| Guidance for Treatment of Climate Change in NMFS Endangered Species Act Decisions (updated 2023) | 2016 | PDF, 8 pages |
| "No Surprises" Rule | 1998 | 63 FR 8859 |
| Safe Harbor Policy | 1999 | 64 FR 32717 |
| Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances Policy Review (comments due 1/22/18) | 2017 | 82 FR 55625 |
| Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances Policy | 2016 | 81 FR 95164 |
|
Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook |
2016 | HCP handbook |