Attached is a response from the senior biologist for USFWS concerning the Three Species and the new regulations. For more information call me on my mobile number listed below.
Our solicitors reading of the law indicates that we must publish a reinstatement of 17.21 (h) within 60 days. Until that is published everything stays as is and all the provisions of the ESA remain in effect. Those with valid cull permits can continue to use them and any that are about to expire should request renewal at least 30 days prior to expiration so they remain in effect.
All the reporting requirements for existing permits remain in effect as do all of the enhancement requirements.
We are effectively putting everything currently in house on hold until we can get the rule published, so anyone who has an application currently pending should be patient, and hope we don’t get too many more weather closures.
As soon as we publish a directed rule to reinstate the exemption, permits will no longer be needed for captive-bred specimens of the three antelope species.
