Comment reminders on Red wolves and NEPA

As reported in past issues of WLJ’s Legal Ledger, there are two comment periods coming up that may be of interest to readers. The Council on Environmental Quality is seeking stakeholder comments on its proposed rule to update its implementing regulations for the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This proposal would effectively codify numerous non-binding guidances issued over the past four decades that have informed the council’s interpretation of NEPA implementation but have not been part of the Act. Comments are due July 20. They can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov, searching for the Docket ID CEQ-2018-0001-0001. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking comments regarding its proposed rule that would replace the existing rules governing the nonessential experimental population designation of the red wolf. Currently, the small population of red wolves in the wild is listed as experimental non-essential, but the agency has found the rules governing that status “are no longer effective in addressing the current and future management needs of the red wolf and preclude the development of sound management strategies for this species.” The proposed change would “establish a more manageable wild” breeding population, among other things. Comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov, searching for the Docket ID FWS-R4-ES-2018-0035-0001. — WLJ