toward a restoration program for endangered species , and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries 

 and Wildlife's Office of Endangered Species was delegated the task of providing coordination 

 for endangered species programs, including compilation of lists. All candidate endangered 

 species are critically evaluated by this Office, which works in close cooperation with the 

 States , scientists , and specialists . 



Anyone who has information indicating that a vertebrate, mollusk, or crustacean may be 

 threatened with extinction is encouraged to submit that information to the Office of Endangered 

 Species . Usually such nominations fall into one of three general categories . 



1. Species which obviously are not threatened: Many nominations of species 

 are received which are based on emotion alone, without adequate supporting 

 data. 



2. Obvious candidates: In some instances, complete, factual data are submitted 

 which leave no doubt that an animal is indeed "threatened with extinction. " 

 In such cases the mechanics for placing the animal on the list are immediately 

 initiated . 



3. Questionable cases: The vast majority of nominations fall into this category. 

 Substantial information is submitted which appears to indicate that an animal 

 may be threatened. In such cases, the information is routed to specialists 

 for their review and comment. When reviews have been completed, a final 

 judgment on the endangered status of the animal is made by the Office of 

 Endangered Species. If the animal is determined to be endangered, the 

 Secretary of the Interior is advised to propose it as an endangered species 

 in the Federal Register . A minimum of thirty (30) days is then allowed for 



all interested parties to further comment on the proposal before a final decision 

 is made to list the animal as endangered. 



The removal of an animal from the list of endangered native fish and wildlife 

 is accomplished in essentially the same manner as an addition. The list is 

 subject to continual review, and data which may clarify the status of any 

 animal on the list or which may be a candidate for the list are welcomed by 

 the Office of Endangered Species . 



THE PROGRAM OF THE OFFICE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES 



History of the Program 



The U.S. Department of the Interior has devoted effort to the preservation of threatened 

 species for many years through protection on National Wildlife Refuges and National Parks . 

 Environmental protection under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661) and 

 Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321) has helped preserve habitat of endangered species 

 as well as other wildlife . This has been insufficient for some species . 



A more formal endangered species program in the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 

 began in 1966 when a special research program for endangered species was begun. Centered 

 at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, the program had two thrusts; to learn how to 



