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November 25, 2009

EPA Seeks Comment on a Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species in Climate Change

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released and requested comment on a draft document titled, “A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change” (EPA/600/R-09/011).  74 Fed. Reg. 61671.  The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA’s Office of Research and Development.  The draft document describes an evaluative framework to categorize the relative vulnerability of species to climate change.  To illustrate the use of the framework, EPA applied it to five U.S. threatened and endangered species: the golden-cheeked warbler, the salt marsh harvest mouse, the Mount Graham red squirrel, the Lahontan cutthroat trout, and the desert tortoise.  A sixth species, the bald eagle which is no longer listed as threatened or endangered, except for the southwest population, was also evaluated.

An external peer review of this report has been completed.  The public comment period and the external peer review are separate processes.  According to EPA, the public comment period provides an opportunity for all interested parties to comment on the document.  The draft is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment’s home page under the Recent Additions and the Data and Publications menus at www.epa.gov/ncea.  Comments are due December 28, 2009.