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USFWS Delists Interior Least Tern
Senior Natural Resources Technical Director • Austin
Amanda Glen
Amanda Glen is SWCA’s natural resources technical director for biological services and provides strategic guidance on permitting and compliance for matters involving protected wildlife, plants, and habitats. Currently managing a national practice, she has more than 25 years of consulting experience with an emphasis on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and how compliance with the ESA influences other regulatory programs. Her wealth of experience pertaining to endangered species issues includes research, permitting, consultations, status reviews, and conservation planning. Her experience includes negotiating compliance solutions for critically imperiled species facing potential determinations of jeopardy or adverse modification of designated critical habitats. She has led efforts to delist species no longer requiring the protections of the ESA when supported by sound science, and has been involved in voluntary conservation planning to help preclude the need to list species. Amanda frequently presents at regional and national conferences on matters related to the ESA, including new listings, regulatory and policy changes, and trends in compliance strategies.
Written By
Amanda Glen
Senior Natural Resources Technical Director
Posted
January 19, 2021
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Effective February 12, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will delist the Interior Least Tern (ILT; Sternula antillarum) from the Endangered Species Act, (ESA) due to its population having met recovery goals. The delisting releases the ILT from ESA protections and applies to the entire range of the inland population.
What Does This Mean for You?
ILT will no longer require assessment or USFWS consultation as a listed ESA species, which could lead to the following project efficiencies:
- Reduction in time and cost for ESA species analysis and consultation
- Removal of ESA based ILT conservation measures on existing projects
The ILT will continue to be protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), state laws, and federal land management plans. As a result, it may still require National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, state and federal permitting, or application of conservation measures.
SWCA Can Help
Our project managers and regulatory specialists can help you understand how the delisting will affect your project and what actions to take next if you currently have ESA based ILT conservation measures in place on your project.
