College Credit:  2 semester hours

Who Should Attend:  Employees whose duties may include ESA ‑ Section 4 listing/delisting, designation of critical habitat, candidate assessment or candidate conservation responsibilities, and those interested in this subject.

Length:  5 days/36 hours

Objectives:  By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Define a species, including distinct population segments;
• Describe the steps for placing and prioritizing a species on the candidate list, PECE evaluations;
• Describe the management of petitions to list or delist species or to designate critical habitat;
• Identify the steps for determining if critical habitat is prudent and determinable and critical habitat exclusions;
• Describe activities associated with listing process, including policies, outreach, peer review and coordination;
• Describe proposed and final rule process for listing/delisting a species or designating critical habitat;
• Explain Service compliance responsibilities under FOIA, FACA, APA, and other applicable statutes, Executive Orders, and policies related to candidate assessment and listing;
• Identify how to establish and maintain a complete administrative record of the Service's actions associated with a species' review for listing and/or critical habitat designation.