How a species gets protected
Under the federal Endangered Species Act, a species is protected once a final rule lists it. Here are the steps, in order. Each step has a date set by law.
1. Someone sends a petitionpetition: A written request, from anyone, asking the agency to list or delist a species.
Anyone can send a petitionpetition: A written request, from anyone, asking the agency to list or delist a species. asking the agency to protect a species. Most species start this way.
2. The 90-day finding90-day finding: The agency's first answer to a petition, saying whether it is worth a full review.
The agency checks if the petitionpetition: A written request, from anyone, asking the agency to list or delist a species. gives enough facts to go on. The law asks for this answer within 90 days, as far as it can be done.
3. The 12-month finding12-month finding: The agency's answer after a full review: should the species be listed or not?
If it does, the agency studies the species. Within a year of the petitionpetition: A written request, from anyone, asking the agency to list or delist a species., it says if listing is warranted, not warranted, or warranted but precludedwarranted but precluded: Listing is justified, but work on other species comes first. The agency checks again each year..
4. The proposed ruleproposed rule: A draft decision. It is published so anyone can comment before it becomes final.
If listing is warranted, the agency publishes a proposed ruleproposed rule: A draft decision. It is published so anyone can comment before it becomes final.. A comment periodcomment period: The weeks when anyone can send the agency their view on a proposal. opens, and anyone can send in facts or views.
5. The final rulefinal rule: The decision that puts a listing or a habitat rule into effect.
Within a year of the proposed ruleproposed rule: A draft decision. It is published so anyone can comment before it becomes final., the agency publishes a final rulefinal rule: The decision that puts a listing or a habitat rule into effect.. It may take six more months if the science is in real doubt. Once the final rule takes effect, the species is protected.
6. Critical habitatcritical habitat: Places the agency marks as needed for the species to recover.
The agency also maps critical habitatcritical habitat: Places the agency marks as needed for the species to recover.. These are the places the species needs to recover. This step has its own proposed ruleproposed rule: A draft decision. It is published so anyone can comment before it becomes final., comment periodcomment period: The weeks when anyone can send the agency their view on a proposal. and final rulefinal rule: The decision that puts a listing or a habitat rule into effect..
The law is 16 U.S.C. 1533. The glossary lists every word used here.
For the whole law, read the Endangered Species Act guide. For how this site works out its dates, see About.