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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-06-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1018-AX49</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201110</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1018</CODE>
            <NAME>United States Fish and Wildlife Service</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>FWS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1000</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of the Interior</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOI</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Interim Policy on Interpretation of the Phrase &quot;Significant Portion of its Range&quot; in the ESA&apos;s Definitions of &quot;Endangered Species&quot; and &quot;Threatened Species&quot;</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[We are developing a proposed interim policy that will interpret the phrase "significant portion of its range" in the Endangered Species Act's definitions of "threatened species" and "endangered species." The phrase is ambiguous and is not defined in the Act, and its interpretation and application have been subject to litigation. The USFWS's current interpretation has been rejected by the court.  We therefore need to propose an alternative interpretation and seek public review and comment.  Because we must continue to make listing determinations in the meantime, we also intend to notify the public that we will apply the proposed policy as our interim policy until a final policy is adopted.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Prerule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>None</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>16 USC 1531 et seq</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Draft Policy</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/09/2011</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>76 FR 76987</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/07/2012</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Local</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>State</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Tribal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Yes</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Don</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Morgan</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>R.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Chief, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1018</CODE>
                    <NAME>United States Fish and Wildlife Service</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>FWS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>703 358-2444</PHONE>
                <FAX>703 358-1735</FAX>
                <EMAIL>don_morgan@fws.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>ARLSQ-420, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: ES,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Falls Church</CITY>
                    <STATE>VA</STATE>
                    <ZIP>22041-3808</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
