Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act requires the designation of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. It allows for the revision of existing critical habitat. Both designation and revision are required to be based upon the best scientific and commercial data available. We are obtaining peer review of the biological report and the economic analysis that will inform a revision to the designation of critical habitat for endangered Southern Resident killer whales.
ID: ID402 Info. Type: ISI
Estimated Dissemination Date: 9/1/2019 (Start date of peer review 9/17/2018)
Estimated Dissemination Date Final Work Product: 9/1/2020
Contact Person: Tracy Miller Get Contact Information
Review Type: Individual letters
Expected Number of Peer Reviewers: 4-10
Peer Reviewers will be selected by: The agency
Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers? No.
Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed?
Yes. Peer reviewers are reviewing two reports that support a rulemaking to revise the designation of critical habitat for Southern Resident killer whales. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register and a public comment period will be provided on the proposal prior to publication of the final rule. Electronic copies of the proposed rule (and the reports that support the rule) will be available upon publication at http://www.regulations.gov. Public comments must be received within 60 days of publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register.
Will the agency provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before they conduct their review? No
Primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review: Marine mammal biologists familiar with cetacean biology, ecology, and habitat needs; economists familiar with analyzing potential impacts of critical habitat designations.
Comments on Peer Review:
Charge statement
Peer review reports:
Draft Biological Report
Draft Economic Analysis
Final work product: