Feds and wildlife group reach agreement about review of species for endangered list

The federal government plans to "work through a backlog of more than 250 imperiled animal and plant species over the next six years to decide if they need protection under the Endangered Species Act," Matthew Brown of The Associated Press reports in AgWeek. This announcement comes as part of a pending court agreement between the Interior Department and environmental group, WildEarth Guardians. As a part of the agreement, the group has agreed to "limit the number of petitions it files."

The "backlog has been made worse by lawsuits that have bogged down the Fish and Wildlife Service and prevented it from doing needed scientific reviews and restoration work," Brown reports, citing Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes. (Read more)