Do stakeholders and members of the general public have input into the plan’s recovery goals, criteria, and action items?
A6: Yes, we will be seeking stakeholder, scientific peer review, and general public input and comment on the plan in several ways. In accordance with the ESA, a formal opportunity for public review and comment is required for all new and revised recovery plans, and input received during this period must be considered prior to completion and approval of the plan. Once a revised plan has been drafted, a Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Review and Comment will be published in the Federal Register with a 60-day period for formal public review. To ensure recovery plans are based on the best scientific information and judgment, our policy also requires the Services to solicit independent peer review on recovery plans from appropriate local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribal governments; academic and scientific groups and individuals; and/or any other party that may possess pertinent information. In addition to these requirements for seeking formal public comment and scie
