NMFS announced its intent to conduct five-year reviews for black abalone and white abalone and requested the submission of scientific and commercial data that has become available since the last review of the species.

FWS proposed to list the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species under the ESA.

FWS revised the regulations concerning experimental populations of endangered and threatened species under the ESA, by removing language generally restricting the introduction of experimental populations to only the species' "historical range" to allow for the introduction of populations into habitat outside of their historical range for conservation purposes.

FWS removed the Okaloosa darter from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife due to recovery.

FWS determined threatened species status under the ESA for the western fanshell and the "Ouachita" fanshell, and designated critical habitat for both species.

NMFS announced its 90-day finding on a petition to list bull kelp as an endangered or threatened species under the ESA, finding that listing was not warranted.

FWS proposed to reinstate the general application of the “blanket rule” option for protecting newly listed threatened species pursuant to ESA §4(d), with the continued option to promulgate species-specific rules; extend to federally recognized tribes the exceptions to prohibitions for threatened species that the regulations currently provide to the employees or agents of the Service and other federal and state agencies to aid, salvage, or dispose of threatened species; and minor changes to clarify or correct the existing regulations for endangered and threatened species.

FWS and NMFS proposed to amend portions of their regulations that implement ESA §7 to further clarify and improve the interagency consultation processes, while continuing to provide for the conservation of listed species.

FWS and NMFS proposed to revise portions of their regulations implementing ESA §4 to clarify, interpret, and implement the procedures and criteria used for listing, reclassifying, and delisting species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and designating critical habitat.

FWS proposed to list the southern elktoe as endangered under the ESA and to designate approximately 578 river miles in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia as critical habitat for the species.