A. In determining whether a species meets one
or more of the standards for designating a species as Endangered or Threatened
as listed in
12 M.R.S.A.
§12803, qualifications for consideration
for listing, population guidelines for risk of extinction in Maine, and other
factors will be considered. For the purposes of this chapter, "species" will
mean "species" or "subspecies" and "populations" will mean all individuals of
the species, statewide.
1.
Qualifications for Consideration for Listing
A species may only be recommended for listing as a state
Endangered or Threatened species if it meets all of the following
qualifications:
a. It is a species of
mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, or invertebrate wild by nature as
distinguished from domestic species;
b. It is an indigenous species to Maine,
meaning it is not an exotic deliberately or accidentally introduced into Maine,
the United States, or North America;
c. It is a species that spends some portion
of its annual cycle in Maine, including breeding, migration, or wintering, but
is not a vagrant or accidental visitor;
d. It is a species that has not expanded into
Maine within the past 50 years as part of a general range expansion, unless it
historically occurred in Maine or is threatened or declining throughout a
significant portion of its total range;
e. It is a species that has not been
reintroduced into Maine as part of an experimental wildlife management program,
unless listing is part of the reintroduction plan; and
f. It is taxonomically classified no finer
than a subspecies, unless federally Endangered or Threatened.
2.
Population Guidelines for
Risk of Extinction
The following population characteristics, when available,
will be considered by the Commissioner when recommending whether a species
meets the definition of Endangered or Threatened as provided 12 M.R.S.A.)
§ 10001 (19 and 63).
a.
Population viability,
b. Population
size,
c. Population
trend,
d. Population
distribution,
e. Population
fragmentation, and
f. Endemism,
meaning the species entirely or largely occurs only in Maine and immediate
bordering jurisdictions.
3.
Other Factors
In addition to population guidelines (2) above, other
factors, including range or habitat loss, disease, predation, over-utilization,
inadequacy of regulations, and other natural or human-related factors as
measured through observation, inference, or projection, will be considered when
determining whether to recommend a species for listing as Endangered or
Threatened as provided in 12 M.R.S.A.) § 10001 (19 and
63).
4.
Listing
Handbook
The Department shall develop an "Endangered and Threatened
Species Listing Handbook" that will provide scientifically based listing
guidelines and criteria based on Sections A-1, 2, and 3 of this rule to guide
the listing process.
B.
Review of List
1. At least every 8 years, the Department
shall initiate a review of the designation of species as Endangered or
Threatened to determine if any species should be recommended to be added to,
deleted from, or changed between the lists.
2. Requests to add, change, or remove species
on the lists may be submitted to the Commissioner for review and recommendation
no later than six months before the start of the next legislative session. Each
request must include a completed and current "Maine Endangered and Threatened
Species Listing Review Work Sheet" and scientific documentation that the
species meets the criteria for an Endangered or Threatened species. Guidelines
for completing the worksheet can be found in a current version of the "Maine
Endangered and Threatened Species Listing Handbook."
