The Secretary shall semi-annually allocate funds, appropriated for the purpose of carrying out Section 6, to various State programs using the following as the basis for his determination:

(a) The international commitments of the United States to protect endangered or threatened species;

(b) The readiness of a State to proceed with a conservation program consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Act;

(c) The number of endangered and threatened species within a State;

(d) The potential for restoring endangered and threatened species within a State; and

(e) The relative urgency to initiate a program to restore and protect an endangered or threatened species in terms of survival of the species.

[40 FR 47509, Oct. 9, 1975, as amended at 44 FR 31580, May 31, 1979]