The Secretary is authorized by the act to cooperate with any State which establishes and maintains an adequate and active program for the conservation of various endangered and threatened species. In order for a State program to be deemed an adequate and active program, the Secretary must find and reconfirm, on an annual basis, that under the State program, either:

(a) Authority resides in the State agency to conserve resident species of fish and wildlife or plants determined by the State agency or the Secretary to be endangered or threatened;

(b) The State agency has established an acceptable conservation program, consistent with the purposes and policies of the act, for all residents species of fish and wildlife or plants in the State which are deemed by the Secretary to be endangered or threatened; and has furnished a copy of such program together with all pertinent details, information, and data requested to the Secretary;

(c) The State agency is authorized to conduct investigations to determine the status and requirements for survival of resident species of fish and wildlife or plants;

(d) The State agency is authorized to establish programs, including the acquisition of land or aquatic habitat or interests therein, for the conservation of resident endangered or threatened species; and

(e) Provisions are made for public participation in designating resident species of fish and wildlife or plants as endangered or threatened, or that under the State program: (1) The requirements set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section are complied with concerning fish and wildlife and in paragraphs (c) and (e) of this section concerning plants, and plans are included under which immediate attention will be given to those resident species of fish and wildlife or plants which are determined by the Secretary or the State agency to be endangered or threatened and which the Secretary and the State agency agree are most urgently in need of conservation programs; except that a cooperative agreement entered into with a State whose program is deemed adequate and active pursuant to this paragraph shall not affect the applicability of prohibitions set forth in or authorized pursuant to section 4(d) or section 9(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with respect to the taking of any resident endangered or threatened species.

[41 FR 15016, Apr. 9, 1976, as amended at 44 FR 31580, May 31, 1979]