Federal officials are releasing a bull trout conservation plan for five states on Thursday with the goal of easing the way toward removing bull trout from the endangered species list, where it’s been listed since 1999, the AP reports. The plan, on which public comments will be taken through July 20, calls for addressing conservation individually in six recovery units spread over Idaho, western Montana, Washington, Oregon and a small piece of northern Nevada, with unit-by-unit delisting an eventual possibility.

"We think the approach is tactical and appropriate," said Steve Duke, bull trout recovery planning coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; you can read a full report here from AP reporter Keith Ridler.