Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designating Texas Hornshell Critical Habitat

Issuing agencies

Abstract

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Texas hornshell (Popenaias popeii), a freshwater mussel, under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, the proposed critical habitat designation includes approximately 463.6 river miles (745.9 kilometers) in Eddy County, New Mexico, and in Culberson, Brewster, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, and Webb Counties, Texas. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species' critical habitat. The effect of this regulation is to designate critical habitat for the Texas hornshell under the Act. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat. We also are notifying the public that we have scheduled an informational meeting followed by a public hearing on the proposed rule.