Fish and Wildlife Service February 10, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designated approximately 858,846 acres (ac) (347,563 hectares (ha)) of critical habitat for 4 vernal pool crustaceans and 11 vernal pool plants in 34 counties in California and 1 county in southern Oregon in a final rule of August 11, 2005 (70 FR 46924). That rule designated critical habitat for the 15 vernal pool species collectively. Pursuant to that rule, we are now publishing species-specific unit descriptions and maps for the 15 species. This rule specifically identifies the critical habitat for each individual species identified in the August 11, 2005, final rule. Because many of the units for the different species overlap, the total critical habitat area we are designating is much less than the sum of the areas for each species. This rule is entirely an administrative action in that it places the species individually where they belong in 50 CFR part 17; it does not change the critical habitat designations for any of the species.