2020-15347: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status With Section 4(d) Rule for Neuse River Waterdog and Endangered Status for Carolina Madtom and Designations of Critical Habitat

Summary

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on our May 22, 2019, proposed rule to list the Carolina madtom (Noturus furiosus) as an endangered species and the Neuse River waterdog (Necturus lewisi) as a threatened species with a section 4(d) rule, and to designate critical habitat for both species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In this document, we present revisions to the section 4(d) rule language and to the critical habitat designation we proposed for the Neuse River waterdog on May 22, 2019. We now propose to designate a total of 779 miles (1,254 kilometers) as critical habitat for the Neuse River waterdog across 18 units within portions of 18 counties in North Carolina. This amounts to an increase of 41 miles (66 kilometers) in the proposed critical habitat designation for that species. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the May 22, 2019, proposed rule, as well as the revisions described in this document. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 50 CFR 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants