On August 2, 2011, the Chupadera springsnail was proposed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, with critical habitat. Now the draft economic analysis and draft environmental assessment of the proposed designation of critical habitat and an amended required determinations section of the proposal are available for public review and comment.
With publication of this announcement in the Federal Register a 30-day comment period will begin. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. Comments should be received by February 21, 2012.
When specifying an area as critical habitat, the Endangered Species Act requires the Service to consider economic impacts and other relevant impacts of the designation. If the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of designating it, the Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat, unless the exclusions would result in the extinction of the species.
Chupadera springsnail is a very small freshwater snail that is found only on private property in Willow Spring and, historically, in an unnamed spring of similar size in the southeastern end of the Chupadera Mountains in Socorro County, New Mexico. The principal threats to the habitat of Chupadera springsnail at Willow Spring include groundwater pumping and dewatering, livestock grazing in the spring, and spring modification.
For further information on these draft documents and how to comment see the Federal Register notice or visit our web site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest.
America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. We’re working to actively engage conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species.
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