What: On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register listing the Puerto Rican skink, the Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and the Virgin Islands bronze skink as endangered species. The agency also listed the Culebra skink as a threatened species
FWS has proposed the following critical habitat for each of the skink species:
- Approximately 5,648 acres in five units on Puerto Rico and Culebra Island would be set aside as critical habitat for the Culebra skink.
- The entire Hans Lollik Island would be set aside for the Lesser Virgin Islands skink.
- Approximately 143,947 acres in five units in Puerto Rico and Desecheo Island would be set aside as critical habitat for the Puerto Rican skink.
- The entire Water Island, Buck Island, and Turtledove Cay would be set aside as critical habitat for the Virgin Islands Bronze Skink.
Why: FWS has certified that the proposed critical habitat designation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
FWS also released an economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation and will schedule a public hearing if one is requested.
Action: Comments on the proposed rule are due February 18, 2025. Requests for a public hearing must be made before February 3, 2025.
Read the proposed rule, request a public hearing, and submit comments.
Advocacy contact: Send an email to Nick Goldstein at nick.goldstein@sba.gov.