What: On November 25, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a notice in the Federal Register extending the comment period by 60 days for a rule on critical habitat for manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico.
The FWS is designating critical habitat for the Antillean Manatee and increasing the existing critical habitat for the Florida Manatee. Specifically, the FWS proposes to set aside 78,121 acres in Puerto Rico as critical habitat for the Antillean Manatee and increase the critical habitat for the Florida manatee from 965,394 acres to 1,904,191 acres.
FWS has certified that the 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.
Deadline for comments: Comments on the proposed rule are now due January 24, 2025.
Action: Read the notice of extension and submit comments and the proposed rule. Advocacy contact: Send an email to Nick Goldstein at nick.goldstein@sba.gov.