What: On November 26, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register designating critical habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumblebee (Bombus affinis), a bumble bee historically known to occur broadly across the eastern United States.
Why: FWS proposes to set aside 1,635,746 acres of critical habitat across 33 counties in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin for the bumblebee.
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.
Deadlines: Comments on the proposed rule are due January 27, 2025, and requests for a public hearing must be received by January 10, 2025.
Action: Read the proposed rule, submit comments, and request a public hearing.
Advocacy contact: Send an email to Nick Goldstein at nick.goldstein@sba.gov.