U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Extends Comment Period for Greater Sage-Grouse and Designates Critical Habitat for Franciscan Manzanita

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ("Service") announced (pdf) the extension of the public comment period on the proposals to list and designate critical habitat for the the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) along the California-Nevada border under the Endangered Species Act, and also announced the designation of approximately 230 acres in San Francisco County as critical habitat for the endangered Franciscan manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana).  The Service also released the final economic analysis of the estimated incremental impact of the critical habitat designation in San Francisco County, which projected that the direct incremental cost of the critical habitat designation would be $31,435 over the next 20 years.  The economic analysis concludes that a large portion of the estimated costs would be due to additional consultation costs.  As for the sage-grouse DPS, the Service's announcement states that the comment period on the proposed listing and the proposed 1.86 million acre critical habitat designation would both be extended to February 10, 2014.   

  • Benjamin Z. Rubin
    Partner

    Ben Rubin is chair of Nossaman’s Environment & Land Use Group. Ben assists developers, public agencies, landowners and corporate clients on a variety of complex land use and environmental matters. He counsels clients on matters ...

Nossaman’s Endangered Species Law & Policy blog focuses on news, events, and policies affecting endangered species issues in California and throughout the United States. Topics include listing and critical habitat decisions, conservation and recovery planning, inter-agency consultation, and related developments in law, policy, and science. We also inform readers about regulatory and legislative developments, as well as key court decisions.

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