Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Determination of Critical Habitat for the Great Lakes Breeding Population of the Piping Plover

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended for the Great Lakes breeding population of the piping plover. The Great Lakes breeding population of the piping plover is listed as an endangered species under the Act. A total of approximately 325 km (201 mi) of Great Lakes shoreline (extending 500 m (1640 ft) inland) in 26 counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, is designated as critical habitat for the Great Lakes population of the piping plover. The total length of designated shoreline is divided among 35 separate critical habitat units. Section 7 of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. As required by section 4 of the Act, we considered economic and other relevant impacts prior to making a final decision on what areas to designate as critical habitat.