Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Newcomb's Snail

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the Newcomb's snail (Erinna newcombi) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The designated critical habitat consists of eight stream segments and associated tributaries, springs and seeps, and adjacent riparian areas on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, totaling 19.76 kilometers (12.28 miles) of stream channel and 1,812 hectares (4,479 acres). Critical habitat identifies specific areas, both occupied and unoccupied, that are essential to the conservation of a listed species and that may require special management considerations or protection. All areas designated as critical habitat for the Newcomb's snail contain the primary constituent elements (habitat components) essential for the conservation of the species. This final rule takes into consideration the potential economic and other effects of designating critical habitat for the Newcomb's snail. We solicited data and comments from the public on all aspects of the proposed rule and draft economic analysis. We revised the proposal and the draft economic analysis to incorporate or address new information received from public comments on the proposed critical habitat designation and the draft economic analysis on the proposed designation and new scientific and commercial information made available since the proposal was published.