Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Appalachian Elktoe

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The areas designated as critical habitat for the Appalachian elktoe total approximately 231.1 kilometers (144.3 miles) of various segments of rivers in North Carolina and one river in Tennessee. Critical habitat identifies specific areas that are essential to the conservation of a listed species and that may require special management considerations or protection. Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires that each Federal agency shall, in consultation with us, ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of an endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. Section 4 of the Act requires us to consider economic and other impacts of specifying any area as critical habitat. We solicited data and comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including data on economic and other impacts of the designation.