Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Designation of Critical Habitat for the San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A total of approximately 13,485 hectares (33,295 acres) in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California, are designated as critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat. 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. Section 7 of the Act prohibits destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat by any activity funded, authorized, or carried out by any Federal agency. Section 4 of the Act requires us to consider economic and other impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat.