Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered Status for Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander; Designation of Critical Habitat for Frosted Flatwoods Salamander and Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), finalize the listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), of the currently threatened flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) into two distinct species: Frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) and reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) due to a recognized taxonomic reclassification; determine endangered status for the reticulated flatwoods salamander; retain threatened status for the frosted flatwoods salamander; and designate critical habitat for the frosted flatwoods salamander and the reticulated flatwoods salamander. In total, approximately 27,423 acres (ac) (11,100 hectares (ha)) in 35 units or subunits fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation; 22,970 ac (9,297 ha) of critical habitat is designated for the frosted flatwoods salamander and 4,453 ac (1,803 ha) for the reticulated flatwoods salamander. This area is a reduction of 3,205 ac (977 ha) from the proposed designation; 162 ac (66 ha) less for the frosted flatwoods salamander and 3,043 ac (928 ha) less for the reticulated flatwoods salamander. The critical habitat is located in Baker, Calhoun, Franklin, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties in Florida; Baker and Miller Counties in Georgia; and Berkeley, Charleston, and Jasper Counties in South Carolina.