The Service announces the opening of a 30-day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana pigtoe. The Louisiana pigtoe was proposed for listing as threatened with critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on March 20, 2023. The proposed critical habitat rule, which includes a total of 1,028 river miles (1,654 river kilometers) in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas, discussed that a NEPA analysis for designating critical habitat would be conducted. Under the Tenth Circuit ruling in Catron County Board of Commissioners v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 75 F.3d 1429 (10th Cir. 1996), we are required to undertake a NEPA analysis for critical habitat designations in Oklahoma. The purpose of this EA is to analyze the potential environmental impacts of designating critical habitat for the Louisiana pigtoe, and to determine whether to prepare a more in-depth analysis known as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Two alternatives were considered in the EA: Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, under which no critical habitat would be designated; and Alternative B, Proposed Designation without exclusions. Alternative B consists of a total approximately 1,028 river miles (1,654 river kilometers) in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Land ownership within proposed critical habitat for the Louisiana pigtoe in stream miles is as follows: Federal (24%), State (4%), and private (72%). Critical habitat is being proposed only in areas considered currently occupied.
We will consider comments on the EA received on or before September 27, 2023. Comments must be submitted by emailing them to lapt_txhs@fws.gov with the subject line: “PUBLIC COMMENT.” If you would like additional information or have questions, please email Erik Orsak at erik_orsak@fws.gov.
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