Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx and Revised Distinct Population Segment Boundary; Proposed Rule

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to designate revised critical habitat for the contiguous U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of the Canada lynx under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and to revise the boundary of the Canada lynx DPS. These proposed revisions fulfill our obligations under two settlement agreements. The revised critical habitat proposed rule also addresses issues raised by two courts in 2010. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Endangered Species Act's protections to the Canada lynx wherever it occurs in the contiguous United States, including New Mexico, and it would revise this species' critical habitat. The effect of this regulation is to conserve the Canada lynx and its habitats in the contiguous United States under the Endangered Species Act.