Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica); Final Rule

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating revised final critical habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 197,303 acres (ac) (79,846 hectares (ha)) of habitat in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties, California, are being designated as critical habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher. This revised final designation constitutes a reduction of 298,492 ac (120,795 ha) from the 2003 revised proposed rule. We are continuing our review of whether the current listing of the coastal California gnatcatcher as a subspecies should be retained or changed, as discussed in the 2003 proposed rule to revise critical habitat, and we will publish our determination separately at a later date.