Service Estimates Economic Impacts of Critical Habitat Designation for Eight Southeastern Mussels

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is releasing the estimated cost and economic impacts of the proposed critical habitat designation of eight freshwater mussels within southern Alabama and northwestern Florida, and is seeking public comment.

Last year, the Service proposed to list the Alabama pearlshell, round ebonyshell, southern sandshell, southern kidneyshell, and Choctaw bean as endangered, and the tapered pigtoe, narrow pigtoe, and fuzzy pigtoe as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service also proposed to designate critical habitat for these eight mussels.