Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Critical Habitat for the Tidewater Goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi)

Zusammenfassung

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of the draft economic analysis of the proposed revised critical habitat designation and an amended Required Determinations section of the proposal. The draft economic analysis estimates post-designation costs associated with conservation efforts for the tidewater goby to be approximately $25 million (undiscounted) over the next 20 years (2007 to 2026) as a result of the proposed designation of critical habitat. Discounted future costs are estimated to be approximately $22 million ($1.5 million annualized) at a 3 percent discount rate or approximately $20 million ($1.8 million annualized) at a 7 percent discount rate. Potential cost savings in Unit VEN-2 associated with tidewater goby conservation efforts range from approximately $35 million to $90 million (undiscounted dollars). By combining these savings with the estimated costs of conservation efforts, an overall net cost savings of approxim