Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect the longfin smelt, a special fish living in the San Francisco Bay-Delta, by marking about 91,630 acres as critical habitat. This means certain activities in these areas might change to help the fish survive. People can share their thoughts by March 17, 2025, and an economic report is available to show how this might affect local businesses.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
91,630 Acres Proposed as Critical Habitat
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate about 91,630 acres (37,082 hectares) in the San Francisco Bay-Delta as critical habitat for the longfin smelt. If finalized, the designation will apply to specific mapped areas in California and could affect projects or activities within those areas that involve Federal funding or authorization.
Federal Section 7 Consultation Requirement
When critical habitat is designated, any Federal agency that authorizes, funds, or carries out an action in the designated areas must consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service under section 7 to ensure the action is not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. This consultation requirement applies whenever a landowner or project seeks Federal funding or permits for activities in the mapped areas.
Possible Changes to Water and Habitat Management
The Service identifies special management needs in designated areas — such as modifying bank hardening, levee maintenance, channel dredging, sand-source reductions, and water management to mimic functional flow regimes and maintain temperatures — to address threats like altered flows, higher water temperatures, reduced food resources, invasive species, and pollutants.
Economic Impacts May Influence Final Map
The Service will consider economic impacts when finalizing the designation and may exclude specific areas under section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion and excluding the area will not result in extinction. The Service has released a draft economic analysis and seeks comment on its estimates.
No Change to Land Ownership or Access
The proposed critical habitat designation does not change land ownership, does not create a refuge or reserve, does not allow government or public access to private lands, and does not require non-Federal landowners to carry out restoration or recovery actions. Landowners would only be drawn into consultation if they request Federal funding or permits affecting designated areas.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-10641 — Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Federal CCR Permit Program; Reopening of Comment Period
The EPA is reopening the comment period until June 29, 2026, for its proposed rule to create a federal permit program for safely disposing of coal ash from power plants. This affects electric utilities that handle coal waste and aims to improve environmental safety while possibly impacting their costs. Now’s the time for everyone to share their thoughts and help shape the rules!
2026-10615 — Food Additive Petition From Environmental Defense Fund, et al.; Request To Amend the Food Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Benzene, Ethylene Dichloride, Methylene Chloride, and Trichloroethylene; Reopening of the Comment Period
The FDA is reopening the comment period on a petition from the Environmental Defense Fund and others to remove four harmful solvents—benzene, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene—from food additive rules. This change affects food makers who use these solvents and aims to make our food safer. Comments are open until June 29, 2026, giving everyone a chance to share new info before any costly changes happen.
2026-10552 — Elimination of Time-in-Grade
The Office of Personnel Management wants to scrap the rule that makes federal workers wait a full year before getting promoted. This change affects employees in General Schedule jobs at grade 5 and above, letting them move up faster if they meet job qualifications. Comments on this proposal are open until July 27, 2026, and no extra costs are expected from this update.
2026-10620 — Proposed Waiver and Extension of the Project Period With Funding for Arts in Education National Program
The Department of Education wants to extend funding for one Arts in Education National Program project until September 30, 2027, by waiving usual rules that stop extra federal money from being added. This means the project gets more time and cash to keep inspiring creativity in schools. If you have thoughts, you can share them by June 29, 2026!
2026-10614 — Color Additive Petition from Environmental Defense Fund, et al.; Request To Amend the Color Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Ethylene Dichloride, Methylene Chloride, and Trichloroethylene; Reopening of the Comment Period
The FDA is reopening the comment period on a petition from the Environmental Defense Fund and others to remove three harmful solvents—ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene—from color additive rules. This change affects companies using these solvents in color additives and aims to make products safer. Comments are open until June 29, 2026, giving everyone a chance to share new info before any final decisions.
2026-10643 — Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Removal of Air Nuisance Rule
The EPA plans to remove Ohio’s Air Nuisance Rule because Ohio already has strong air pollution controls in place. This change won’t hurt air quality or public health and won’t cost anyone extra. Ohio residents and businesses can expect the update to take effect after public comments close on June 29, 2026.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-00633 — Prohibited Terms and Conditions in Agreements for Consumer Financial Products or Services (Regulation AA)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to stop companies from sneaky contract tricks that take away your legal rights or punish you for speaking up. This rule affects anyone offering consumer financial products, like loans or credit cards, and aims to keep contracts fair and clear. You’ve got until April 1, 2025, to share your thoughts before these changes could save you money and hassle down the road!
Next: 2024-30437 — Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information
The Department of Defense, GSA, and NASA want to update rules to better protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in government contracts. This means contractors handling sensitive but not secret info will follow new security steps. Comments on these changes are open until March 17, 2025, so get ready to share your thoughts—this could affect how contracts are managed and might add some costs for compliance.