Feds Set Aside 1.5 Million Acres to Save Rusty Bees
Published Date: 6/1/2026
Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is officially protecting over 1.5 million acres of land across six states to save the rusty patched bumble bee, a once-common pollinator now endangered. Starting July 1, 2026, this critical habitat designation will help keep these bees buzzing by limiting harmful activities in these areas. Landowners and communities in 33 counties should get ready for new rules that support bee recovery without heavy costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
1.5M Acres Protected; New Federal Review
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is designating about 1,534,951 acres as occupied critical habitat across 14 units in 33 counties in 6 States, effective July 1, 2026. If your land or project in those areas has a Federal nexus (funding, permit, or authorization), Federal agencies must consult under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act to check effects on the bees and on critical habitat, which may add administrative review even though the Service expects minimal additional costs in most cases.
Nearly 80K Acres Excluded for Monarch Agreement
The Service is excluding about 79,859 acres across 11 units from the rusty patched bumble bee critical-habitat designation because those areas are enrolled in the Nationwide Candidate Conservation Agreement for Monarch Butterfly on Energy and Transportation Lands. Landowners and operators enrolled in that agreement will not have those enrolled acres designated as critical habitat under this rule.
Footprint Reduced by ~20,887 Acres
The final designation is about 20,887 acres smaller than the proposed rule after removing imprecise observation points (points with accuracy greater than 328 feet). Some landowners in the originally proposed areas will therefore avoid being inside the final designated critical habitat.
Electric Projects Could See Added Review
Commenters warned that electric generation, transmission, and distribution projects overlapping the designated areas could face delays and higher costs; the Service notes that the species has been listed since 2017 and that section 7 consultations already occur for Federal-nexus projects, but it also acknowledges that considering critical habitat can add administrative complexity and in rare cases could trigger consultations and costs that are solely due to the critical-habitat designation. The Service expects these additional costs to be minimal in most cases but quantifies an increased administrative burden in its screening analysis.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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