Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rayed Bean, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, and Spectaclecase Mussels
Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register April 27, 2026. Document 2026-08146. Updated Nov. 12, 2026.
- What it does
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the rayed bean (Villosa fabalis), sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus), snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra), and spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta), all species of freshwater mussel, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Specifically, we designate approximately 599 river miles (rmi) (964 river kilometers (rkm)) in 15 units as critical habitat for rayed bean; approximately 801 rmi (1,289 rkm) in 11 units as critical habitat for sheepnose; approximately 2,425 rmi (3,902 rkm) in 38 units as critical habitat for snuffbox; and approximately 1,140 rmi (1,835 rkm) in 12 units as critical habitat for spectaclecase. Portions of these designations overlap among the four species; in total, approximately 3,814 unique rmi (6,138 rkm) of critical habitat within 76 units across 17 States (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designations.
The Fish and Wildlife Service's summary, as published in the Federal Register.
- What changed in the regulation
1 part of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).
- Compared with
The Fish and Wildlife Service has published 29 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 13 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.
- Before this
No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1018-BH73 since Jan. 1, 2025.
- What happens next and when
This rule is effective May 27, 2026.
The agency's dates, word for word.
The record as published
| Document number | 2026-08146 |
|---|---|
| Action | Final rule. |
| Agencies | Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Published | April 27, 2026 |
| Effective date | May 27, 2026 |
| Regulation identifier (RIN) | 1018-BH73 |
| Docket | FWS-R3-ES-2024-0144 |
| Significant (marked in the Federal Register) | Yes |
Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register