Is an economic analysis required as part of designating critical habitat?
A. Yes. We must take into account the economic impact of identifying any particular area as critical habitat. We may exclude an area from critical habitat if we determine that the benefits (economic and otherwise) of excluding it outweigh the benefits of including the area as critical habitat, unless the failure to designate the area as critical habitat would result in the extinction of the species. This determination is based on the best scientific, economic, and commercial information available. This economic analysis will be completed before the final critical habitat designation is finalized. Q. Was an economic analysis prepared when the Service listed the bay checkerspot butterfly as a threatened species? A. No. Under the Act, a decision to list a species is made solely on the basis of scientific data and analysis. Critical habitat designation is the only process where economics may be taken into consideration. Q. Is critical habitat designated for all listed species? A No. The Se
