Six States Proposed as Critical Habitat for Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

What happened: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to designate 1.6 million acres across six states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) as a critical habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. While aimed at protecting the species, the designation could create permitting hurdles and increase mitigation requirements for transportation construction projects.

Why it matters: Critical habitat designations restrict or closely monitor activities within designated areas to protect a species’ habitat. For transportation construction projects, this can result in more complex permitting processes, potential delays, and higher costs that affect project timelines and budgets.

What’s next: Public comments on the proposal are due by Jan. 27, 2025. ARTBA members interested in providing feedback should contact Prianka Sharma.