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The world is being quietly rearranged by people who write very long documents.

Federal Register · December 10, 2024
The title they went with Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the Peñasco Least Chipmunk and Designation of Critical Habitat Noisy translates that to

A tiny chipmunk in New Mexico just locked up 4,386 acres of land

What happened
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the Peñasco least chipmunk an endangered species. This means 4,386 acres of land in Lincoln County, New Mexico, are now designated as critical habitat, restricting development and other activities.
Why it matters
The Endangered Species Act is one of the most powerful environmental laws in the US. Listing a species and designating critical habitat means that any federal project, or any private project requiring a federal permit, must now prove it will not harm the chipmunk or its habitat. This can stop or significantly alter development plans, even for small animals.
The signal
Watch for any proposed development projects in Lincoln County, New Mexico, that now face new hurdles or outright cancellation due to this designation.
If you insist
Read the original →