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the probability of species extinction. If the exclusion of a reach or portion of a reach could <br />result in the eventual extinction of a species, the exclusion is prohibited under the Act. <br />Exclusion of an area as critical habitat would only eliminate the protection provided under <br />the adverse modification provision of section 7 for critical habitat; it would not remove the <br />need to comply with other requirements of the Act for that area, such as the jeopardy <br />provision of section 7 (consultation for Federal actions) and section 9 (take). The section 7 <br />consultation requirements will apply in full to Federal actions regardless of whether or not <br />critical habitat is designated for a particular area. <br />To carry out the process used to evaluate critical habitat areas to determine whether the <br />benefits of inclusion outweigh the benefits of their exclusion as critical habitat requires <br />several sequential steps, as described below: <br />Step 1 Identify areas that meet the definition of critical habitat in section 3(5) of the <br />Act and that are essential to the conservation of the species. This was <br />accomplished and the areas needed for conservation are identified in the <br />proposed rule to designate critical habitat. <br />Step 2 Conduct an economic analysis to determine the anticipated economic <br />consequences of designating areas as critical habitat. The draft economic <br />analysis has been completed and is available to the public for comment at this <br />time. <br />Step 3 Develop economic criteria and thresholds (the point at which a stimulus is of <br />sufficient intensity to begin to produce a designated level of effect) to help <br />identify areas which would be significantly affected by the critical habitat <br />designation. These criteria are currently being developed by the economists <br />and the Service, and public comments are solicited on what these thresholds <br />may be. <br />S~4 Compile the biological information that needs to be considered to determine <br />whether excluding an area would result in extinction. Downlisting and <br />delisting criteria and other information contained in the Virgin River Fishes <br />Recovery Plan will be of primary consideration. This information will be <br />provided to the Regional Director, Region 6 of the Service prior to the <br />exclusion process. <br />Step 5 Regional Directors of Regions 1, 2, and 6 (Service Regions involved in Virgin <br />River issues and management) will convene to evaluate which areas (if any) <br />should be excluded due to economic or other relevant impacts. Prior to that <br />time economic thresholds (Step 3) will be developed to provide a method by <br />which the severity of economic impacts can be assessed. Those areas which <br />exhibit economic impacts above the thresholds will then be examined to <br />25 <br />