Comment on FR Doc # E9-16354

I think you should revise the designation of habitat as “critical habitat” to the same as the proposal on August 19, 2004. The proposal calls for 4,649 acres located in the Central Valley Floor of Kern County, and this seems sufficient based on the research done concerning the Buena Vista Lake shrew. The January 24, 2005 rule designating 84 acres of critical habitat for the shrew in Kern County is not a sufficient amount of land to protect the species. Critical habitat is defined as “The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which are found those physical or biological features,” and “specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.” Buena Vista Lake shrew inhabits the area and needs to have room to populate. Otherwise, there is no use protecting a plant that does not have to opportunity to expand help itself become un-endangered.