Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the Kern Plateau Salamander; Threatened Species Status with Section 4(d) Rule for the Kern Canyon Slender Salamander, and Endangered Species Status for the Relictual Slender Salamander and Designation of Critical Habitat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the comment period on our October 18, 2022, proposed rule (2022 proposed rule), and November 21, 2023, revised proposed rule (2023 revised proposed rule) to list the Kern Canyon slender salamander ( Batrachoseps simatus ) and the relictual slender salamander ( Batrachoseps relictus ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, to designate critical habitat for both species, and to issue a rule under section 4(d) of the Act for the Kern Canyon slender salamander.