What is the primary legal mechanism used to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act?

The primary legal mechanism used to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a rulemaking process conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ESA is a federal law that provides protection to endangered and threatened species and their habitats. Critical habitat is defined as specific geographic areas that contain habitat essential for the conservation of a listed species. The designation of critical habitat is a formal regulatory process. When a....