SAIPAN — Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds is calling on CNMI residents, landowners and businesses to submit public comments on a sweeping proposed federal rule that would designate nearly 60,000 acres of critical habitat for 22 endangered and threatened species across the Marianas, warning that the designation could affect the timeline and cost of federally funded projects on local and private lands.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 24, proposing to designate approximately 59,886 acres across both the CNMI and Guam as critical habitat for nine animal species and 13 plant species. In the CNMI, the proposed areas include lands on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Aguiguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Sarigan and Asunción. On Saipan specifically, proposed areas include Mt. Tapochau, American Memorial Park and I’Naftan.
The species covered include the Pacific sheath-tailed bat, Slevin’s skink, four tree snail species, two butterfly species, the Rota blue damselfly, three epiphytic orchids and multiple plant species including fadang, also known as Cycas micronesica. All 22 species were listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in October 2015.
The rule is the product of a 2021 federal lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity against the Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat after the 2015 listings. A court-approved settlement required the agency to publish the proposed designations, which is why the rule is now moving forward.
In a video message posted Thursday, King-Hinds explained the background and urged residents not to wait.
“This didn’t come out of nowhere,” she said. “Now the federal government is on a deadline, and that’s why this proposed rule is being dropped. Not because they suddenly decided to, but because now they legally have to.”
King-Hinds stressed that critical habitat designation does not mean the government takes private land, restricts public access or bars landowners from using their property. What it does mean, she said, is that any project requiring a federal permit, federal funding or federal approval in a designated area must undergo an additional review to ensure it does not harm the habitat.
“It can potentially have an impact on how long federally funded projects take, the cost of those projects and whether or not they can actually get approved,” she said.
King-Hinds also noted that military lands with approved Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans are largely exempt from the designation. Under the proposed rule, Joint Region Marianas installations including Andersen Air Force Base, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Naval Base Guam and a site on Tinian total more than 18,500 acres that would be excluded. That means the practical impact of the rule falls primarily on local government lands and private landowners.
She called the public comment period a genuine opportunity for community input, urging residents to address economic impact, land use, infrastructure and other real-world concerns. The Fish and Wildlife Service is required to consider all comments before issuing a final rule.
Comments can be submitted online at regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS-R1-ES-2024-0194, or directly at the link regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-R1-ES-2024-0194-0001. The deadline is June 22, 2026. Residents who need assistance may contact King-Hinds’ office directly.
“This is not a done deal,” King-Hinds said. “This is about our land, our economy, and how federal decisions play out in the CNMI.”
King-Hinds Urges CNMI Residents to Comment on Proposed Federal Critical Habitat Rule
SAIPAN — Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds is calling on CNMI residents, landowners and businesses to submit public comments on a sweeping proposed federal rule that would designate nearly 60,000 acres of critical habitat for 22 endangered and threatened species across the Marianas, warning that the designation could affect the timeline and cost of federally funded projects on local and private lands.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 24, proposing to designate approximately 59,886 acres across both the CNMI and Guam as critical habitat for nine animal species and 13 plant species. In the CNMI, the proposed areas include lands on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Aguiguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Sarigan and Asunción. On Saipan specifically, proposed areas include Mt. Tapochau, American Memorial Park and I’Naftan.
The species covered include the Pacific sheath-tailed bat, Slevin’s skink, four tree snail species, two butterfly species, the Rota blue damselfly, three epiphytic orchids and multiple plant species including fadang, also known as Cycas micronesica. All 22 species were listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in October 2015.
The rule is the product of a 2021 federal lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity against the Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat after the 2015 listings. A court-approved settlement required the agency to publish the proposed designations, which is why the rule is now moving forward.
In a video message posted Thursday, King-Hinds explained the background and urged residents not to wait.
“This didn’t come out of nowhere,” she said. “Now the federal government is on a deadline, and that’s why this proposed rule is being dropped. Not because they suddenly decided to, but because now they legally have to.”
King-Hinds stressed that critical habitat designation does not mean the government takes private land, restricts public access or bars landowners from using their property. What it does mean, she said, is that any project requiring a federal permit, federal funding or federal approval in a designated area must undergo an additional review to ensure it does not harm the habitat.
“It can potentially have an impact on how long federally funded projects take, the cost of those projects and whether or not they can actually get approved,” she said.
King-Hinds also noted that military lands with approved Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans are largely exempt from the designation. Under the proposed rule, Joint Region Marianas installations including Andersen Air Force Base, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Naval Base Guam and a site on Tinian total more than 18,500 acres that would be excluded. That means the practical impact of the rule falls primarily on local government lands and private landowners.
She called the public comment period a genuine opportunity for community input, urging residents to address economic impact, land use, infrastructure and other real-world concerns. The Fish and Wildlife Service is required to consider all comments before issuing a final rule.
Comments can be submitted online at regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS-R1-ES-2024-0194, or directly at the link regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-R1-ES-2024-0194-0001. The deadline is June 22, 2026. Residents who need assistance may contact King-Hinds’ office directly.
“This is not a done deal,” King-Hinds said. “This is about our land, our economy, and how federal decisions play out in the CNMI.”