"The Obama administration [Friday] released two new proposed rules and a new policy designed to clarify how it designates and protects critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, a key bulwark against extinction.

The proposals mark one of the most significant updates in many years to how the government sets aside and protects critical habitat, and they will be closely watched by wildlife advocates and land users.

The rules include a more expansive definition for when projects such as mines, roads, pipelines and drilling harm or destroy critical habitat -- a chief litmus test for whether projects can be approved."

Phil Taylor reports for Greenwire May 9, 2014. [2]