Critical Habitat Designation for Leatherback Sea Turtles in Sandy Point, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determines critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in waters adjacent to Sandy Point Beach, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The action is being taken under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq. (the “Act”) to provide protection to sea turtles using these waters for courting, breeding, and access to and from their nesting areas on Sandy Point Beach. All Federal departments and agencies are required to insure that actions authorized, funded, or carried out by them do not result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat.