The Service has determined that the yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata), a freshwater mussel native to Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, meets the definition of a threatened species  under the Endangered Species Act.  Consequently, we have added this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.  We are considering setting forth provisions for this species under section 4(d) of the Act in a separate rulemaking action (RIN 1018-BD44). In addition, because the Act requires us to designate critical habitat, to the maximum extent prudent and determinable, for any species that is determined to be a threatened or endangered species, we are pursuing a critical habitat designation for this species under a separate rule (RIN 1018-BD08).