advancing research and conservation of Texas Eurycea salamanders
The proposed rule by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to list four species of central Texas Eurycea salamanders as endangered was published today in the Federal Register (Vol 77, No. 163). This includes the Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae), the Austin Blind Salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis), the Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia) and the Salado Salamander (Eurycea chisholmensis).
Two public informational meetings and public hearings are scheduled about the ruling:
September 5, 2012, Wingate by Wyndham Round Rock, 1209 N. IH 35 North, Exit 253 at Hwy 79, Round Rock, Texas 78664.
September 6, 2012, Thompson Conference Center, 2405 Robert Dedman Drive, Room 2.102, Austin, Texas 78705.
The 60-day public comment period is now open. You may submit written comments to the USFWS by one of the following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// http://www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2012–0035. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!’’
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R2–ES–2012–
0035; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
Scientists from the EuryceAlliance are happy to serve as a resource for scientific information about the biology, evolution and ecology of any Texas Eurycea salamander species for the public, the media and policymakers. Please contact Dr. Hayley Gillespie at eurycealliance@gmail.com with your requests.
US Senator John Cornyn and US Representative John Carter are introducing potential amendments to the 1973 Endangered Species Act (which they are calling the “Salamander Community Conservation Act”). These bills propose to amend section 10 of the ESA to include the following 10 lines:
1 SEC. 2. CERTAIN SALAMANDERS.
2 Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973
3 (16 U.S.C. 1539) is amended by adding at the end the
4 following:
5 ‘‘(k) CERTAIN SALAMANDERS.—Section 4(a) shall
6 not apply to—
7 ‘‘(1) the Austin blind salamander;
8 ‘‘(2) the Georgetown salamander;
9 ‘‘(3) the Jollyville Plateau salamander; or
10 ‘‘(4) the Salado salamander.’’.
These bills are H.R. 6219, introduced on 7/26/2012 and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and S.3446, introduced on 7/26/2012 and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Here’s a link to a December 19, 2011 article in the San Marcos Daily Record by news editor Anita Miller that discusses funding issues related to the recently approved HCP intended to protect endangered and threatened species including Texas Wild Rice, the San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana), the fountain darter and the Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni)
http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/local/x907914182/Water-plan-cleared-but-funding-murky
“Texas salamander” gets a mention at #9 (Landmark Settlement Under the Endangered Species Act) on the Vermont Law School’s Top 10 Environmental [Law] Watch List 2011-2012:
A Barton Springs Salamander from Eliza Spring (Travis County, Texas). Photo by Hayley Gillespie
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