Dear Directors, members & friends,
Attached (pasted directly below) are the comment the Coalition sent in on the petition to list the Northern Leopard Frog. If individuals wish to send in comments they should be directed to Steve Spangle at the addresses below.
Howard
Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties For Stable Economic Growth
November 27, 2009
Public Comments Processing
Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2009-0030
Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA 22203
RE: Comments Regarding Request for Additional Information on a Petition to List the Northern Leopard Frog
Dear Sirs & Madams,
These comments are being submitted by the Arizona Counties, Cochise, Gila, Graham and Greenlee and the New Mexico Counties, Catron, Chaves, Eddy, Harding, Hidalgo, Lincoln, McKinley, Otero, Rio Arriba, and Sierra along with representation from the timber, farming, livestock, mining, small business, sportsman and outfitter industries as members of the Coalition of Arizona/ New Mexico Counties (Coalition). Our representation currently exceeds 488,167 in combined county populations.
A number of our member counties fall within the geographical area for the Northern Leopard Frog described in the notice seeking additional information. The affected counties should have been invited to participate in the listing decision and preparation of the environmental impact statement required for any possible designation of critical habitat. Our member counties have indicated that they have not been directly notified as required by the ESA and the implementing regulations.
The Coalition has commissioned a review of the status of the western U.S. population of the northern leopard frog (Lithobates Rana pipiens) and the petition to list the frog as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This review will be sent to you in early December 2009.
In the interim, please include the following comments in response to the October 28, 2009 Federal Register, Volume 74, Number 207, Page 55525-55526, 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates [=Rana]pipiens) in the Western United States as Threatened.
The northern leopard frog should not be listed as threatened due to its wide range, adaptability and abundance. Habitat for northern leopard frog is already protected by numerous laws including the Clean Water Act implementing regulations prohibiting the net loss of wetlands and Clean Air Act implementing regulations prohibiting acid rain. Leopard frogs are easily propagated, prolific and resilient. They thrive in manmade environments as well as a diversity of natural habitats, including marshlands, brushlands, and forests. They are found in agricultural areas and on golf courses. Leopard frogs are well-adapted to cold and can be found at elevations up over 10,000 feet. This species is not in any danger of extinction.
The Coalition has assisted in past efforts to coordinate communications and development memorandum of understanding between the affected counties and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Please feel free to contact our office at the address and phone numbers below if you are interested in having the Coalition serve in that capacity for the Northern Leopard Frog listing actions.
Sincerely,
/s/ Louise Peterson, President
CC: Steven L. Spangle, Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services Office
Wikipedia, not always accurate, attributes Northern Leopard Frogs' declining numbers to acid rain. I can see the hysterical Global Warming devotees jumping on this one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Leopard_Frog
We have already discussed Chiracahua Leopard Frog here on ORF. Scroll down the labels to see what we have already said because conservatives rely on good science.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment