Thanks for bringing this to our attention! The gall of the Bush
Administration is simply stunning! I guess we can expect no less from
the likes of Gale Norton. When a hack lawyer specializing in Arabian
show horses is put in charge of FEMA, I guess it makes sense that
those now running the US Fish & Wildlife Service would pull a stunt
like this. I've heard rumors from ex-agency folks that the same thing
will be proposed soon for the California Gnatcatcher, and I expect
the Spotted Owl & Marbled Murrelet will be next. The lesson: we
protect endangered species if it has no effect on any developer,
logger, land speculator, or gas & oil company. Hey, maybe if we PRAY
for the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl it won't be extirpated from the United
States! "Dubya" would approve...

Mark


>Thought that people might be interested in the following. I've
>heard these things, but never saw them.
>Best,
>Jon. Anderson
>Olympia, Wash.
><mailto:festuca at olywa.net>festuca at olywa.net
>
>http: to
>//a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-17754.htm
>
>[Federal Register: September 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 172)]
>[Proposed Rules] [Page 53139-53140]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
>=======================================================================
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
>Fish and Wildlife Service
>50 CFR Part 17
>
>Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Rule To
>Remove the Arizona Distinct Population Segment of the Cactus
>Ferruginous Pygmy-owl From the Federal List of Endangered and
>Threatened Wildlife; Proposal To Withdraw the Proposed Rule To
>Designate Critical Habitat
>
>AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
>
>ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce
>that we will hold a public hearing (see DATES and ADDRESSES
>sections) on our proposed rule to remove the Arizona distinct
>population segment (DPS) of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl
>(Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum) (pygmy-owl) from the Federal List
>of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, eliminate its currently
>designated critical habitat, and to withdraw its proposed new
>critical habitat. This public hearing will allow all interested
>parties an opportunity to comment on our proposed actions.
>
>DATES: Comments must be submitted directly to the Service (see
>ADDRESSES) on or before October 3, 2005, or at the public hearing.
>Any comments received after the closing date may not be considered
>in the final determination on the proposal.
>
> We will hold a public hearing on September 20, 2005, from 6:30
>p.m. to 9 p.m.
>
>ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The public hearing will be held in
>Tuscon, Arizona, at the Tucson Convention Center, Apache--Greenlee
>meeting rooms, 260 South Church Avenue, Tuscon, AZ 85710.
>
> Comments. If you wish to provide comments/and or information,
>you may submit your comments and materials by any one of several
>methods:
> 1. You may submit written comments and information by mail or
>hand-delivery to the Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services
>Field Office, 2321 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, Arizona
>85021.
> 2. Written comments may be sent by facsimile to (602) 242-2513.
> 3. You may send your comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to:
><mailto:cfpo_comments at fws.gov>
>cfpo_comments at fws.gov.
>
> For directions on how to submit electronic comments, as well as
>information on requesting reasonable accommodations to attend the
>public hearing, see the ``Public Comments Solicited'' section below.
>
>FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor,
>Arizona Ecological Services Field Office (telephone, 602-242-0210;
>facsimile, 602-242-2513; or electronic mail,
><mailto:steve_spangle at fws.gov>steve_spangle at fws.gov).
>
>Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
>call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339,
>24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


--
Mark Egger
Seattle, WA
USA
mailto:m.egger at comcast.net