November 14, 2011

Female manatee and nursing calve.

Photo: USFWS.

As "manatee season" approaches in Kings Bay, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to update the public on the status of the proposed Kings Bay manatee refuge rule.

During the public comment period on the rule, the Service received 413 written and 42 oral comments, as well as thousands of additional form letters and e-mails. In general, there is great support for the expanded sanctuaries and the rules preventing manatee harassment, while the proposed year round slow speed zone is the area of greatest debate.

The Service carefully considers all public comments and addresses them as appropriate in the final rulemaking. In our prior rulemakings, the Service made adjustments in the final rules based on these comments, as well as updated data on manatee use.

"Based on the number and variety of the comments received, as well as the debates spurred by the proposed rule, we are making an extra effort to consider and address all the comments received," said Dave Hankla, supervisor of the Service’s North Florida Field Office.

Service officials had targeted mid-November for completion of the Kings Bay rule but had acknowledged doing so might be a challenge.

"While having the final rule in place for the winter season was always our goal, we think having a comprehensive rule that adequately addresses comments and concerns raised during the comment period is worth the extra time," Hankla said, adding "we expect to complete the final rule in December."

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The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's North Florida Ecological Services Office (NFESO) has issued a letter authorizing many of the Economic Development Agency (EDA) loan and grant projects in our operational area to move forward without the need for additional Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations.

Click here for Letter (PDF Version available on this page)

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's North Florida Ecological Services Office (NFESO) has issued a letter authorizing many of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) loan projects in our operational area to move forward without the need for additional ESA consultations.

Click here for Updated Letter (PDF Version available on this page)

Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and others, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Florida Wildlife Conservation Guide (Guide) offers users at any experience level a compendium of guidance and reference materials related to wildlife, land use planning and conservation. Private landowners have information about various programs available including incentive-based mitigation programs.

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