The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a positive 90-day finding on a petition to remove the Bliss Rapids snail (Taylorconcha serpenticola) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, determining that an additional review is appropriate.
"The Services review of the petition and supporting documents, as well as other information in our files, finds that the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating that delisting the Bliss Rapids snail may be warranted," said Jeff Foss, field supervisor of the Services Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office in Boise, Idaho. "We will be taking a closer look at this species, and encourage the public to submit new scientific information and comments."
The Service will now conduct a comprehensive status review to determine whether to propose delisting the Bliss Rapids snail. The Service was in the process of evaluating the status of the Bliss Rapids snail as part of a 5-year review that was initiated on July 27, 2004, and the findings of that review will be incorporated into its review of whether delisting is warranted.
Any change in the listing classification of this species would require a separate rule-making process, including opportunities for public comment.
The Bliss Rapids snail was listed on December 14, 1992 (57 FR 59244) as a threatened species due to threats from proposed hydroelectric development, operation of existing hydroelectric dams, degraded water quality, diversion of water for irrigation and aquaculture, deteriorating water quality in the Snake River, lack of regulatory protections for spring habitats, and invasion of the introduced New Zealand mudsnail. A recovery plan for this and other Snake River snail species was completed on November 26, 1995.
The Service was petitioned by the State of Idaho, Governor's Office of Species Conservation and the Idaho Power Company (petitioners) on December 26, 2006 to delist the snail, which occurs in springs and riverine habitats along a 65-mile stretch of the Snake River in the Hagerman area of southern Idaho.
The petition indicated the Bliss Rapids snail should be delisted because the current best available scientific information and studies show the snail no longer meets the statutory definition of "threatened" or "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act. The petitioners state that the data and studies that formed the basis for listing the snail in 1992 have since been invalidated, and therefore are no longer a sufficient basis to keep the snail on the List.
The petitioners submitted a report that was completed in 2006 indicating that the snail is more abundant that previously thought, is not threatened by existing dam operations, threats to water quality and quantity from water diversions for irrigation and aquaculture have been mitigated, and that potential threat of future hydropower dams is less than that at the time of listing. The petition also presented information indicating that important spring habitats have been protected and water quality has improved in the Snake River since 1992.
The public is encouraged to submit new scientific information on the Bliss Rapids snail since its original listing. Comments and information must be submitted by September 4, 2007.
Comments and information may be submitted in the following manner:
- Mail to Field Supervisor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 368, Boise, Idaho 83709;
- Hand-deliver to the above address;
- Fax to 208-378-5262;
- Use the Federal rulemaking internet portal: http://www.regulations.gov;
- Email to fw1srbocomment@fws.gov.
Please include "Bliss Rapids Snail Comments" in the subject lines for fax and electronic comments.
For further information, please contact Susan Burch at U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 368, Boise, Idaho 83709, 208-378-5243, email: susan_burch@fws.gov.
