New Information Warrants Additional Public Review and Comment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the opening of a second public comment period for the status review of the Bliss Rapids snail (Taylorconcha serpenticola).
On June 6, 2007, the Service announced a positive 90-day finding on a petition to remove the snail from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, determining that an additional status review was needed to determine whether the species should be delisted. The Service was petitioned by the State of Idaho/Governors Office of Species Conservation and Idaho Power Company to delist the Bliss Rapids snail in December, 2006.
After the close of the 90-day finding public comment period on September 4, 2007, new information became available to the Service. The new information included a Draft Status Review for the Bliss Rapid snail prepared in February 2008; peer reviews of the Draft Status Review; a manuscript examining the genetic structure of Bliss Rapids snail populations; and documentation from an expert panel convened to assess the species status.
"Because the Service has gained new information about the Bliss Rapids snail, we are asking the public to review this information, and provide comment to us by August 27, 2008," said Jeff Foss, Field Supervisor of the Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office in Boise, Idaho.
A 5-year Review was initiated on July 27, 2004 for this species. The results of the 5-year Review will be incorporated into the 12-month finding, and will be published simultaneously.
Comments and information must be submitted by August 27, 2008.
Materials for review are available at the following websites:
http://www.regulations.gov
http://www.fws.gov/idaho/Index.cfm
The Bliss Rapids snail is a small to medium-sized (2.0 to 4.0 mm in height) snail, with a clear to white shell (pale and range forms). The snail occurs in springs and riverine habitats along a 57-mile stretch of the Snake River in the Hagerman area of southern Idaho. It was listed on December 14, 1992 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 public is encouraged to submit comments on this new information by the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. - U.S. Mail or Hand-Delivery: Public Comments Processing; Attn: Docket FWS"R1"ES?2008?0073
Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203. - Emails and faxes will not be accepted.
- All comments will be posted on: http://www.regulations.gov
This generally means that we will post any personal information provided to us.
At the conclusion of the status review and 5-year Review, the Service will issue its recommendation on the listing status of this species. Any change in the listing classification of this species would require a separate rule-making process.
For further information, please contact Jeffery L. Foss, Field Supervisor, 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: fw1srbocomment@fws.gov.
