April 01, 2016
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) recently issued a news release stating that it intends to assess the status of the American burying beetle (“Beetle”).
The Beetle is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”).
The Service intends to determine whether protection under the ESA is no longer warranted for the Beetle.
The Beetle was once found throughout the eastern United States. Further, Arkansas is one of the several states for which the Beetle is now known to exist.
The Beetle was listed as endangered in 1989, primarily due to habitat loss and degradation across the range. The Service states that on August 18, 2015 it received a Petition from the American Stewards of Liberty, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Dr. Steven W. Carothers requesting that the Beetle be delisted.
The Service is publishing what it characterizes as a “substantial 90-day finding” which is stated to be a first step in determining whether the Beetle should be delisted. A “substantial 90-day finding” by the Service means that it will take a “closer look at the status of these species.”
The Service is seeking input as it conducts in-depth studies of that species.
Click here to download a copy of the news release
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