April 27, 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”) issued an April 25th news release stating that it has determined that designating critical habitat for the Northern Long-Eared bat (“bat”) under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) is not prudent.
The Service notes that this determination does not affect the previous listing of the bat as threatened under the ESA.
The Service states in the preamble to the Federal Register Notice that:
… At the time the species was listed, we determined that designation of critical habitat was prudent, but not determinable. Since that time, information has come available that demonstrates that designating the wintering habitat as critical habitat for the bat would likely increase the threat from vandalism and disturbance, and could, potentially, increase the spread of white-nose syndrome. In addition, designating the summer habitat as critical habitat would not be beneficial to the species, because there are no areas within the summer habitat that meet the definition of critical habitat. Thus, we have determined that the designation of critical habitat is not prudent for the northern long-eared bat.
The bat’s range includes parts of the State of Arkansas.
The reference to white-nosed syndrome is a fungal disease that has adversely affected these bats.
Click here to download a copy of the Federal Register Notice and news release.
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