Hundreds of Miles of Streams Designated as Critical Habitat for At-risk Crawfish
By Dan Radmacher
In mid-March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally designated 446 miles of streams and rivers as critical habitat for two species of crayfish, the threatened Big Sandy crayfish and the endangered Guyandotte River crayfish.
The decision followed a petition and lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and Sierra Club.
The designated sections of rivers and streams flow through coal-bearing areas of West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.
“The listing has a couple of different significances,” says Perrin de Jong, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. “When critical habitat is designated, you can’t adversely modify that habitat. The other significance is consultation: Whenever a federal agency funds or permits any activity, if they have a say in a project going forward or not, they have to work with Fish and Wildlife to ensure that the activities they’re approving don’t jeopardize protected species or adversely modify critical habitat.”
That means that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and state mining agencies will need to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that new mining permits contain terms and conditions to avoid harming the habitat.
OSMRE and FWS should also reopen the consultation process for existing mines in light of the new designation, according to de Jong.
“Ostensibly, such a consultation could lead to a jeopardy determination, particularly in the case of the Guyandotte River crawfish,” de Jong says. “These crayfish are currently found in only two creeks in Wyoming County, West Virginia. Can the service say with a straight face that any more habitat can be sacrificed?”
Sedimentation from surface coal mines often flows downstream, choking streams and either killing crawfish or negatively affecting their reproduction.
De Jong doesn’t expect the agencies to undertake this consultation without prompting.
“The designation opens up opportunities for citizen groups to challenge these opinions,” he says. “It creates a lot more transparency and scrutiny, and gives tools for us to engage and prevent jeopardy. It’s something we’ll have to fight for every inch to make sure it does result in greater scrutiny.”
Protecting the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountain Region
Source: http://appvoices.org/2022/03/31/crayfish-streams-critical-habitat/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).