From: Kieran Suckling [ksuckling@sw-center.org]
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 11:45 AM
To: Recipient list suppressed
Subject: BIODIVERSITY ALERT #221
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             CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

           <www.sw-center.org>      1-22-00      #221
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§ HAWAIIAN SPIDER AND AMPHIPOD PROTECTED UNDER E.S.A

§ CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN
   SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

§ ENVIROS, CHRISTIANS TO SUE FOR HABITAT PROTECTION
   FROM MINNESOTA TO MICRONESIA- 12 SPECIES AT RISK

§ NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE AGREES TO LIMIT ON
   TAKE OF COHO SALMON FROM CALIFORNIA MINING

HAWAIIAN SPIDER AND AMPHIPOD PROTECTED UNDER E.S.A
In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service listed the Kauai cave wolf spider (Adelocosa anops)
and the Kauai cave amphipod (Spelaeorchestia koloana) as endangered
species on 1-4-00. Both species are found only in a four square mile area
of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The wolf spider has been reduced to just
three populations, the amphipod to just five. At least 75% of their historic
habitat has already been destroyed by urban sprawl.

The Center sued the Fish & Wildlife Service in August, 1999 to list four
invertebrates as endangered species: Blackburn’s sphinx moth, Newcomb’s
snail, and the Kaua`i cave wolf spider and amphipod. A settlement was
reached requiring the agency to make final decisions on all four. A listing
decision on Blackburn's sphinx moth and Newcomb's snail is due on
1-26-00.

The Center was represented by Kapua Sproat and David Henkin of the
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund (Honolulu).
     ______________________

CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service listed the Santa Barbara population of the
California tiger salamander as endangered species on an emergency
basis on 1-19-00. The Center filed suit on 9-21-99 to protect ten aquatic
species across the West under the Endangered Species Act including
the salamander, Cagle's Map Turtle (TX), the Great Basin population of
the Columbia Spotted Frog (ID, OR, and NV), the West Coast population
of the Oregon Spotted Frog (WA, OR, and CA), and six species of NM
and TX springsnails.

The Fish & Wildlife Service listed the Santa Barbara population of the
California tiger salamander as endangered because of the historic and
ongoing destruction of vernal pools, grasslands, oak woodlands, and
coastal scrub by urban sprawl, agribusiness clearing, and agricultural
pollution runoff. Of the 14 remaining breeding sites in the county, half
have been destroyed or have suffered severe degradation in the last 18
months.

Since the listing was done on an emergency basis, the agency must
issue a final decision by September, 2000. The Center will continue to
advocate that the tiger salamander be listed throughout its entire range
in California, not just Santa Barbara County.

The Center was represented by Brendan Cummings and Sharon Duggan
of Berkeley, California.
     ____________________

ENVIROS, CHRISTIANS TO SUE FOR HABITAT PROTECTION FROM
MINNESOTA TO MICRONESIA- 12 SPECIES AT RISK
The Center for Biological Diversity and Christians Caring for Creation
have filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
for refusing to designate and protect "critical habitat" for 12 species
ranging from Minnesota to Puerto Rico to Guam:

TEXAS                   FLORIDA
Golden-cheeked Warbler  St. Andrews Beach Mouse

KS, MI, SD, MN          IL, WI
Topeka Shiner                   Hine's Emerald Dragonfly

MI, ONT                                 GUAM
Hungerford's Crawling              Guam Micronesian Kingfisher
  Water Beetle                        Mariana Fruit Bat
                                             Little Mariana Fruit bat
PUERTO RICO                       Mariana Crow
Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned     Guam Bridled White-eye
   Hawk
Puerto Rican Broad-winged
  Hawk

The failure to protect these imperiled species is consistent with
the agency's systematic and illegal refusal to designate critical
habitat for endangered species unless sued to do so. The Fish
& Wildlife Service has failed to designate critical habitat for the
200 species listed under the ESA from September 1, 1996 to the
present, except under court order.
     _____________________

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE AGREES TO LIMIT ON
TAKE OF COHO SALMON FROM CALIFORNIA MINING
The Center for Biological Diversity and EPIC (Environmental Protection
Information Center) have successfully settled a lawsuit brought in July,
1999 against the National Marine Fisheries Service. The agency had
refused to quantify its approval of take of endangered species from
extensive sand & gravel mining throughout Humboldt County, CA.
Though the negative effects to coho salmon and other imperiled species
are severe, the Fisheries Service has consistently allowed mining
corporations to kill endangered species, without specifying a quantified
limit on how many individuals taken.

More sand and gravel is mined annually in Humboldt County than any
other area along the West Coast. Virtually all sand & gravel mining in
the county was halted for several weeks after the suit was filed. The
settlement agreement requires the Fisheries Service to re-write its
Biological Opinion on mining and to quantify exactly how much take of
coho and other species is allowed. The new Biological opinion must be
issued before the mining season begins on 5-1-2000.

The plaintiffs were represented by Virginia Brannon of Earthlaw
(Palo Alto) and Sharon Duggan (San Francisco).

_____________________________________________________________

Kierán Suckling                     ksuckling@sw-center.org
Executive Director                  520.623.5252 phone
Center for Biological Diversity     520.623.9797 fax
<http://www.sw-center.org>          pob 710, tucson, az 85702-0710