USEPA, USFWS want input on ESA

Feds seek to improve endangered Species process for pesticides � due March 10                   

   The USEPA, USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service, in consultation with the USDA, are seeking comments from the public and affected parties on how the Endangered Species Act consultation process can be made more effective and efficient with respect to pesticide registration actions.

   Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2003-0010, 

must be received on or before March 10, 2003.  Comments may 

be submitted electronically or by mail. Use EPA Dockets at 

http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public comments, 

access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, 

and to access those documents in the public docket that are 

available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,''  

then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

   Under the Endangered Species Act, EPA must ensure that registration of pesticides will not jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.  Through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register, the feds are seeking comments on a variety of approaches to improve and enhance the consultation processes among agencies. Improving the consultation process will directly benefit

listed species and their habitat by ensuring that the

potential effects of pesticides are examined in a timely and comprehensive manner.

   Specifically, the agencies are soliciting comments on the following approaches, such as:

► Approaches to make the consultation process more efficient by eliminating redundant analyses and focusing on pesticide use patterns which appear most likely to raise concerns. 

► Consultation approaches that would involve the wildlife agencies only when EPA finds that a pesticide registration action is likely to adversely affect listed species.  Otherwise, no further consultation would be required.

► Procedures that focus and prioritize the wildlife agencies' reviews once consultation is deemed necessary, and gives appropriate consideration to EPA's scientific findings and protection strategies. 

   The agencies are seeking comments on these approaches to facilitate the decision making process and enhance the integrity of the decisions.   The Federal Register notice announcing this is available at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-SPECIES/2003/January/Day-24/e1661.htm  More information on EPA's Endangered Species Protection Program is available at: http://www.epa.gov/espp/

Mississippi River plan available for public review � due March 29

   A proposed new management plan for the Mississippi Scenic Riverway between St. Cloud and Anoka is now available for public review and comment. Public meetings have been scheduled for the first week in March and written comments are due by March 29.

   The draft plan guides the MN DNR and local government management of the Mississippi River portion designated as a State Wild and Scenic River.  The draft plan would replace the management plan prepared in 1976 when the river was originally designated as a Scenic Riverway. Public meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at the Monticello Community Center in Monticello; Wednesday, March 5, at the Sherburne County Government Center in Elk River; and Thursday, March 6, at the Stearns County Government Center in St. Cloud. All three meetings will begin at 7 p.m. with a presentation

about the content of the plan, followed by questions and discussion.

   Key elements of the plan include modest changes to the riverway's boundary and several proposed changes to the land use rules. The existing land use rules create two zoning districts; the proposed plan would create four districts, giving local governments and property owners greater flexibility while still protecting the river's outstanding values.

   To get a copy of the draft plan call the DNR Waters Division at 651-296-4800. The draft plan can also be viewed on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/ .

   Written comments on the draft plan, due by March 29, may be e-mailed to [email protected]  or mailed directly to: Steve Johnson, Minnesota DNR Waters Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4032.

Groups want for more public use of Lake Calumet

Meetings to be held Feb 28 & March 28, at 3600 E. 95th St.

   Conservation and environmental groups are challenging the Illinois International Port District's board to open up Lake Calumet for more public use. A recent meeting was full of recreationists during the first of three public meetings to discuss the lake's future.

   Many said commercial shipping has declined on Lake Calumet, the lake's health is improving and the port district should allow more recreational and educational activities on the lake's shores � which are owned by the port district.   People from local clubs, boards and agencies focused on Lake Calumet referenced the lake's past, when it was larger, less polluted and served as a fishing and trapping haven on the Southeast Side.

   Some in the crowd said there are educational opportunities not being realized. Lake Calumet's southern shore serves as a deep port for Great Lakes shipping freight arriving in Chicago, while the lake's north shore is

less developed and home to a variety of rare and

endangered plants and animals.

   Familiar battles between local environmentalists and the port district reached a high pitch last summer, when the port district's plans to build a 1,000-slip marina on the lake became public. Mayor Richard Daley eventually killed the marina proposal, telling the port district board that the marina didn't conform to the city's land use plans. Daley appoints some members of the port district's board.

   After January's meeting, William Braasch, the board's chairman, said the port district is sincere about working with environmentalists.  "These folks live here. These folks have dedicated a good portion of their lives to working with the environment," Braasch said. "We're going to, hopefully, come up with the best possible land use for this land here, and have them on board with us at the same time."

   A second public meeting on Feb. 28 before the port district board will consider recreational issues, and a third meeting March 28 will discuss commercial issues. The meetings will be held at 3600 E. 95th St.

Early Retirement hits IL DNR

   It's not bad enough that we'll be getting a new DNR Director after 12 years of dedicated service by Brent Manning. Over 500 hundred employees preceded Manning into early retirement on Dec 31. That's almost 25% of the 2150 DNR employees on Illinois' payroll.

   With new governor Rod Blagojevich's hiring freeze it will be hard to manage the state's natural resources and programs for the foreseeable future.  Four of seven project managers in the wildlife division � gone; 10 of 16 staffers in the real estate division � gone; 16 site superintendents and 17 assistant superintendents � gone; five directors -  gone,

with four more probably gone by April..

   Gone from fisheries are veteran biologists Rich Hess (Lake Michigan) and Bill Bertrand (Mississippi River).  Ron Allen, who is responsible for the successful launch of the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame and has run top-notch events throughout his 25-year tenure � gone. The forestry division has been whittled down.

   As one DNR staffer said, "There's definitely going to be things that are not getting done and people are not going to understand why."

Invasive species causing great ecological harm

IJC urges US/Canada to prevent future Introductions

Alien invasive species, transferred from foreign ecosystems, can thrive in the Great Lakes, unhindered by any natural controls such as predators they might confront in native ecosystems.

Exploding zebra mussel populations have caused tens of millions of dollars of damage to water structures and ecosystems, and they are only one of 160 non-indigenous species now inhabiting the system. The next alien species to enter the lakes could cause even greater damage. The U.S. and Canada have responded by developing regulations and procedures surrounding ballast water discharge from ships entering the ecosystem through the

 St. Lawrence River, because ballast water is the primary source of the threat.

But risks remain because the majority of ships entering the Great Lakes system can legally claim �no ballast on board� and thereby are exempt from current regulation. However, they still harbor alien species in the sludge of their �empty� ballast tanks, and in the bio-films contaminating hulls or anchor chains.

In light of the high risk, the IJC believes the two national govern-mints must urgently take more aggressive steps to prevent future alien species introductions, including new rules and programs to assure that �no ballast on board� ships do not biologically contaminate our waters.