Michael Berg
11/18/10
Missouri Sierra Club Calls for Designation of Critical Habitat for the Ozark
Hellbender Salamander
Below can be found the recent resolution of the Missouri Sierra Club to call for
the designation of Critical Habitat for the Ozark Hellbender salamander from the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Below that is a letter to the Fish and
Wildlife Service from Missouri Chapter Chair Jim Turner, followed by a letter in
support of the Sierra Club position written by the Audubon Society, followed by
a letter in support of the Sierra Club position written by the Great Rivers
Environmental Law Center.
Resolution on Ozark Hellbender
Whereas the Ozark Hellbender is an iconic species of the Missouri and Arkansas
Ozarks, and
Whereas the Ozark Hellbender is on the verge of extinction in the wild, and
Whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended the Ozark Hellbender
for listing as an endangered species but has refused to designate critical
habitat as we believe is required by law,
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conservation Committee of the Missouri Chapter of the
Sierra Club recommends that the Missouri Chapter continue to work to secure the
designation of critical habitat through letters of advocacy and inquiry from
Chapter leadership to appropriate officials in the Obama Administration to
include using the Freedom of Information Act as necessary and further to work
with members of the scientific and other Non Governmental Organizations to
coordinate and expand the effectiveness of the effort to secure the designation
of critical habitat. The effort would also include inquiry regarding the status
of the Topeka Shiner in Missouri because the critical habitat issues are
related.
November 13, 2010
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