A letter sent Feb. 25 by U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-District 31, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requests an extension to the comment period currently under way on the proposed listing of four local species of salamanders as endangered
The possible decision to add the Jollyville Plateau, Georgetown, Austin Blind and Salado salamanders to the federal endangered species list has drawn opposition from local residents and leaders. Valerie Covey, Williamson County Commissioner for Precinct 3 and member of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, said the scientific findings on the salamanders and possible economic impacts do not justify the listing.
"I believe the decision should be science-based, and the science does not prove or substantiate the need to list the salamander," Covey said. "So when you look at that and you look at the financial impact it's going to have on our county, it frustrates me greatly to see that a decision is going to be made for political reasons, not science-based [reasons]."
Williamson County and the WCCF are also currently writing a letter that will counter claims made by the USFWS about the listing's possible effects on local development, said Gary Boyd, Williamson County Environmental Program Coordinator. A draft economic analysis released by the USFWS estimates the area will see a $29 million impact over the next 23 years.
