Grotto sculpin comment period reopens

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take comments through June 6 on a proposal to list the grotto sculpin, a small fish found in underground caves in Perry County, Mo., as endangered, and to protect habitat for the conservation of the species. Comments also will be accepted on a community conservation plan developed to address potential habitat threats.

The service initially proposed the grotto sculpin as endangered in September, and opened a 60-day public comment period. The comment period has reopened so the public may provide further input on the proposal and on a newly-released draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat designation, according to a Fish and Wildlife news release.

The draft economic analysis evaluates the potential economic impact of designating critical habitat. Some areas may be excluded if the benefits of excluding areas outweigh including them. Previous comments need not be resubmitted.

Written comments can be submitted electronically at regulations.gov. Comments on the listing proposal can be posted to Docket No. FWS -- R3 -- ES -- 2012--0065. Comments on the critical habitat proposal and draft economic analysis can be posted to Docket No. FWS -- R3 -- ES -- 2013--0016. Comments also can be submitted by mail or hand delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS -- R3 -- ES -- 2012--0065 [for the listing proposal] or FWS -- R3 -- ES -- 2013--0016 [for the critical habitat proposal and draft economic analysis]; Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042 -- PDM, Arlington, VA 22203.

Information on the proposal to list the grotto sculpin as endangered, the proposed critical habitat designation and the draft economic analysis can be found at fws.gov/midwest/endangered.

Pertinent address:

Perryville, MO