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Wildlife agency gives the nod to toll road; Foothill South would not harm Pacific pocket mouse and other species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife says

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 6, 2008 at 5:27 am

From the O.C. Register:

A federal wildlife agency has given a green light to the proposed Foothill South toll road, saying it would not jeopardize a variety of threatened and endangered species – including the Pacific pocket mouse. The conclusion, part of an April 30 biological opinion by the agency, contradicts those of the state Coastal Commission staff and its biologist, who said the mouse could be driven to extinction. It also bolsters arguments by the toll road builder that it would provide sufficient protections for the endangered mouse, as well as other species.

After a dramatic public hearing in February that drew thousands, the Coastal Commission rejected the toll road proposal based in part on the staff’s contention that it would cause serious biological damage. The toll road builder has appealed the commission’s decision to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

“This is really significant, because a lot of the criticism of the project centered around whether it is environmentally sensitive,” said Jennifer Seaton, spokeswoman for the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. “This is the word from the federal agency responsible for that. They say that it is.”

Mark Delaplaine, the author of a Coastal Commission staff report that condemned the toll road, said the staff must analyze Fish and Wildlife’s conclusions before making a comment.

It was unclear Monday what effect the Fish and Wildlife ruling will have on the commerce secretary’s deliberations.