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Ashton's Comments On Guidelines to be Presented to FWC April 9, 2008
Attached are my comments to FWC regarding the last guidelines submitted by the G2 group for approval to the FWC Commission on April 9 in Tallahassee. We have come a long way folks. The problem is this last batch demonstrates the old adage that the devil is in the details. In this case there are too many, are incorrect, or there aren't enough.
I am sure that at the Advisory Group we will be told that it is a work in progress, etc. I have been told by many folks saying that what happened 25 years ago and 12 years ago (testing), when nothing happened won't happen again. Maybe not, there are several thousand folks out there that say No Tortoise Left Behind. I do not think they will be entombed and ignore what is going on.
We need not only a clear statement as previously agreed to about the 5 or fewer/single family home permits, but we need a deadline set for immediate implementation of 6 month fencing of recipient sites, funding guidelines for perpetual management, costs/acre and what is to be included in conservation easements, and clearly defined requirements for various levels of tortoise workers. Other points should be done within 6 months (see my comments).
Along with the schedule, we need assurances that all the key issues will be worked through in a more reasonable way as to not have advisory folks or staff waste time but set a system of creating or changing things base on facts and good information not someone flipping weeks of work because they think its too hard or not fair. Bottom line is the same. What is the conservation value?
If staff will assure us through committing themselves to the Commission that it will get done key elements in place that will stop potential take of tortoises.
Get 'er Done!
Sincerely,
Ray Ashton |
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