Letter to Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

The following letter was sent to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission this week, with copies to Governor Crist and the State Legislators who represent the Florida Panhandle. Thank goodness this local citizen is trying to help the others affected. Since only a tiny fraction of the thousands of 'listed species' have ever been delisted since the passing of the Endangered Species Act over 30 years ago, it's imperative that the people who own these 38,000 parcels of property understand just exactly what they will be burdened with, probably for the rest of their lives:


March 2, 2007
Mr. Ken Haddad
Executive Director
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 S. Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399

RE: Panama City Crayfish

Dear Mr. Haddad:
Your agency has prepared a Draft Management Plan for a proposed listing of the Panama City Crayfish as a threatened species. The deadline for filing comments is April 5, 2007.

Since the Draft Management Plan was made available for review last Friday, February 23, 2007, we have been attempting to obtain the GIS data used for the delineation of the range of the Panama City Crayfish to be used as the designated habitat. It is estimated that over 38,000 parcels stand to be affected by this designation. With more than one third of the parcels of all of Bay County containing soils that may be conducive to this species, it is essential that all of the property owners within the affected range be properly notified and allowed an opportunity to comment on the designation. To that end, I intend to send individual letters to each property owner within the habitat area, providing Owners with information they may need to properly assess the impact this designation may have on their property. I do not want to unnecessarily alarm property owners who may not be affected. Consequently it is essential that I have the accurate GIS data that was used for delineation purposes.

I contacted your agency for the information and was directed to the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Attached you will find a copy of the response from this agency. Since it is likely that the information I seek may not be available until after March 9th, I do not believe there will be sufficient time within which to notify all of the affected property owners before the deadline you have set for comments on the Plan.

By notifying all of the property owners within the area of your proposal, I hope to generate sufficient response so that your agency can more accurately assess the social and economic consequences of this designation as required by Florida Statutes. To that end, I would also request that your agency hold a public hearing in Panama City before voting to provide this extraordinary protection to the Panama City Crayfish. It would be an additional burden and
imposition on us to arrange transportation for hundreds of property owners that may wish to personally address the Commission.

I, therefore, respectfully request that you extend the deadline for comments until after a duly noticed public hearing to be held here in Bay County.

Sincerely,
Mary K. Sittman

cc: FWC Commissioners
Senator Don Gaetz
Representative Jimmy Patronis
Representative Marti Coley
Earl Durden
L. Charles Hilton, Esq.
Jack Williams, Esq.
Mayors and Commissioners of Panama City, Lynn Haven, Cedar Grove,
Callaway, Springfield, Parker
Board of County Commissioners, Bay County