Miscellaneous

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at its June 2006 meeting determined that reclassifying the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) from species of special concern status to threatened status was warranted, and directed the development of a management plan. Reclassification will not occur until the reclassification rules in the proposed plan are approved by the Commission. A draft management plan for the gopher tortoise has been prepared, and the Commission is now requesting written comments regarding conservation recommendations and expected economic, social, environmental and ecological impacts of implementing the management plan. Copies of the draft management plan are available at http://myfwc.com/imperiledspecies/plans/draft_gopher_plan.pdf. Written comments should be addressed to Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, 620 South Meridian Street, Mail Station 2A, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, or submitted to the following email address: gt_plan@myFWC.com. Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., April 4, 2007. Florida has a broad public records law. Your written communications, including e-mails, are public records subject to public disclosure.