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 first draft management plan for the gopher tortoise was prepared and made available for public comment. Comments were reviewed and the draft management plan revised. The Commission is now requesting written comments on the second draft management plan. Copies of the draft management plan will be available at http://myfwc.com/imperiledspecies/petitions.htm after 9:00 a.m., May 7, 2007. Written comments should be addressed to: Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, 620 South Meridian Street, Mail Station 2A, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600, or submitted by email to gt_plan@myFWC.com. Comments will be accepted until 11:59 p.m., June 14, 2007.