Notice of Proposed Rule

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Freshwater Fish and Wildlife
Rule No. : RULE TITLE :
68A-27.0001: Purpose and Intent
68A-27.0012: Procedures for Listing and Removing Species from Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species List
68A-27.003: Designation of Endangered Species; Prohibitions
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule is to address the concerns raised by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee. The effect will be to amend provisions of Chapter 68A-27, F.A.C., for consistency with the creation of a new, separate list of marine endangered and threatened species in Rule 68A-27.0031, F.A.C., which is being created under a separate rule proposal.
SUMMARY: The proposed amendments removes intent language, which will no longer be relevant due to the creation of the new list; alter the listing process to accommodate the new list and eliminate from consideration under the listing process species that are not within the Commission’s constitutional authority; and remove species, which will be included on the new list, from the existing list of endangered and threatened species.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. An SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the Commission’s regular meeting June 8-9, 2011, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, 500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092-2719
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Bud Vielhauer, General Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, (850)487-1764

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68A-27.0001 Purpose and Intent.

(1) through (4) No change.

(5) This rule chapter is not intended to exercise regulatory authority over those species under Legislative authority. The Commission will continue to regulate those species to the extent authorized by Florida Statute.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 11-8-10, Amended_________.

 

68A-27.0012 Procedures for Listing and Removing Species from Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species List.

(1) Federally-designated Endangered and Threatened Species. Species which are native to Florida and which are designated as Endangered or Threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 15 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. and rules thereto will be listed by the Commission as a Florida Endangered and Threatened Species by virtue of the federal designation. If a species native to Florida is added or reclassified under the ESA, and is a species within the Commission’s constitutional authority, the species shall be so listed or reclassified in the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species rule pursuant to the notice provisions of Subsection 120.54(6), F.S., relating to adoption of federal standards. Before species that have been removed from the ESA are removed from the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species rule, they shall receive a biological status review according to subparagraph (2)(c)2. to determine if the species warrants listing as a state-designated species. Prior to any species being removed from the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species list, the Commission shall develop a management plan that is intended to maintain or enhance the conservation of that species.

(2) State-designated Threatened Species.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (1) above, these procedures shall not apply to:

1. Federally-designated Endangered and Threatened species,

2. Species not native to Florida,

3. Harvested species that are monitored through periodic stock assessments or other techniques and are the subject of any rule in Title 68, F.A.C., that allows harvest,.

4. Species whose occurrence in Florida is only accidental,

5. Species that is not within the Commission’s constitutional authority.

(b) through (e) No change.

(3) through (4) No change.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 6-23-99, Formerly 39-27.0012, Amended 7-1-03, 5-26-05, 11-8-10,________.

 

68A-27.003 Designation of Endangered Species; Prohibitions.

(1) Federally-designated Endangered and Threatened species:

(a) No person shall take, possess, or sell any of the endangered or threatened species included in this subsection, or parts thereof or their nests or eggs except as allowed by specific federal or state permit or authorization.

(b) The following Federally-designated Endangered and Threatened species shall be afforded the protection afforded under Commission rules and Florida Statutes and under the Federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. and its implementing regulations. Species classified as endangered are identified below by (E) and threatened as (T).

(c) Fish:

1. Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus [=oxyrhynchus] desotoi)(T),

2. Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae)(E),

3. Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)(E),

4. Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata)(E).

(d) Amphibians:

1. Frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum)(T),

2. Reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi)(E).

(e) Reptiles:

1. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)(T[S/A]); Listed only because of similarity of appearance to the American crocodile,

2. American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)(T),

3. Atlantic salt marsh snake (Nerodia clarkii taeniata)(T),

4. Bluetail mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus)(T),

5. Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)(T),

6. Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)(E),

7. Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)(E),

8. Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)(E),

9. Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)(E),

10. Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)(T),

6.11. Sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi)(T).

(f) Birds:

1. Audubon’s crested caracara (Polyborus plancus audubonii (T),

2. Bachman’s wood warbler (Vermivora bachmanii)(E),

3. Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)(E),

4. Everglade snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)(E),

5. Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis)(E),

6. Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus)(E),

7. Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)(T),

8. Ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis)(E),

9. Kirtland’s wood warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii)(E),

10. Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)(T),

11. Red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)(E),

12. Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii dougallii)(T),

13. Whooping crane (Grus americana)(XN); Listed as experimental population in Florida,

14. Wood stork (Mycteria americana)(E).

(g) Mammals:

1. Anastasia Island beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma)(E),

2. Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis)(E),

2.3. Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)(E),

4. Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus)(E),

5. West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)(E),

3.6. Florida panther (Puma (=Felis) concolor coryi)(E),

4.7. Florida salt marsh vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli)(E),

5.8. Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)(E),

6.9. Gray wolf (Canis lupus)(E),

10. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)(E),

7.11. Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)(E),

8.12. Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium)(E). No person shall feed Key deer by hand or by placing any food that serves to attract such species,

9.13. Key Largo cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola)(E),

10.14. Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli)(E),

11.15. Lower Keys rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)(E),

16. North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)(E),

12.17. Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)(E),

13.18. Red wolf (Canis rufus)(E),

14.19. Rice rat (Oryzomys palustris natator (E); Lower Keys population west of 7-mile bridge,

20. Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)(E),

15.21. Southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)(T),

22. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)(E),

16.23. St. Andrew beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)(E).

(h) Corals:

1. Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)(T),

2. Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis)(T).

(h)(i) Crustaceans:

Squirrel Chimney Cave shrimp (Palaemonetes cummingi)(T).

(i)(j) Insects:

1. American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)(E),

2. Schaus swallowtail butterfly (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus)(E).

(j)(k) Mollusks:

1. Chipola slabshell (mussel) (Elliptio chiplolaensis)(T),

2. Fat threeridge (mussel) (Amblema neislerii)(E),

3. Gulf moccasinshell (mussel) (Medionidus penicillatus)(E),

4. Ochlockonee moccasinshell (mussel) (Medionidus simpsonianus)(E),

5. Oval pigtoe (mussel) (Pleurobema pyriforme)(E),

6. Purple bankclimber (mussel) (Elliptoideus sloatianus)(T),

7. Shinyrayed pocketbook (mussel) (Lampsilis subangulata)(E),

8. Stock Island tree snail (Orthalicus reses [not incl. nesodryas])(T).

(2) No change.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 6-22-80, 7-1-83, 7-1-84, 7-1-85, Formerly 39-27.03, Amended 6-1-86, 5-10-87, 4-27-89, 9-14-93, 6-23-99, Formerly 39-27.003, Amended 12-16-03, 7-20-09, 11-8-10,_________.

 

BE ADVISED THAT THESE PROPOSED RULES MAY BE FILED FOR ADOPTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION MEETING AT WHICH THEY ARE CONSIDERED IF THE RULES ARE NOT CHANGED. IF CHANGED, THE RULES MAY BE FILED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE F.A.W.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Bud Vielhauer, General Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, (850)487-1764
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 7, 2011
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: December 23, 2010