Comment on FR Doc # E8-17894

I am responding to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) proposal to list the reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) as an endangered species, and to the proposal to designate critical habitat for both the reticulated flatwoods salamander and the frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum; Federal Register 73(157):47258-47324, 13 August 2008). The Service presented a comprehensive and convincing case for listing the reticulated flatwoods salamander as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Due to a variety of threats, the species is clearly in danger of extinction throughout its range. As so eloquently described in the proposal, the largest and most-viable reticulated flatwoods salamander population on the planet, inhabiting approximately 1000 acres of pine flatwoods habitat surrounding at least 2 dozen breeding sites on Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, is threatened by a proposal to construct an ill-conceived road (Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor). The proposed road corridor passes directly through two populations of the reticulated flatwoods salamander, one of which is the largest metapopulation known to exist. The threat of this proposed road to the continued existence of the reticulated flatwoods salamander cannot be understated. Although reticulated flatwoods salamander populations are known from other locations, most occur on private, unprotected land and most are centered around a single breeding site. Some of these populations may, in fact, no longer exist due to drought and inappropriate habitat management, as described in the Federal Register. Succinctly stated, the future of the reticulated flatwoods salamander can ONLY be secured by protecting and appropriately managing the metapopulation that occurs on Eglin Air Force Base/Hurlburt Field. I concur with the Service’s assessment that Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field should be designated as critical habitat for the reticulated flatwoods salamander and that the species should be listed as federally endangered.