Submitted Electronically via eRulemaking Portal

San Joaquin County Public Works agrees the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle should be delisted from the comprehensive Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plant list. Concurrence is based on two points: FWS recommended delisting the species in a 2006 report and the mitigation measures are extreme and a burden to local, County, and State municipalities. Due to aging infrastructure and other public safety issues, San Joaquin County continues to struggle to maintain the fiscal responsibility desired by constituents on publicly-funded projects, while still meeting mandated habitat conservation policies. Balance between habitat conservation and public needs should be met, and since delisting the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle has already been deemed warranted, we should not continue to waste public funds by drawing out the process.