A tiny Alabama fish called the coal darter has stirred up an Endangered Species Act debate that’s about to get bigger.
Mining industry leaders worry about the potential impact from proposed federal protections for the fish that maxes out at less than 2 inches in length. The timber industry hopes for a special carve-out from the usual ESA restrictions, while environmentalists insist the Fish and Wildlife Service must hold the line.
All sides will now get more time to weigh in on the proposal to list the species as threatened, with the FWS announcement Friday that the original public comment period that expired in February will now be extended another 30 days. Industry groups had sought a 60-day extension.
“While we acknowledge the importance of protecting threatened and endangered species, our members also want to ensure that any legal protection of the coal darter takes into account the best available information about the coal darter’s life cycle, range, and the nature of our members’ mining operations,” the Alabama Mining Association (AMA) stated.
