Borneo earless monitor petition: https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/earless-petition.pdf
Borneo earless monitor 90-day finding review form: https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/90-day-finding-earless.pdf
Blue tree monitor 90-day finding review form: https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/90-DAY-FINDING-blue-tree.pdf
UPDATE 8/17/23: This has been posted in the Federal register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/17/2023-17726/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-90-day-findings-for-five-species. FWS will begin its status reviews of these species to determine if ESA-listings are warranted. At this time, FWS requests scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these species.
For the Blue tree monitor and Bornean earless monitor, FWS specifically request information on: (a) identification of shortcomings in existing regulations that are contributing to population-level effects on the species; and (b) information on any trade in the species, including evidence of trade levels, trends, and patterns, and any changes over time.
You may submit comments by:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R8–ES–2023–0035 for the bleached sandhill skipper, FWS–HQ–ES–2023–0033 for the blue tree monitor lizard, FWS–HQ–ES–2023–0034 for the Bornean earless monitor lizard, or FWS–R6–ES–2022–0177 for the pinyon jay. Then, click on the “Search” button. After finding the correct document, you may submit information by clicking on “Comment.” You may type your comment or attach a documents(s).
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: [Enter Docket No.; please use FWS–R8–ES–2023–0035 (for the bleached sandhill skipper), FWS–HQ–ES–2023–0033 (for the blue tree monitor lizard), FWS–HQ–ES–2023–0034 (for the Bornean earless monitor lizard), or FWS–R6–ES–2022–0177 (for the pinyon jay)], U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.
You can send that information to the below people for more information:
Bleached sandhill skipper: Sue Cameron, Biologist, Asheville, North Carolina Field Office, 828–450–7469, susan_cameron@fws.gov.
Blue tree monitor lizard: Demetra Panos, Biologist, Ecological Services Headquarters, 636–346–4900, demetra_panos@fws.gov.
Bornean earless monitor lizard: Amanda Hyman, Biologist, Ecological Services Headquarters, 703–358–2480, amanda_hyman@fws.gov.
Pinyon jay: Yvette Converse, Project Leader, Utah Field Office, 801–975–3330; yvette_converse@fws.gov.
Tomorrow (8/17/23) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will post this document in the Federal Register (found on our website at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-borneo-earless-ESA.pdf). FWS will be considering these species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): Bornean earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis), blue tree monitor lizard (Varanus macraei), bleached sandhill skipper (Polites sabuleti sinemaculata), and pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus).
When a nonnative species is listed under ESA, even domestically born and bred animals can no longer be sold in interstate commerce by private breeders. This is actually anti-conservation as these animals in the wild face habitat decimation, and poaching for medicinal, food, and other purposes. Rather than allowing the global population of a species to grow to conserve species, ESA listings prevent that from happening in the U.S.
The petition was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity. We will post links and updates when available.
You can read more about the problems caused by the ESA listing of nonnative species at https://usark.org/23esa/.
