Austin Panel Recommends Salamanders Be Endangered

By: Associated Press Email

Updated: Fri 2:10 PM, Sep 07, 2012

An environmental panel for a Central Texas city has recommended endangered status for four salamander species.

The resolution from the Austin Environmental Board now goes to the Austin City Council.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal would give Austin blind, Salado, Georgetown and Jollyville Plateau salamanders endangered status. The plan would also set aside nearly 6,000 acres in Travis, Williamson and Bell counties as critical habitat, thus limiting development.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday that Austin would be the first city in the area to favor listing the salamander species as endangered.

City councils in Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park and Georgetown, plus Williamson County, have voted against the proposal.

The Austin Environmental Board's resolution was approved late Wednesday.

Man Accused of Threatening Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

We ask that the following Community Standards be followed:

Comments must not be profane or vulgar.

Comments must not use hate speech, racial slurs, or violent descriptions.

We encourage varying views to be shared. We do ask commenters to not personally attack other readers, groups, people featured in our stories, or other posters for disagreeing with their views.

Comments must not contain negative, comparative debates between community standards of cities or towns.

Comments must contribute to the discussion, flaming and/or trolling will not be tolerated.

Comments must be truthful and not intentionally falsified. Providing a source link is encouraged.

If you find that a comment violates the above rules, please use the flagging option located to the right of the comment to notify the moderators.
For a complete list of guidelines, please follow this link:
http://www.kbtx.com/home/misc/Online-Commenting-Policy-181579421.html

Austin Panel Recommends Salamanders Be Endangered

AP Video