Emergency Exemption; Issuance of Emergency Permit To Survey for and Relocate Jemez Mountain Salamanders Within the Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

Résumé

The final rule to list the Jemez Mountain salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus) as endangered throughout its range in New Mexico published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2013. The final rule becomes effective on October 10, 2013. Without having personnel authorized to survey for and minimize impacts through moving individuals out of harm's way, the New Mexico Gas Company's ongoing pipeline repairs may be delayed to prevent individual Jemez Mountain salamanders being needlessly harmed or killed. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have, under an Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit, authorized qualified researchers to survey for and move Jemez Mountain salamanders out of harm's way during pipeline repairs. These pipeline repairs are considered essential to human and environmental health.