Oil Spill
U.S., BP Finalize $20.8 Billion Deepwater Oil Spill Settlement
Officials announce terms of largest pollution penalty in U.S. history
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The Obama administration said Monday it has finalized the terms
of a record $20.8 billion dollar settlement with BP PLC over the 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-says-20-8-billion-bp-spill-settlement-finalized-1444058619
BP Settlement in Gulf Oil Spill Is Raised to $20.8 Billion
NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Monday announced a
final settlement with the oil giant BP of $20.8 billion
for its role in the disastrous 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil
spill, raising the total from the initial $18.7 billion
settlementannounced in July.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/business/bp-settlement-in-gulf-oil-spill-is-raised-to-20-8-billion.html?_r=0
BP settlement will cost $20.8 billion, Justice Department says
Washington Post
The Justice Department unveiled final details of a record-setting civil
settlement with BP over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a deal
the department said would ultimately cost the London-based oil giant $20.8
billion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bp-settlement-will-cost-208-billion-justice-department-says/2015/10/05/abb82b1e-6b78-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_story.html
Justice Department announces $20B settlement in BP oil spill
Times-Picayune
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department and five states announced a $20.8
billion settlement Monday (Oct. 5) in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster
that sent millions of gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2015/10/justice_department_announces_2.html#incart_river
BP still has leeway for billions in tax breaks on oil spill settlement
Times-Picayune
BP could still be in line to receive billions of dollars in tax breaks now
that the details of the federal government's more than $20 billion
settlement over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill are public. Details of
the agreement were released Monday morning (Oct. 5).
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2015/10/bp_tax_breaks_oil_spill_settle.html#incart_river
7 things we know about the finalized BP oil spill settlement
Times-Picayune
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other federal officials gathered
Monday morning (Oct. 5) to file the details of the $20 billion settlement
agreement with BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill in federal court.
The 90-page settlement resolves federal and state claims as well as claims
over natural resource damage caused by the disaster.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2015/10/7_things_we_know_about_the_fin.html
Louisiana guaranteed $5 billion of $8.8 billion BP natural resource damage
payments
Times-Picayune
Louisiana's coastal marshes will be the key focus of $8.8 billion BP will
pay to restore vast natural resource losses caused by theDeepwater Horizon
oil spill in 2010, part of a $20.8 billion settlement with federal and Gulf
state governments announced Monday (Oct. 5).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/louisiana_coastal_marshes_key.html#incart_river
Disappointment lingers for South Alabama officials over Alabama's
settlement in BP oil spill case
Al.com
Disappointment among South Alabama officials continues to persist over a
proposed settlement into the federal government's lawsuit over the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster and subsequent oil spill.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/10/disappointment_lingers_for_sou.html
State
EPA to take a second look at Chevron; advocates say refinery didn't follow
law on notification
BY KAREN NELSON
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to send
representatives out of Atlanta to look at the notification process
Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery used during a recent incident where a spill
and tank-lid failure sent fumes into surrounding communities.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/10/05/6450573_epa-to-take-a-second-look-at-chevron.html?rh=1
Carroll Dams Causing Concern
Greenwood Commonwealth
Despite claims to the contrary, the Big Sand Drainage District appears to
be on the hook for maintenance and repair of many Carroll County dams.
http://www.gwcommonwealth.com/news/article_3b557364-6a46-11e5-b4c7-679bbddb2fb9.html
George County's Lake George project has public comment period extended to
Nov. 4
Mississippi Press
LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- The public comment period for the proposed
2,868-acre Lake George project in George and Jackson counties has been
extended through Nov. 4.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/george_countys_lake_george_pro.html#incart_river
Pat Harrison Waterway says Lake George by 2020, others speak out against
BY KAREN NELSON
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- The director of the Pat Harrison Waterway District told
Jackson County supervisors he expects to have Lake George construction
under contract by 2020.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/10/05/6450969/pat-harrison-waterway-says-lake.html
All sides agree public meetings needed on Lake George project
WLOX
JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Jackson County Supervisors got answers to some
of their questions on Monday about an $80 million plan to dam spillways on
two tributaries to the Pascagoula River. Both supporters and opponents of
the Lake George project agree more public hearings are needed to help
people understand the plans.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30191157/all-sides-agree-public-meetings-needed-on-lake-george-project
Volunteers can help clean up the Coast
Sun Herald
The annual Mississippi Coastal Clean Up Day in Harrison, Hancock and
Jackson counties is set for Oct. 17 from 8 to 11 a.m.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/10/05/6450271/volunteers-can-help-clean-up-the.html
Renew our Rivers surpasses 300-ton milestone of debris removal from local
waterways
Mississippi Press
Local waterways are a little cleaner this week.
The Mississippi Power Co.-led environmental stewardship program, Renew Our
Rivers, removed tons of debris from local waterways during a two-day event
last week.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/renew_our_rivers_surpasses_300.html#incart_river
Solar farm company waits for approval to build in Forrest County
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -A solar farm could become reality in the next few
months in Forrest County, pending several approvals.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30192858/solar-farm-company-waits-for-approval-to-build-in-forrest-county
Mississippi PSC to consider allowing customers to generate renewable
energy, reduce bills
Candidate accuses commissioner of conflict of interest in Kemper plant
BY PAUL HAMPTON
Sun Herald
The Mississippi Public Service Commission will hold a hearing on its net
metering proposal Tuesday in Jackson and it also might discuss a motion
that calls for one commissioner to bow out of the Mississippi Power rate
case.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/10/05/6450968/mississippi-psc-to-consider-allowing.html
How Energy Efficient is Mississippi?
NewsMs
JACKSON, Miss. -How energy efficient are you?
Some of us our better than others and the same goes with states.
Residents in certain states seem to be doing a better job at conserving
energy than others.
http://www.newsms.fm/how-energy-efficient-is-mississippi/
Parts sold from KiOR biofuel plant that owes Mississippi $79M
AP
JACKSON, Miss. — Equipment from the failed KiOR biofuel plant in Columbus
is being sold, but Mississippi taxpayers are likely to recover little of
the $79 million that the state is seeking.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/parts_sold_from_kior_biofuel_p.html#incart_river
READY TO ORDER LIONFISH TACO? Hunting, eating the fish may be best way to
control the invasive species
MBJ
If there was a contest to crown the most menacing among all the aquatic
invasive species, the lionfish from Indo-Pacific waters surely would reign.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/10/ready-to-order-lionfish-taco-hunting-eating-the-fish-may-be-best-way-to-control-the-invasive-species/
Yokohama tire plant dedicated: Company celebrates $300 million facility in
West Point
By Dennis Seid
Daily Journal
WEST POINT – Two years after breaking ground on its 570-acre site, Yokohama
Tire Corp. on Monday dedicated its Mississippi plant, the company's first
manufacturing facility in the U.S. built from the ground up.
http://djournal.com/news/yokohama-tire-plant-dedicated-company-celebrates-300-million-facility-in-west-point/
Regional
Dam Danger: South Carolina now facing danger from swollen rivers, lakes
Fox News
Emergency crews were racing Tuesday morning to prevent several dams from
breaking outside Columbia, South Carolina, another potential disaster on
top of the state's historic flooding.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/06/dam-danger-south-carolina-now-facing-danger-from-swollen-rivers-lakes/?intcmp=hpbt1
National
Court Orders EPA to Revise Ship Ballast Dumping Regulations
AP
A federal appeals court ordered the government Monday to rewrite its
regulations on ballast water discharges from ships, one of the leading
culprits in the spread of invasive species across U.S. waterways.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/court-orders-epa-revise-ship-ballast-dumping-regulations-34263706
New regs for Tuesday: Trucks, snakes, tortoises
The Hill
Snakes: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is moving forward with new
protections for black pinesnakes.
The agency is listing the black pinesnake, which is endemic to Alabama,
Lousisiana, and Mississippi, as a threatened species.
The protections go into effect in 30 days.
Mussels: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to protect
certain freshwater mussels.
The FWS proposed Monday listing the Suwannee moccasinshell, which is
endemic to Florida and Georgia, as a threatened species.
The public has 60 days to comment.
Tortoise: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will not issue new
protections for Sonoran desert tortoises.
After reviewing a petition to protect these tortoises, the FWS determined
they are not endangered or threatened.
The finding goes into effect immediately.
http://thehill.com/regulation/255901-new-regs-for-tuesday-trucks-snakes-tortoises
Opinion
More Proof on Pebble
A new report takes apart the EPA's veto of a mining project.
WSJ
It is by now beyond dispute that the Environmental Protection Agency went
rogue when it halted Alaska's proposed Pebble Mine project. And yet,
there's more.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/more-proof-on-pebble-1444088118
Press releases
MDEQ Announces Two Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Documents Available for
Public Comment
Public Meeting in Mississippi October 20
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) announced today that two documents needed to forge the path forward
for Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration plans on the Gulf Coast are now
available for public comment. Once approved, the total compensation to
offset injuries resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill
disaster will reach at least $2.17 billion.
The Consent Decree, the Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan
(PDARP)/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) are the two
documents available for public comment for the next 60 days.
"We have worked diligently with all parties to forge a path for the future
environmental and economic restoration of Mississippi. Thousands of
Mississippians have followed this journey of response, recovery and
restoration from the beginning and have faithfully engaged to provide a
vision for restoring Mississippi. We want to hear from the public on these
documents because their insight is invaluable and vital to the process,"
said Gary Rikard, MDEQ Executive Director.
Rikard serves as Mississippi's Trustee for the Natural Resource Damage
Assessment under the Oil Pollution Act and is tasked with leading
Mississippi's recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The Consent Decree details what BP must pay to the Gulf States and the
United States to resolve environmental claims, economic governmental claims
and civil penalties. It contains information on the proposed resolution of
natural resource damage claims (NRDA) and the state's economic loss claim
under the Oil Pollution Act. The Consent Decree also includes proposed
civil penalties under the Clean Water Act, of which 80 percent will be
directed to the Gulf States for environmental and economic restoration via
the RESTORE Act. This Consent Decree must be approved by the court before
any settlement is final and will only be finalized after the consideration
of public comments.
The Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (PDARP) and
companion Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) describes the
injury to the environment studied through the Natural Resource Damage
Assessment (NRDA) under the Oil Pollution Act. The PDARP/PEIS lays out the
restoration pathway to restore natural resources and services that were
injured and lost as a result of the oil spill. Once approved, additional
restoration plans will be developed that identify specific restoration
projects in Mississippi, the other Gulf States, and the Gulf of Mexico. It
will only be final if approved by the Court and after the parties take into
account public comment and review.
Following the public meetings and at the close of the public comment
period, the NRDA Trustees and the United States Department of Justice will
consider the input received on both documents, make appropriate
modifications and present the final documents to the Court for review and
approval.
The Consent Decree and PDARP/PEIS stem from the previously announced
Agreement in Principle that called for $1.5 billion in additional relief to
Mississippi to recover environmental and economic damages resulting from
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Combined with $659 million in early
funding, Mississippi is on tap to receive a minimum of nearly $2.17 billion
in compensation. Total global settlement values to resolve civil claims
under the Clean Water Act and natural resource damage claims under the Oil
Pollution Act, as well as remaining economic claims of the five Gulf States
and municipalities are worth more than $20 billion.
A meeting will be held on October 20 to allow the public the opportunity to
review these documents and to submit comments. It begins at 5:00 p.m. in
the FEC Auditorium at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast
campus, 730 East Beach Boulevard in Long Beach.
The documents and supplemental materials are available for review and
comment at www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov. Comprehensive information
about all aspects of Mississippi's restoration efforts can be found at
www.restore.ms.
# # #
Attorney General Jim Hood Announces Two Deepwater Horizon
Oil Spill Documents Available for Public Comment
Public Meeting in Mississippi to Be Held October 20
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2015
JACKSON, MISS.—Attorney General Jim Hood announced today that two documents
needed to move forward for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration
plans on the Gulf Coast are now available for public comment. Once
approved, these documents will provide Mississippi with a minimum of at
least $2.17 billion in compensation to offset injuries resulting from the
2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.
The Consent Decree and the Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration
Plan (PDARP)/Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) are the two
documents available for public comment for the next 60 days.
"By formally filing these documents with the court, we have taken the next
step in restoring our natural resources and compensating our state and
coastal communities," said Attorney General Jim Hood. "BP rightly agreed to
come to the table and reach this agreement instead of pursuing lengthy and
expensive litigation."
The Consent Decree details what BP must pay to the Gulf States and United
States to resolve environmental claims and governmental economic claims. It
also includes civil penalties under the Clean Water Act, of which 80
percent will be directed to the Gulf States for environmental and economic
restoration via the RESTORE Act. This Consent Decree must be approved by
the court before any settlement is final and will only be finalized after
the consideration of public comments.
The Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (PDARP) and
companion Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) is a draft
document that describes the injury to the environment studied through the
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) under the Oil Pollution Act. The
PDARP/PEIS lays out the restoration pathway to restore natural resources
and services that were injured and lost as a result of the oil spill. Once
approved, additional restoration plans will be developed that identify
specific restoration projects in Mississippi, the other Gulf States and the
Gulf of Mexico. It will only be final if approved by the Court and after
the parties take into account public comment and review.
Following the public meetings and at the close of the public comment
period, the NRDA Trustees will consider the input received on both
documents, make appropriate modifications and present the final documents
to the Court for review and approval.
"I commend the court for working diligently with all parties to forge a
path for the future environmental and economic restoration of the Gulf
Region," said Attorney General Hood.
The Consent Decree and PDARP/PEIS stem from the previously announced
Agreement in Principle that called for $1.5 billion in additional relief to
Mississippi to recover environmental and economic damages resulting from
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Combined with early funding, Mississippi
is on tap to receive a minimum of approximately $2.17 billion in
compensation.
A meeting will be held on October 20 to allow the public the opportunity to
review the Consent Decree, the Programmatic Damage Assessment and
Restoration Plan, and the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to
submit comments. It begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Fleming Education Center
Auditorium at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast campus
located at 730 East Beach Boulevard in Long Beach.
Attorney General Hood concludes, "I encourage all Mississippians who were
impacted by this disastrous spill to engage in this invaluable process
allowing them to provide their visions for restoring our Coast."
The documents and supplemental materials are available for review and
comment at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/. Comprehensive
information about all aspects of Mississippi's restoration efforts can be
found at www.restore.ms.
Oct 05 2015
COCHRAN, WICKER PLEASED WITH FINAL $20.8 BILLION BP OIL SPILL SETTLEMENT
Mississippi Senators Helped Shape RESTORE Act to Ensure Gulf Coast States
Get Help for Long-Term Recovery
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker
(R-Miss.) today welcomed a settlement agreement on civil claims arising
from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a $20.8 billion pact that
will benefit Mississippi directly.
Mississippi, along with Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and Florida, the Justice
Department and other federal agencies on Monday announced the proposed
consent decree to settle civil claims arising from the spill and its
aftermath.
"The BP oil spill is among the worst disasters to affect Mississippi, the
environment and livelihoods of our people. This settlement is a
significant step toward righting that wrong, and allowing our state to move
forward with remediation and recovery," said Cochran. "Negotiating these
settlements has been a long process, but we've worked to ensure that
Mississippi is in the best position to recover and recover well."
"This final settlement should help close a difficult chapter in our state's
history," Wicker said. "Mississippi is poised to put its share of the money
to good use, implementing the necessary projects to address both economic
and environmental setbacks. A full recovery will not happen overnight, but
we are well on our way toward ensuring that the Coast is made whole."
Within the settlement, BP is required to pay $5.5 billion, plus interest,
as a civil penalty under the Clean Water Act. As stipulated in the RESTORE
Act of 2012, which Cochran and Wicker helped write, 80 percent of this
penalty will go to Gulf Coast states for environmental restoration,
economic recovery and Gulf seafood promotion.
The company must also pay another $8.1 billion in natural resources
damages, which will be allocated to the five Gulf Coast states affected by
the disaster. It will also pay up to $700 million in accrued interest to
address long-term environmental problems that arise from the spill.
Another $600 million is due to settle other claims, including unreimbursed
costs to states and the federal government.
Additional settlements with the states and local communities, along with
payments associated with earlier settlements reached since 2012, will
resolve the civil claims. The final total of $20.8 billion exceeds an
assumed $18.7 billion settlement projected in July.
The proposed consent decree will be published in the Federal Register and
open to public review and comment for 60 days afterward. That document may
be found at http://www.justice.gov/enrd/deepwater-horizon. The materials
and instructions for commenting can be found at
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.
Last week, Cochran and Wicker encouraged Mississippians to participate in a
month-long public comment period on a proposed rule regarding the
distribution and use of settlement funds derived from the BP Deepwater
Horizon oil spill. The public comment period on this aspect of the BP oil
spill process is open until midnight Oct. 28, 2015. (
http://1.usa.gov/1YP9r3E)
Black Pinesnake Added to Threatened and Endangered Species List
Timber management activities exempted & decision on critical habitat
delayed to 2016
October 5, 2015
Contact(s):
Connie Dickard, 601-321-1121 (MS)
Connie_Dickard@fws.gov
Denise Rowell, 251-441-6630 (AL)
Denise_Rowell@fws.gov
Tom MacKenzie, 404-679-7291
Tom_MacKenzie@fws.gov
The black pinesnake, which can grow to six feet in length and is now only
found in parts of Mississippi and Alabama, will be protected as a
threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
At the same time the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also announced today a
series of exemptions for certain activities that can benefit the species'
recovery, help keep working lands working, reduce regulatory burden and
ensure landowners know what is expected.
A threatened designation means a species is at risk of becoming endangered
within the foreseeable future. The snake's threatened status allows the
Service to include exemptions permitted under Section 4(d) of the ESA
allowing certain management activities to continue to occur with protection
from the loss, injury or harassment of black pinesnakes in this case.
The black pinesnake decision is part of the Service's effort to implement a
court-approved settlement under a Multi-District Listing agreement aimed at
significantly reducing a litigation-driven workload. For more information,
please seehttp://www.fws.gov/southeast/candidateconservation/.
"We crafted the exemptions to provide landowners flexibility to manage for
their objectives while still affording conservation benefits to the black
pinesnake," said Cindy Dohner, the Service's Southeast Regional Director.
"The Service wants landowners to continue managing their land for forestry
and keep working lands working. We realize how important active management
is for the health of a forest, and our decision today will allow for active
management and continued healthy ecosystems to help us recover the black
pinesnake together."
The Service revised the exemptions based on the valuable input from state
conservation agencies, the forest products industry, and others that was
received during two public comment periods totaling 120 days. The
revisions include removing specific management guidelines and scaling back
the criteria needed to meet the exemptions to include most normal timber
management actions. Herbicide treatments, prescribed burning, thinning,
and longleaf pine restoration are examples of normal forestry activities
that also benefit the black pinesnake. These activities could continue to
take place if the conservation measures in the rule are followed. However,
actions that would harm the snake, like ones causing substantial subsurface
disturbance, will not be exempted from take as these activities are not
advisable for the conservation of the species. These exemptions are
voluntary. If landowners prefer to not use the exemptions, they may
consult with the Service on their forestry management practices if there is
a potential to impact the snake.
"Our decision to list the black pinesnake was based on the best scientific
information available and supported by species experts from outside our
agency," said Stephen Ricks, field supervisor for the Service's Ecological
Services Field Office in Mississippi. "And, because the black pinesnake is
found in the same geographic areas as other listed species like the
population of threatened gopher tortoises west of the Tombigbee Waterway,
endangered dusky gopher frog, and endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, some
protections are already in place."
"Most landowners, and the forest products industry, will see little to no
change from this listing in how they currently manage their forests," Ricks
added.
Black pinesnakes are found in the pine forests of southern Mississippi and
Alabama. There are currently 11 known populations of the black pinesnake
in nine counties in Mississippi (Forrest, George, Greene, Harrison, Jones,
Marion, Perry, Stone, and Wayne) and three counties in Alabama (Clarke,
Mobile, and Washington). Some populations span areas in multiple,
neighboring counties.
While the snake has been listed throughout its historical range, it has not
been seen in Louisiana in 40 years and is thought to no longer occur in the
state.
The Service is delaying its decision to designate critical habitat for the
black pinesnake. On March 11, 2015, the Service identified eight areas,
encompassing approximately 338,100 acres, in Mississippi and Alabama as
proposed critical habitat for the black pinesnake. The Service is
continuing to consider which of these areas are essential to the snake's
conservation and expects to offer an additional public comment period on
the critical habitat proposal in 2016.
This snake's decline is primarily attributed to the loss and degradation of
the longleaf pine ecosystem because of habitat fragmentation, fire
suppression, conversion of natural pine forests to densely stocked pine
plantations, and agricultural and urban development. Other threats to the
snake's survival include road mortality and killing by humans.
Black pinesnakes are non-venomous, egg-laying constrictors. Adults range
in size from four to six feet. They are dark brown to black on both their
upper and lower body surfaces, have small heads with pointed snouts, and
are good burrowers. They prefer sandy, well-drained soils with an
open-canopied forest of longleaf pine, a reduced shrub layer, and a dense,
vegetative ground cover.
They may prefer longleaf habitat and are found in all types of pine forest.
The species is closely aligned with the distribution of the longleaf pine
ecosystem that once covered roughly 90 million acres across much of the
southeastern United States. During the 20th century it declined, reaching
a low in the 1990s of around three million acres. However, an extensive
partnership of conservation agencies, non-profits, businesses, and industry
have been taking steps to reverse that decline. Conservation actions taken
to restore the longleaf pine ecosystem will also provide benefits for the
many wildlife species that live there – listed and non-listed alike.
The black pinesnake final listing becomes effective on November 5, 2015
which is 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register on October
6, 2015. The Service published a proposed rule to list the black pinesnake
as threatened on October 7, 2014. The black pinesnake was added to the
Service's list of candidates for federal protection in 1999.
The complete final rule can be obtained by visiting the Federal eRulemaking
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov at Docket Number FWS–R4–ES–2014–0046.
A copy also can be obtained by contacting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi, 39213; phone:
601-321-1121.
black-pinesnake-faq.pdf
