Freshwater Mollusks Conservation Society

FMCS Environmental Quality and Affairs Committee

Chairs:
Mickey MATTHEWS - Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department - (mickey.matthews@ardot.gov)

Braven BEATY - The Nature Conservancy - (bbeaty@tnc.org)

CASS: Informational Flyer
Bill introduced to remove freshwater mussels from list of endangered and threatened species
Congress Attempts to Wade into Waters of the U.S.
CASS' Further Comments on Amendment of the WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES RULE
European Private Collections Survey of Natural History Specimens
AFS letter "Comments on Waters of the United States"
Statement of Organization and Purpose

The Environmental Quality and Affairs Committee (EQAC) identifies and reviews current environmental issues and develops public comments and position statements for the Society. The name of this committee was changed from "Water Quality, Habitat, and Zebra Mussel Committee" in March 2003. Comments have ranged from developing support letters for conservation initiatives to review of Environmental Impact Statements. It typically draws from the expertise of Society members as well as like-minded members from other societies. If you are aware of environmental issues or policy developments that could impact freshwater mollusks in a positive or negative way, please bring them to the Committee for review. Members that are interested in environmental issues related to freshwater mollusks are encouraged to join the EQAC.

FMCS Public Policy/Comments:

2017

CASS' waters of the United States Rule - September 21, 2017

FMCS Comments on the Updated Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aluminum

CASS Condemns Silencing of EPA Scientists

FMCS Memorandum of Agreement with Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies

CASS' Letter on Repeal of the Waters of the United States Rule

Federal Register Announcement of Repeal of WOTUS Rule

FMCS Comments on Environmental Impact Statement for the Pat Harrison Waterway District and George County Proposed Big Cedar Creek and Little Cedar Creek Dams (2/3/2017)

2016
MCS Comments on EPA-USGS Technical Report: Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration (5/11/16)

FMCS Letter on AC and MV Pipelines (4/26/16)

2013
Proposed Policy Letter: Carriage of conditionally permitted shale gas extraction wastewater in bulk (12/2/13)

Comments on Proposed Endangered Status for Fluted Kidneyshell and Slabside Pearlymussel, and Designation of Critical Habitat for both species (5/28/13)

2012
Comments on critical habitat designation for 8 freshwater mussel species, docket #FWS-R4-ES-2011_0050 (4/26/12)

Cumberland River Aquatic Center Support Letter (12/18/12)

Comments on Proposed Endangered Status for Neosho Mucket, Threatened Status for Rabbitsfoot, and Designation of Critical Habitat for both species (December 2012)

2011
NiSource Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (12/13/11)

ALCC comment letter (4/20/11)

FMCS comments on the proposal to list the spectaclecase mussel (Cumberlandia monodonta) and sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (March 2011)

FMCS support for the protection of freshwater mussel habitat in Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky (February 2011)

2010
FMCS letter in support of the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) petition to list a large group of freshwater mollusk species under the US Endangered Species Act (May 2010)

FMCS comments on the Draft 2009 Update Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia – Freshwater” (March 2010)

2009
FMCS comments on proposed revisions to the SMCR Act (December 2009)

FMCS support letter for the proposed regulation changes to list 15 mussels as Threatened in Texas (November 2009)

FMCS support for the elimination of the Nationwide Permit 21 (NW 21) (October 2009)

FMCS support for the reauthorization of the consultation requirements (Section 7) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (April 2009)

2008
FMCS comment letter in support of PA mussel listing (December 2008)

FMCS support letter for the Center of Biological Diversity petition to list 42 species of freshwater snails (November 2008)

FMCS stream buffer zone letter (November 2008)

FMCS ESA Revisions comments (September 2008)

FMCS NFS support letter for Athearn collection (May 2008)

2007
FMCS EPA ammonia letter (April 2007)

2006
FMCS TVA land policy letter (November 2006)

FMCS position on dredging (May 2006)

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