The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that it will cost
the government and private sector $1.4 million over the next 20
years to protect eight endangered and threatened freshwater
mussels in proposed critical habitat covering 1,495 miles of
streams in southern Alabama and northwest Florida. The economic
impact and cost study is being published today in the Federal
Register. The service is seeking public comment on the cost and
economic impact of the proposal, which covers the habitat of the
Alabama pearlshell, round ebonyshell, southern sandshell,
southern kidneyshell, and Choctaw bean -- all of which are
endangered species. The tapered pigtoe, the narrow pigtoe and
the fuzzy pigtoe are classified as threatened species. According
to the estimate, most of the cost will be borne by federal and
state regulatory agencies that review permits and design
recovery plans for the mussels. Paul Johnson, the director of
the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, said that in most cases
the new critical habitat alrea