Commissioners seek more time on Endangered Species Act proposal

On May 13, the Board of Mesa County Commissioners approved a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding a proposed change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Board is urging federal officials to give stakeholders more time to review the proposed change to determine potential impacts on local infrastructure projects.

Currently, the Board is requesting a 30-day extension to the public comment period. Commissioners believe more time is needed to fully understand the potential impacts on local projects and how best to balance environmental protection with community needs.

“We need the opportunity to do our due diligence,” the Board stated in its letter. “These decisions can affect everything from public safety improvements to economic development.”

Mesa County remains committed to working with our federal partners to ensure that local voices are heard and that future decisions reflect the needs of the environment and the people​ it serves.

View the full letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For information about the federal proposal, visit the Regulations.gov website.