Shutdown woes sour candy darter deliberations

摘要

An Endangered Species Act debate over the candy darter that started with a splash could effectively end in a whimper today, amid apartial government shutdown that has muffled the Fish and Wildlife Service.After several decades of deliberations sharpened by litigation, FWS has proposed designating 370 miles of streams in Virginia andWest Virginia as critical habitat for the endangered little fish.Though the plan sounds ambitious, FWS has also determined that "significant economic impacts are not expected" from the candydarter's critical habitat designation. And instead of the conflicts that can accompany critical habitat calls, this one seemingly hasevoked only calm."I fully support providing habitat so that the candy darter can survive," one public commenter wrote.