Stop Los Angeles International Airport from Bulldozing Butterfly Habitat
12/15/97
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Headline: Stop Los Angeles International Airport from Bulldozing Butterfly
Habitat
Source: Los Angeles Audubon Society
7377 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90046
Date: 12/15/97
Los Angeles Audubon Society
7377 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90046
Endangered Habitats League
8424A Santa Monica Boulevard, #592
Los Angeles, California 90069
December 11, 1997
Dear Friends,
Members of the conservation community in Los Angeles have been fighting
for years to protect the El Segundo dunes, which support the largest
remaining population of the endangered El Segundo blue butterfly and
other endemic species. The dunes, located off the end of the runways
at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), are owned by the City
of Los Angeles and controlled by the City's Department of Airports.
Unfortunately, the Airport views the dunes not as habitat, but as real
estate, and a mega-expansion is being planned.
As part of these plans, LAX is proposing to build new runways over a
third of the remaining undeveloped dunes (approximately 100 of 300
acres). However, this area has been designated by the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service (USFWS) as part of the "Recovery Unit" essential for
the long-term survival of the El Segundo blue butterfly. We are
strongly supportive of the USFWS Draft Recovery Plan and wish to see it
finalized intact. This, however, will be a political battle; the
Airport will likely attempt to use its considerable political clout to
free up the 100 acres of dunes for development by urging that the 100
acres not be included in the Final Recovery Plan. This would be a
tragedy, jeopardizing the survival of the El Segundo blue butterfly,
and many other species of plants and animals restricted to the dunes.
We need the help of other conservationists. Favorable comments in
support of the Draft Recovery Plan will be essential to ensure that the
boundaries identified in the Draft Recovery Plan as critical to the
species' recovery are not changed to accommodate the airport expansion.
Please voice your support for good science and sound conservation
planning by writing a short note (see below for sample) to USFWS
stating that you endorse the Draft Recovery Plan and protection of all
that remains of the El Segundo dunes. (Copies of the Draft Recovery
Plan can be requested by calling Chris Nagano at 760-431-9440.)
Comments can be sent until December 29, 1997 to:
Mr. Gail Kobetich, Field Supervisor
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
2730 Loker Avenue West
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Comments may also be sent via email to .
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Catherine Rich
President
Los Angeles Audubon Society
Dan Silver
Coordinator
Endangered Habitats League
************************SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. Gail Kobetich, Field Supervisor
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
2730 Loker Avenue West
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Dear Mr. Kobetich:
We support the actions outlined in the El Segundo Blue Butterfly
(Euphilotes battoides allyni) Draft Recovery Plan for the recovery of
the species, particularly preservation of the entire remaining portion
of the El Segundo dunes at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
We oppose LAX proposals to expand the airport onto the dunes, and
believe that protection and restoration of the habitat of the El
Segundo blue should be paramount. The Draft Recovery Plan correctly
recognizes that the LAX dunes present the best opportunity for the
long-term persistence of the butterfly and its habitat. Because so
much of the El Segundo dunes have been developed, protection of all
that remains is essential.
We look forward to the implementation of the Recovery Plan and the
eventual downlisting of the El Segundo blue butterfly.
Sincerely,
[Your name/organization]