Endangered Species Act prohibits development on proposed building site for new administrative centre
A letter from forest entomologist and Tiny resident, Paul Bell to Tiny Council and the Severn Sound Environmental Association noting the presence of endangered ice age grass, by law, disqualifies the proposed site of the new administrative building
Paul Bell
6/4/20241 min read
I trust, that the Severn Sound Environmental Association, SSEA, if involved in an environmental impact statement, in conjunction with Tiny Township's new Admin Centre proposal, that you are aware that Forked Three-awned Grass also called Ice Age Grass (Aristida basiramea) grows in the area. I have just received several published reports on its specific locations, and have walked the said property on several occasions.
As you likely know, Ice Age Grass is found in only two very limited areas in all of Canada, Tiny being one of those.
According to the Endangered Species Act, it "DOES NOT PERMIT DEVELOPMENT OR SITE ALTERATION", whatsoever.
I'm assuming that someone on your staff can identify the plant, even though positive I.D. needs to see the lemma subtending the fruits with the three awns, one being divergent, and that they do not appear until late August through October. An 'Environmental assessment' in June would have no value in that regard. Endangered species in a known habitat can't just be ignored according to the law.
Please let me know, if I can assist in any way.
yours,
Paul D. Bell, Ph.D.
Forest Entomologist
