"waiting for the flower to bloom so a plant expert can determine the true identity of the plants...
"My hope is it's not there at all," public works director Alan Harrison said. "It will make life a lot easier on everybody."
Last fall, the state said that the federally threatened species could exist on seven sites where New Kent County plans to run water and sewer lines in an attempt to attract business development...
"We are positively insane in this country to go to this length to protect something," said Steve Haner, vice president for public policy for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. "What you've got here is an example of a potentially good idea that's absolutely run amok, that they would hold up a project like that over a plant that just might be there and they're not even sure it's the same plant. I mean, c'mon. It's just silly."
...
Fewer than 500 small whorled pogonia plants, also called Isotria medeoloides, have been found in 15 to 20 sites in Virginia, said Chris Ludwig, chief biologist in the natural heritage division of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
....
In addition to being on the federal endangered species list, the plants are classified as endangered under the Virginia Endangered Plant and Insect Species Act."
source and complete news item :
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-sou--rareorchid0519may19,0,1727181.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia0
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