Hmm... It's missing from the list of executive orders on their website at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/executive_orders/ - I wonder where on the TPWD site they intend to post the list of closed caves that's mentioned in the order?
Cheers, David Butch Fralia said the following on 8/2/2010 4:20 PM: > This is being forwarded to the list from Logan McNatt who cannot post > from his work e-mail address�. > > > > Butch > > > > > > This is a general policy statement that applies only to caves on TPWD > properties, e.g. state parks and wildlife management areas. Decisions > are being made on a case by case basis. So far, Gorman Cave at Colorodo > Bend SP is the only cave normally open to visitors that has been closed. > The policy was developed after much thought and consultation with other > agencies, including Bat Conservation International. Logan > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > *TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT* > > * EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORDER NO. 010-005* > > > > > > The Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department orders > the restrictions to public access to certain department lands and > facilities as provided herein. > > > > Due to the detection of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bat populations in > nearby states, the Executive Director has determined that it is > necessary to authorize staff of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department > (the department) to restrict public access, where necessary, to caves or > other natural features on state parks, wildlife management areas, and > any other lands under the management of the department, in order to > prevent the possible spread of WNS as a result of human contact. > > > > WNS is a fungal pathogen whose etiology, pathology, distribution, and > dispersal have not been well studied and are not well understood. WNS is > believed to disrupt the feeding and hibernation cycles of affected > individuals, leading to death in almost all cases. WNS poses no threat > to human beings. At the present time, WNS is not known to have spread to > Texas; however, since its discovery in the northeastern United States in > 2006, it has spread southward and westward and now has been detected or > is suspected to exist in 14 states and two Canadian provinces, including > the states of Missouri and Oklahoma. Although the mechanics of WNS > transmission are not definitively known, mammalogists have recommended > the closure of hibernacula (areas where bats hibernate) to human contact > in order to minimize the potential spread of WNS. WNS has been detected > in nine species of bats thus far (little brown bat, eastern small-footed > bat, northern long-eared bat, tri-colored bat, big brown bat, Indiana > bat, gray bat, cave myotis, and southeastern myotis). Because several of > the species of bats known to be susceptible to WNS are found in Texas, > the department believes it is prudent to identify and close to public > access those areas under the control of the department where physical > contact between humans and bats or bat habitat may occur. > > > > *_It is therefore ordered that department staff is authorized to > restrict public access, as necessary, to any feature or area under > department control in order to prevent the spread of WNS. Department > staff is also authorized to allow controlled access to caves and other > areas under conditions prescribed by the department, including escorted > visitation, limitations on activities and conduct, and decontamination > protocols._* > > > > The department will prominently post those areas that are closed to > public access, and will publish a list of the closed areas on the > department website. > > > > This order is issued pursuant to �81.401 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife > Code, and 31 Tex. Admin. Code �59.132(a), �59.134(e), �65.192(f), > �65.204(d). This order is effective immediately. > > > > Signed this the 29^th day of July, 2010. > > > > > > > > cid:[email protected] > > Carter Smith > > Executive Director > > Texas Parks and Wildlife Department > > > -- David Ochel, mailto:[email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
