[BobAlston]

More responses to questions from TPWD:

Answers added below.
Ken Kurzawski
TPWD Inland Fisheries

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Alston [mailto:bobalston@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 2:37 PM
To: Ken Kurzawski
Subject: Re: Crypt species not on current list - followup

Thank you for clarifying. I was of the understanding, based on what
Lance Robinson of TPWD wrote recently, that it was not too late to get
newly submitted plants on the approved list. But, given that TPWD
cannot do so before May 1, I appreciate learning of the "mechanism" you
mention to allow us to legally possess plants between now and May 1,
while TPWD continues to assess submissions. (I had not noticed that in
my prior reading of the proposed rules)

Can you provide a bit more detail as to the process that will be followed?

1) Should new submissions be submitted to either yourself or Dr. Chilton?

Either or both is fine for now.

2) Will you continue to maintain the "list of all plants considered" and
update it regularly with new plant submissions, so that we can determine
that the TPWD was received our submission?

Yes.

3) How quickly might we expect new submissions to appear on the "list of
all plants considered"?

Our staff will have to discuss whether we want to immediately add plants to that list or make some sort of initial determination on attributes such as native or not, synonym to other species, etc. Timelines will be based on how many additions we receive.

4) When a final determination is made, will you update the "list of all
plants considered" in addition to adding to the approved list, if
approved? That would be quite helpful as that would keep the "list of
all plants considered" as a good place to see the status of any plant
that has been considered or is being considered by TPWD.

Yes. Any plants added to the Approved List will have to go before the TPW Commission for their approval.

5) For plants that have been rejected, will you publish an complete and
understandable statement as to why for each plant evaluated and rejected?

Yes, risk assessments for plants will be made available.

6) After May 1, on an ongoing basis, how rapidly might we expect TPWD to
complete analysis of new plant submissions? Please be specific.

Since we do not know the number of plants that we may be requested to add, it is not possible to be specific on how long to would take us to assess those. As below, the proposed rules allow a person to continue legal possession of exotic plants after the proposed implementation date of May 1 if they notify TPWD that they wish to have specific plants added to the list. Those requested plants would remain legal until TPWD assesses whether they can be added to the approved list. Current rules, which specify prohibited species, will remain in effect up to the date of the implementation of the new rules.

Thank you again.

Bob