S'nailed another one ;-)
Posted on 03/12/2004 9:53:01 PM PST by farmfriend
Endangered snails halt environmental review of Poly dorm project
Jeff Ballinger
The Tribune
The discovery of endangered snails has halted the environmental review of a 2,700-bed dormitory planned at Cal Poly.
While the find delays completion of the environmental report, it is not expected to affect the construction phase of the project, said Larry Kelley, the university's vice president for administration and finance.
University officials say 14 Morro shoulderband snails were found during a recent inspection. The snails, which are about an inch in diameter and bear a distinctive stripe, are on the federal list of endangered species.
Kelley said Cal Poly officials have met once with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials to explore options for dealing with the snails. One idea is to develop a habitat conservation plan that could move the snails.
"We'll know more over the next couple of months," Kelley said. "The project can still move forward on course, and we believe it will be delivered on time."
In the meantime, he said, Cal Poly will proceed with the planning process. The first of three phases is expected to open in 2008.
"We're also very much committed to building additional student housing on campus and to continue working on this project," Kelley said.
Efforts to reach officials with the Fish and Wildlife Service were unsuccessful.
The university announced in January that the project would be delayed two years, after the California State University Chancellor's Office ordered all 23 campuses in the system to decrease enrollment in the wake of state budget cuts.
Cal Poly reduced its enrollment by nearly 600 students this quarter to 17,540. University officials anticipate it may admit between 600 and 800 fewer students this coming fall to offset state cuts.
Cal Poly officials anticipate the state's fiscal crisis should begin to turn around in two to three years, with ensuing increases in enrollment coming in 2008, when about 900 of the 2,700 beds are expected to be available.
Don't you just put out saucers of beer? There should be plenty of that at CalPoly.
S'nailed another one ;-)
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