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Tell Builders Where the Owls Are
By Martin Mitchell
If anyone happens to spot a cactus ferruginous pygmy owl while they are traveling in the Tucson area, could they please tell the citizens of Arizona where they saw it? They will be doing the state a big favor.
The federal government refuses to divulge the whereabouts of the endangered owls, and that’s costing Arizonans a lot of money. Protecting the owl under the federal Endangered Species Act will cost residents of Pima and Pinal counties as much as $108 million over the next 10 years. It will also increase the cost of new homes there by $7,000-$12,000.
The proposed habitat designation for the owl will also complicate the future growth and planning efforts of private landowners and local governments alike. Severe land restrictions would be imposed upon 69% of the private land in Pima County, the same county where the Tucson planning office expects to develop 4,500 acres of land each year for the next 20 years to meet the city's growth needs.
Since July of 1998, NAHB has been asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tell us where the birds are. The information is needed for two reasons. First, it will enable NAHB members in Arizona to propose alternative, more practical critical habitat designations that protect the owl and private property rights. Second, this data will help builders determine whether there are birds on their property. If there are, then they face significant penalties if they disturb habitat while developing their land.
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