Costly Spider, shouldn’t whoever wants to protect the spices pay for the difference? (Roma: 2014)

[Texanraider]

So I heard the news that the underpass planned in 151 and 1604 is now going to be an overpass with a tag of $44M from the original $15M. I have some questions about all this mess

Who discovered the blind spider, I mean I laborer was picking away and saw the spider and said “oh wow! A blind spider! Aren’t these extinct? Or are these extinct protectors in every construction project?

If they want to protect this spider and is the federal government who is mandating the over pass, shouldn’t be them who pay for the $29M difference?

I smell a rat in here, there is something that does not add up.

[elnina]

The spider is not eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act, which imposes penalties for trafficking, harming or killing endangered species, because it's not actually a distinct species.
In recent years, researchers have suggested that the spider should be consolidated with three other types previously thought to be distinct species.
http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-...-protected-esa

[Bo]

I disagree that someone is to blame for this. Projects fall behind schedule all the time, for a variety of reasons.

Looks at the Wurzbach Parkway project, which fell behind because a contractor underbid the project and went bankrupt. That project's cost must have increased by millions, but that amount hasn't been publicized AFAIK. Who's to blame? A bankrupt contractor who underestimated what the project would cost.

In this case, a project fell behind to determine whether continuing it would violate Federal law. The fact that some people think the law is silly or the animals it's meant to protect weren't worth protecting, is immaterial. It's the law. The person who discovered the spider saved the contractors from facing prosecution or fines for violating Federal law.

[SASUX]

Walmarts under construction never hit these hurdles

[cbeltran428]

Originally Posted by Texanraider

So I heard the news that the underpass planned in 151 and 1604 is now going to be an overpass with a tag of $44M from the original $15M. I have some questions about all this mess

Who discovered the blind spider, I mean I laborer was picking away and saw the spider and said “oh wow! A blind spider! Aren’t these extinct? Or are these extinct protectors in every construction project?

If they want to protect this spider and is the federal government who is mandating the over pass, shouldn’t be them who pay for the $29M difference?

I smell a rat in here, there is something that does not add up.

If I remember correctly a cave was uncovered in the construction area after heavy rains exposed the opening. They sent a Biologist that was already working closely with txdot to investigate because they suspected that the project could encounter such a cave or karst invertebrate habitat. That person found the protected spider and the project was stopped.

[Labamigo]

Originally Posted by SASUX

Walmarts under construction never hit these hurdles

Nor do federal courthouses.

[Rustybolt]

Originally Posted by elnina

The spider is not eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act, which imposes penalties for trafficking, harming or killing endangered species, because it's not actually a distinct species.
In recent years, researchers have suggested that the spider should be consolidated with three other types previously thought to be distinct species.
Feds Rule Blind Spider Not Protected by ESA | Heartlander Magazine

The article you cite has nothing to do with the Braken Bat Cave spider that was found and that is on the endangered species list. See Species Profile for Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver (Cicurina venii). You should moderate your post. That folks don't understand why an endangered species should be protected is part of the problem. Remember fireflies? My grandsons have never seen them and probably never will. WalMarts and other private developments aren't nearly as encumbered by the T&E list as projects funded with Federal funds are. You will never see a Federal court house endanger a species on th T&E list.