The endangered desert tortoise remains on the county's radar. It didn't end with a decision by Nye County commissioners not to submit a habitat conservation plan to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last summer.

Last month commissioners directed newly hired Nye County planner Kyle Walton to modify a low-effect habitat conservation plan for the tortoise.

Last Tuesday commissioners approved a charter with the Desert Tortoise Management Oversight Group, established in 1988 to coordinate planning and management activities affecting the desert tortoise.

The group charter calls for meetings at least annually to analyze desert tortoise information; report on management actions; identify research needed to resolve management issues; identify threats and conflicts; coordinate existing laws and review ongoing research.

The Mojave Desert population of the desert tortoise was listed as endangered in 1998, which was followed by publication of a Mojave Desert tortoise recovery plan in 1994.

Commissioner Butch Borasky took the lead on both items.

Last month he read off the timetable of all the negotiations over a desert tortoise habitat conservation plan, beginning with a plan drafted by Entrix Consultants in November 2007. Nye County Environmental Compliance Specialist Mary Ellen Giampaoli then introduced a plan. It was rejected.

In June 2008 consultant Julene Haworth prepared another plan, but commissioners last August balked at paying her fee.

Federal officials told Nye County commissioners a habitat conservation plan would allow only up to 100 acres of disturbance, a figure Commissioner Gary Hollis said was too low.

"We want to get as much acreage as possible. We want to stay in the low-effect plan with no effect on the valley floor," Borasky said.

Borasky said after the approval of a desert tortoise plan, he wants the county to immediately draft a multi-species habitat conservation plan to bring Pahrump into compliance.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can impose $10,000 fines for persons building without a habitat conservation plan.

Walton said he brings to Nye County about 20 years of experience working in southern Nevada with federal authorities on various environmental issues, including 17 years in Las Vegas doing strategic planning.