Preliminary assessment of current threatened and endangered vertebrates on the Oak Ridge Reservation

A number of environmental regulations mandated the need for identification and protection of diminishing wildlife resources. For example the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 (NEPA) established the need for identifying and preserving our vanishing natural resources. Several laws emphasized the need for protection of wildlife species. Notable statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (amended 1965) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 were enacted. The Endangered Species Act identified certain species, which without careful management were in danger of becoming extinct. In addition to Federal laws. State laws, like the Tennessee Non-game and Endangered or Threatened Wildlife Species Conservation Act of 1974, that include not only federally listed species but also species of special concern within the state, were passed. The State laws of Tennessee classified plant and animal species as threatened, endangered or in-need-of-management. State laws recognized the necessity for careful habitat management to protect these animals.

On December 19, 1994, the Department of Energy (DOE) adopted a policy that land management was to be based upon principles of ecosystem management and sustainable development. To accomplish this management approach, an assessment of the threatened and endangered species of the Oak Ridge Reservation was necessary. The objectives of this study were to design, implement, and test procedures and methods for surveying threatened and endangered vertebrate species and, to provide a preliminary assessment of the current status of threatened and endangered vertebrates species on the Oak Ridge Reservation. Response to this policy revision by the Oak Ridge Reservation was demonstrated by surveys of threatened and endangered plant (Awl et al., 1996) and animal (Mitchell et al., 1996) species and their habitats.