SPECIES STANCE BY CITY CRITICIZED.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - When the city welcomed new federal habitat boundaries set for the endangered arroyo southwestern toad, some environmentalists couldn't help but see a double standard.

The city failed to support broader habitat proposed for the endangered toad, while at the same time enlisting the Endangered Species Act to fight a controversial proposed mine just outside city limits.

``I find it a little hypocritical that they use the Endangered Species Act to fight the mining project but fail to (support the habitat area),'' said resident Teresa Savakie. ``Either you truly care about endangered species and their habitat and their overall environment, or you don't.''

The city, however, says that's just not so.

Just because the city's not fighting to create a broader habitat for the toad doesn't mean it's not interested in protecting established species, said Deputy City Manager Rick Putnam.

``I don't see it as hypocritical at all,'' said Putnam. ``I can understand where the environmentalists try to make that connection ... (but) establishing the habitat for the arroyo southwestern toad is very different from having already established species.''

Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established critical habitat for the toad, a small, endangered species that has lost 75 percent of its historic habitat due to urban development and other activities, officials said.

The area, which includes parts of Castaic Creek, San Francisquito Creek and other areas, was designated to be 8,300 acres, down from 34,000 acres first proposed.

Habitat designation means the federal agency must take into account impact on the toad when property owners seek federal permits to use their land.

The city had argued against the broader boundary, contending that much of the land already was targeted for development and would not be suitable habitat for the toad.

But at the same time, environmentalists argue, the city has filed suit over the mine, claiming the federal environmental review failed to take into account harm that could occur to another endangered species if mine operations go forward.

The city filed suit against the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying the unarmored three-spine stickleback, an endangered fish, could be harmed by mine operations, said Putnam.

Transit Mixed Concrete of Azusa has proposed the mining operation, which is pending review.

``How can you find anything more contradicting: We don't want you to designate habitat, but we're going to sue you?'' Savakie said. ``I don't want to make enemies with the city, but I do think it is very hypocritical.''

Still, the city says it's trying to take a practical approach to the issue - protecting the stickleback where it exists but not creating broader habitat for the toad in areas where urbanization is already under way.

``It's all about trying to find what reasonable measures are,'' said Jeff Lambert, the city's director of planning and building services.

``We weren't just saying get rid of all this area,'' said Lambert. ``We're saying, what makes sense here ... If we thought we needed additional area set aside to protect the habitat, we would.''