California High-Speed Rail Project Could Harm Protected Fox

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Federal authorities say California's $68 billion high-speed rail could harm the protected kit fox.

The Fresno Bee reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Federal Railroad Administration are out of compliance with environmental commitments for building the bullet-train line in the Fresno-Madera area. They claim a contractor's preliminary work infringed on habitat for the fox. Officials broke ground on the initial phase of the project in January.

The San Joaquin kit fox, about the size of a cat, has been on the federal endangered species list since 1967.

In a letter, a Fish and Wildlife official chastised the agencies for work done by contractor Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons.

A biologist hired by the contractor determined that the potential San Joaquin kit fox den near the Fresno site was not active last summer.