Immediately after posting the message below I got a reply from TPWD. Nothing has changed for the ICS. We will not enter bat caves (which is ICS policy anyway) and we will have access to non-bat caves as previously agreed.
Someone please forward this note to the GVKS and CVILLEGROTTO lists. I'm not signed up to post there. Thanks, George From: nmcaver-boun...@caver.net [mailto:nmcaver-boun...@caver.net] On Behalf Of George Veni Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 11:42 AM To: 'nmcaver'; 'gvks'; cvillegro...@yahoogroups.com; 'txcaver' Subject: Re: [NMCAVER] WNS and ICS Over one month ago, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department granted access to their non-bat caves for the ICS (we will have access to the Devil's Sinkhole to watch bats fly out, but we can't enter). I am now checking to see if that policy has changed. Stay tuned. George Veni Chairman, 15th International Congress of Speleology From: nmcaver-boun...@caver.net [mailto:nmcaver-boun...@caver.net] On Behalf Of Jim Kennedy Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 10:43 AM To: Minton, Mark; nmcaver; gvks; cvillegro...@yahoogroups.com; txcaver Subject: Re: [NMCAVER] WNS and ICS Mark, and all - the ICS has been planning around WNS for the past 2 years. There will be a set of cleaning/decon protocols in the Program book. There will be cleaning/decon stations on campus. There will be trash bags (for gear) and cleaning products on all the buses and vans. Many caves have been removed from the visitation list because of WNS. Many trips have been cancelled outright because of WNS. Timing could not be worse, having this happen right as we are planning one of the biggest and most important caving events in the world. But we are Taking precautions not only to avoid premature introduction to Texas, and also to avoid potential cross-contamination and introduction into yet another country. But as George keeps saying, this is an event not to miss, and we need everyone possible to attend, partly to make up lost revenue from the cancelled trips and to offset the additional (unplanned) expenses from dealing with WNS. -- Jim From: Minton, Mark [mailto:mmin...@nmhu.edu] Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 11:23 AM To: nmcaver; gvks; cvillegro...@yahoogroups.com; txcaver Subject: [Texascavers] Texas Considering Closing Caves for WNS The following article says that the Texas is considering closing all caves in the state to ward off the possible introduction of White Nose Syndrome. The order would only apply to state-owned caves. I wonder how that would affect the upcoming ICS/NSS convention. <http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1408256.html>
