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Many public officials and private citizens in Santa Barbara and Sonoma counties are angry that salamander protection measures have interfered with development and farming, and they contend the protections are based upon "junk science."

Santa Barbara County's population of tiger salamanders was designated as endangered in 2000, with similar protections issued for Sonoma County's salamanders last year. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed reclassifying salamanders in both counties as threatened, a lower designation than endangered, and putting the same protections on all tiger salamanders in Central California.

A Sonoma County consultant involved in mustering salamander protection foes didn't return calls for comment on the lawsuit, which is expected to be filed soon.

One of the highest-profile projects stalled by the critter is the airport district's Santa Maria Research Park, a combination of light industry and golf course that it is proposing to develop near Blosser and Foster roads.

Although the board voted to join Sonoma County efforts in special meeting Feb. 2, Rice said Thursday night that local involvement remains stalled pending receipt of a final copy of the citizen complaint letter seeking an end to salamander protections, a draft of the lawsuit, and confirmation of a strategy to settle the issue out of court.

Rice said the airport board put a limit on how much it will spend for the Sonoma-led legal action, but declined to identify the amount, which he contends is confidential for now.

If the city council decides to join the effort, the decision would be discussed behind closed doors as allowed under state law, she said.

Other northern Santa Barbara County agricultural, business and development organizations reportedly are weighing whether to join the Sonoma effort.

"Right now we're not taking part in this suit," said Vic Tognazzini, an agribusinessman and Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau member. "It has nothing to do with the merits of the case. We certainly agree with them."

In a similar action, a Lompoc Valley-led effort is trying to get the western snowy plover removed from endangered species protection lists under a federal lawsuit filed recently.

Staff writer Janene Scully can be reached at 739-2214 or by e-mail at janscully@pulitzer.net.