Here is a follow-up to the news release I forwarded recently about the Endangered Species Act. Jane Clark Endangered Species Coalition Update Thursday, March 28, 2007 Bush Administration's Insidious Attack on Endangered Species Act The Bush administration is picking up where Rep. Richard Pombo left off with a sweeping effort to weaken the Endangered Species Act. While administration officials are paying lip service to the overwhelming public opinion in favor of strong endangered species protection, behind closed doors, this administration is conducting a quiet and insidious attack on endangered species protections. "I will vigorously oppose any weakening of the Endangered Species Act, which has saved the American bald eagle and which is now playing a role in saving the polar bear," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee "That type of dismantling of the [Endangered Species Act], that was attempted in the past and sounds like is being attempted in a backdoor fashion by this administration, needs to stop." Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV), chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Congressional Quarterly, March 28, 2007 A leaked 117 page memo outlines the Interior Department's proposed new regulations that would undermine Endangered Species Act protections. The draft regulations would: Severely limit the listing of new endangered species Restrict habitat protections against disturbance, pesticides, exotic species, and disease Allow destruction of all restored habitat within critical habitat areas Allow projects to proceed that have been determined to threaten species with extinction Remove recovery as a protection standard Allow states to veto endangered species introductions Allow states to take over virtually all aspects of the Endangered Species Act without the necessary funding or experience These draft regulations represent a total rejection of the values held by the vast majority Americans: that we have a responsibility to protect endangered species and the special places they call home. Since anti-environmental officials failed to make these changes through the legislative process, the Bush Administration is attempting to do so through administrative maneuverings. Department of Interior Solicitor's Opinion : Limiting which species can be protected On March 16th, the Department of Interior's Solicitor-the Department's lead attorney- released a legal opinion that could greatly limit which species could be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. By reinterpreting what constitutes a "significant portion of [a species'] range", the policy attempts to create a loophole so that the administration doesn't have to list species as endangered if they are not at risk in certain areas. Using this standard, the bald eagle, grizzly bear and gray wolf would never have been protected and the peregrine falcon, black-footed ferret and California condor would never have been reintroduced into new states. What may seem like simple wordsmithing could have a significant impact on protections for our nation's endangered species. A version of former Representative Richard Pombo's "Extinction Bill" included a very similar provision which would have required that a species be imperiled "throughout all of its current range" before being listed. As the Bush Administration has done with similar policies that may be viewed unfavorably by the public, the policy was announced late on a Friday afternoon without a press release, announcement, or the opportunity for public comment. Using this "dark of night" tactic, the administration is attempting to change policy without citizen and scientific input or Congressional oversight. More information can be found in the ESC's factsheet on the Department of Interior's Solicitors Opinion. Action: Speak in support of strong endangered species protection Please join the millions of American's who care about endangered species by helping to demonstrate the broad public support for Endangered Species Act protections.Please consider submitting a letter to the editor of your local paper to raise awareness about this issue. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne reaffirmed the Department's intent to overhaul ESA during a recent Congressional hearing. It's not surprising that the Bush Administration is trying again to weaken endangered species protections. However, it is surprising that they are trying to claim that the American public supports weakening environmental protections. Despite strong support for endangered species protections as evidenced by tens of thousands of comments in the Administration's Cooperative Conservation Listening Sessions, Kempthorne has stated that he is acting on behalf of the majority of people who want changes to the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Coalition is a non-partisan coalition working with decisionmakers from all parties. With over 360 member groups located all across the country, including conservation organizations, scientific associations, religious organizations, hunting and fishing associations, hiking clubs, humane societies, student groups and concerned citizens, we are as diverse as the species we are working to protect. Endangered Species Coalition P.O. Box 65195 Washington, D.C. 20035 (202) 955-5758 www.stopextinction.org ŠESC 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp