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Endangered Species Act under Attack
Last post 03-02-2009, 15:36 by Catbird. 18 replies.
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 08-26-2008, 16:21 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Endangered Species Act under Attack
Deadline for Comments is September 15, so please act NOW if you want to voice your opinion.
http://audubonaction.org/campaign/endangeredspecies/8w6bngx4f3tke7k?
Endangered Species Act Under Attack
 In it's final few months in office, the Bush Administration has launched an attack on the Endangered Species Act, our most important wildlife law. The Department of Interior has proposed changes to Endangered Species Act regulations that, if enacted, will gut the regulatory process that protects listed species like Whooping Cranes, Piping Plovers, and Roseate Terns.
The Endangered Species Act currently requires federal agencies to consult with wildlife biologists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service (depending on the species) before undertaking a project that "may affect" an endangered species. The new proposed rule would greatly limit the circumstances requiring these vitally important consultations, allowing federal agencies to determine on their own if their proposed actions would harm a species, without having to consult with federal biologists who have expert knowledge of the species.
Please help us defend the Endangered Species Act from this latest attack. These proposed sweeping changes will seriously hamper the Act's ability to provide a much needed safety net for our most imperiled wildlife. Your comments are a critical part of the public record in support of our premier wildlife law and we must not be silent. But, the deadline for public comment is September 15.
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| 08-26-2008, 16:32 |
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Catbird
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Joined on 05-19-2008
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Thanks Sally. I read about this last week and e-mailed my local congressman, who, sadly, supports the Bush administration in all things. I am glad to have another way to help add my voice, and hope we are listened to.
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| 08-26-2008, 20:00 |
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Bville
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Oklahoma
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
 Catbird: I am glad to have another way to help add my voice, and hope we are listened to.
What Catbird said! Thanks for the heads up, Sally.
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| 08-29-2008, 14:09 |
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socal
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Joined on 05-18-2008
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
sallyls: Now that we've made ourselves heard... please do inform us here if and when you happen to hear anything further about the matter. I, for one, am keenly interested in the final outcome. Thanks again for the heads up for all of us critter and nature lovers!
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| 08-29-2008, 20:25 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Kentucky
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Will do socal. I subscribe to a congressional update from congress.org called megavote which tells me about recent and upcoming votes in house and senate as well as how my representatives voted. I get the audubon action news also so I'll try to keep in touch. So many issues, and its election season so its easy to loose track.
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| 08-30-2008, 1:00 |
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Catbird
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Sally: What socal said....it would be good to know the outcome, and if we can, collectively, make a difference. Thank you.
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| 08-31-2008, 10:25 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Spread the word. I like to beleive that democracy of the people, speaking loudly, can still be effective!
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| 09-18-2008, 10:25 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Kentucky
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
I haven't heard anything new on the ESA, but these two notes came in an audubon advisory email today about other issues.
Bill to Protect Migratory Songbirds Introduced in Senate
On Monday, September 15, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), along with a bipartisan group of seven other senators, introduced a critically important bill for bird conservation. The bill would increase the funding available through the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act for the conservation of birds that breed in North America and spend their winters in the tropics. The bill would increase funding from a current level of $6.5 million per year up to $20 million per year by 2015. The seven original cosponsors of the bill are Senators Whitehouse (D-RI), Voinovich (R-OH), Collins (R-ME), Leahy (D-VT), Kerry (D-MA), Lieberman (I-CT), and Menendez (D-NJ). Stay tuned for your opportunity to let Congress know that this important legislation for migratory birds deserves to pass!
Izembek Road Through Alaska Wilderness Advances in Senate
Buried in a massive package of more than 150 public lands bills that passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Thursday was a bill to develop a road through the heart of wilderness on the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Similar legislation sponsored by Congressman Don Young (R-AK) passed the House Natural Resources Committee earlier this year. The bill seriously threatens millions of migratory birds that rely on the fragile Izembek Refuge and threatens one of America's most unique and valuable wetlands. Stay tuned for updates and alerts on this important issue
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| 09-18-2008, 13:16 |
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Catbird
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Sally: Thank you. Bless you. GO, Sally!
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| 09-25-2008, 20:12 |
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sallyls
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
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Ask Congress to Help Our Treasured Songbirds
More than half of the birds species that breed in North America and winter in Latin America have declining populations. If we hope to continuing sharing our North American communities with Wood Thrushes, Bobolinks, and other treasured neotropical migratory birds, we must ensure that the birds find food, safety, and shelter in all of the countries where they make stops in along their migration. In 2002, Congress passed the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to help protect these habitats, but now the bill must be reauthorized—and time is running out on the 110th Congress!
 E-mail your members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor the reauthorization of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (HR 5756/S 3490) to help save our songbirds!
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act supports conservation programs protecting migratory birds through habitat preservation, education, and research programs. The program is a cooperative, international conservation effort in Canada, the United States, and Latin America. Each year, the number of applicants far exceeds the available funds. At least 29 species of migratory songbirds have experienced population declines of more than 45% since the 1960s. Congress needs to renew and expand this vital and cost-effective conservation program.
We need to act now to save our declining songbirds. The longer we delay, the more irreplaceable habitat will be lost.
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| 09-27-2008, 0:30 |
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socal
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Joined on 05-18-2008
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Thanks again sallyls for the heads up! I sent my letters through the easy links and forms provided. Very easy to do...Hope it helps!... It is so important. All of this is cumulative upon our planet... And sadly, once a species is impacted so much that it becomes extinct, it is impossible to undo the undo-able. Once it's gone, it's gone...
Hi to all. Speaking of songbirds, I had an interesting encounter yesterday on one of my bike rides with a lovely little male Western Blue Bird.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Bluebird
It flew up from the grass to the right of my path and landed on the side of a nearby tree. I stopped my bike, to watch it, as It regarded me nervously for two or three minutes, with what appeared to be a rapid heartbeat and respiration rate. It almost appeared to be stunned, like when a bird hits a window. Anyway, it finally flew off to another tree farther off, but not without having enriched my ride and causing me to smile with joy and appreciation for another of Nature's beauties.
Hugs to all!
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| 09-27-2008, 12:51 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Kentucky
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
socal-doesn't it just make the day so much better when you can have even a brief enjoyable encounter with nature's beauty and creatures? Sure makes my days happier by far! :)
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| 09-28-2008, 14:37 |
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socal
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Joined on 05-18-2008
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
sallyls... Yes! It's much more enjoyable for me to experience the beauty of Nature than any theme park, museum, etc. ... Not to say those are not fun and interesting to me... It's just that they don't feed my soul in the same way. My feeling is that one NEEDS Nature -- as much as one needs good air to breathe, proper nutrition, enough clean water to drink and bathe in, enough good quality sleep and exercise... and of course loving relationships and friendships. I think the spirit needs replenishment also through the arts... But there is something about being out in Earth's natural setting, amongst it's abundant flora and fauna, that fills one's spirit in a way that nothing else does. .... And, of course I'm preaching to the choir on this particular forum, aren't I ? : ) I get that all of you here, dear friends, feel the same....
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| 11-21-2008, 16:53 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Kentucky
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
The fight isn't over yet. We might want to remind our congress persons that we are still here and we expect them to protectour wildlife.
Species Rules Face Last-Minute Changes
By DINA CAPPIELLO
AP
posted: 1 DAY 4 HOURS AGO
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WASHINGTON (Nov. 20) - With the Bush administration on the verge of relaxing regulations protecting endangered species, Democratic leaders are looking at ways to overturn any last-minute rule changes.
The Bush administration has until Friday to publish new rules in order for them to take effect before President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in. Otherwise, Obama can undo them with the stroke of a pen.
A rule eliminating the mandatory, independent advice of government scientists in decisions about whether dams, highways and other projects are likely to harm species looked likely to meet the deadline, leaving the only chance for a quick reversal to Congress.
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House will be looking at ways to overturn the final endangered species rules and other one-minute-to-midnight regulations.
"The House, in consultation with the incoming administration and relevant committees, will review what oversight tools are at our disposal regarding this and other last-minute attempts to inflict severe damage to the law in the waning moments of the Bush administration," Hammill said.
A Nov. 12 version of the final endangered species rules obtained by The Associated Press has changed little from the original proposal, despite the more than 250,000 comments received since it was first proposed in August.
The rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorizing or funding a project to determine for itself whether the project is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants.
Current regulations require independent wildlife biologists to sign off on these decisions before a project can go forward, at times modifying the design to better protect species.
The regulations also bar federal agencies from assessing emissions of the gases blamed for global warming on species and habitats, a tactic environmentalists have tried to use to block new coal-fired power plants. But the Bush administration feels that endangered species laws should not be used to regulate greenhouse gases.
Tina Kreisher, an Interior Department spokeswoman, could not confirm whether the rule would be published before the deadline, saying only that the White House was still reviewing it. She said it was possible more changes could be made.
"We started this; we want to finish this," Kreisher said.
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If the rules go into effect before Obama takes office, they will be difficult to overturn since it would require the new administration to restart the rule-making process. Congress, however, could reverse the rules through the Congressional Review Act, a law that allows review of new federal regulations.
It's been used once in the past 12 years, but some Democratic lawmakers have said they may employ it to block the endangered species rules and other last-minute regulations by the Bush administration.
"This is a shining example of the brash giveaways to industry we expect to see during the Bush administration's final days, and a new Congress will stand at the ready to use our authority to overturn this and other harmful rules," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House select committee for energy independence and global warming.
The Bush administration has made no secret of its intent to complete the endangered species changes quickly.
When the proposal was first announced in August, the public was given 30 days to comment. That period was doubled after Democratic lawmakers pressed for more time.
Then, last month, the head of the endangered species program corralled 15 experts in Washington to sort through 200,000 comments in 32 hours.
"This is definitely lightning quick," said John Kostyack, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming initiative. "I would be surprised that they spent all this time rushing it through if it wasn't greased."
If successful, the Bush administration will accomplish through rules what conservative Republicans have been unable to achieve in Congress: ending some environmental reviews that developers and other federal agencies blame for delays and cost increases on many projects.
Supporters of the changes also expected it to be finalized later this week.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights, urged that the rules be approved.
"Litigious activists have used the Endangered Species Act to fight projects," Reed Hopper, the foundation's principal attorney, said in a statement. "The administration's current proposal is a step toward curbing these abuses."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-11-20 07:05:26
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| 11-21-2008, 17:02 |
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sallyls
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Joined on 05-20-2008
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Kentucky
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Posts 1,478
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Re: Endangered Species Act under Attack
Species Rules Face Last-Minute Changes
By DINA CAPPIELLO
AP
WASHINGTON (Nov. 20) - With the Bush administration on the verge of relaxing regulations protecting endangered species, Democratic leaders are looking at ways to overturn any last-minute rule changes.
The Bush administration has until Friday to publish new rules in order for them to take effect before President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in. Otherwise, Obama can undo them with the stroke of a pen.
A rule eliminating the mandatory, independent advice of government scientists in decisions about whether dams, highways and other projects are likely to harm species looked likely to meet the deadline, leaving the only chance for a quick reversal to Congress.
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House will be looking at ways to overturn the final endangered species rules and other one-minute-to-midnight regulations.
"The House, in consultation with the incoming administration and relevant committees, will review what oversight tools are at our disposal regarding this and other last-minute attempts to inflict severe damage to the law in the waning moments of the Bush administration," Hammill said.
A Nov. 12 version of the final endangered species rules obtained by The Associated Press has changed little from the original proposal, despite the more than 250,000 comments received since it was first proposed in August.
The rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorizing or funding a project to determine for itself whether the project is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants.
Current regulations require independent wildlife biologists to sign off on these decisions before a project can go forward, at times modifying the design to better protect species.
The regulations also bar federal agencies from assessing emissions of the gases blamed for global warming on species and habitats, a tactic environmentalists have tried to use to block new coal-fired power plants. But the Bush administration feels that endangered species laws should not be used to regulate greenhouse gases.
Tina Kreisher, an Interior Department spokeswoman, could not confirm whether the rule would be published before the deadline, saying only that the White House was still reviewing it. She said it was possible more changes could be made.
"We started this; we want to finish this," Kreisher said.
If the rules go into effect before Obama takes office, they will be difficult to overturn since it would require the new administration to restart the rule-making process. Congress, however, could reverse the rules through the Congressional Review Act, a law that allows review of new federal regulations.
It's been used once in the past 12 years, but some Democratic lawmakers have said they may employ it to block the endangered species rules and other last-minute regulations by the Bush administration.
"This is a shining example of the brash giveaways to industry we expect to see during the Bush administration's final days, and a new Congress will stand at the ready to use our authority to overturn this and other harmful rules," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House select committee for energy independence and global warming.
The Bush administration has made no secret of its intent to complete the endangered species changes quickly.
When the proposal was first announced in August, the public was given 30 days to comment. That period was doubled after Democratic lawmakers pressed for more time.
Then, last month, the head of the endangered species program corralled 15 experts in Washington to sort through 200,000 comments in 32 hours.
"This is definitely lightning quick," said John Kostyack, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming initiative. "I would be surprised that they spent all this time rushing it through if it wasn't greased."
If successful, the Bush administration will accomplish through rules what conservative Republicans have been unable to achieve in Congress: ending some environmental reviews that developers and other federal agencies blame for delays and cost increases on many projects.
Supporters of the changes also expected it to be finalized later this week.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights, urged that the rules be approved.
"Litigious activists have used the Endangered Species Act to fight projects," Reed Hopper, the foundation's principal attorney, said in a statement. "The administration's current proposal is a step toward curbing these abuses."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-11-20 07:05:26
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