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Rampant development makes the world a deadly place for threatened gopher tortoises. ©Matthew Aresco |
A last-minute assault on the Endangered Species Act by the Bush administration has been routed by the Obama administration. The rule, issued in the last weeks of Bush's presidency, had removed a decades-old requirement that federal agencies consult with government scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before taking action that might affect endangered or threatened species.
The Humane Society of the United States and a coalition of environmental groups filed suit to block the rule. Fortunately, the new administration—in the form of the Commerce and Interior Departments—stepped in. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told the press that “Because science must serve as the foundation for decisions we make, federal agencies proposing to take actions that might affect threatened and endangered species will once again have to consult with biologists at the two departments.”
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| Could the rule reversal mean good news for the endangered North Atlantic right whale? |
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Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, issued the following in response to the Department of Interior and Department of Commerce's decision to repeal the previous administration's midnight rule that stripped protections for endangered species:
"We are very pleased that Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar reversed the Bush administration's end-of-term decision to dramatically weaken Endangered Species Act regulations. The previous rule was roundly criticized by animal welfare advocates, scientists and conservationists for allowing federal agencies to avoid scientific review on how their actions affect imperiled wildlife. Tuesday's decision permanently reinstates much-needed protective regulations, and follows a federal court lawsuit by The Humane Society of the United States and other organizations challenging the rule for violating the Endangered Species Act and other environmental protection laws."
