Thursday, November 20, 2008
"Changes to Species Act Are Said to Be Near"
Article source: The Washington Post, November 20, 2008.
For the past 30 years the Fish and Wildlife Service has been responsible for scientific review of plans by any agency of the federal government that might affect endangered species. The Bush administration in August proposed changes in those regulations which would delegate many reviews to other agencies. It is now seeking to approve the new regulations before leaving office. Approval of its Office of Management and Budget is required. Environmentalists have warned that the shift could undermine critical safeguards for vulnerable plants and animals.
Comment: This seems another example in which the Bush administration seeks to substitute other criteria for science in the management of environmental risks. Let us insist that either the OMB refuse to approve the chance, or that the Obama administration returns to the old regulation when it takes office until it can make an independent review of the need for change. JAD
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Of course, the current regulations refer the scientific judgment on marine species to NOAA. A part of the change apparently is to leave out climate change as a source of danger to endangered species. Look again at the cartoon!!!
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