Obama Administration Revokes Bush-Era Assault on Endangered Species Act

[Inchworm]

In a major victory for endangered birds and wildlife, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar announced that the Obama administration had revoked a controversial last-minute rule change imposed by the Bush administration, which effectively gutted critical protections offered by the Endangered Species Act for threatened and endangered wildlife on the brink of extinction.

The Bush rule made it unnecessary for federal agencies to consult with professional scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service when determining whether a federal action—like building a federal highway—would impact threatened or endangered species. In effect, the rule would have allowed agencies with little or no wildlife expertise to make life or death decisions regarding the fate of wildlife species like the Whooping Crane and the polar bear.

At the urging of Audubon, our conservation partners, and hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens—including thousands of readers of the Audubon Advisory—the Obama administration decided to revoke the Bush rule and reinstate these important safeguards for endangered wildlife.

http://www.audubon.org/campaign/advisory/advisory0905.html#esa

Just thought I'd share. Obama r00ls!

:patriot:

[semillama]

1. right on! n/t