Endangered Species Act Update

Last year, it was discovered that highly detrimental changes to the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) had been proposed by officials in the Bush Administration. These changes would remove independent reviews of projects with potential endangered species impacts that have been mandated since the ESA’s inception 35 years ago. 

We asked our members to submit comments to Congress, opposing these changes, which would allow agencies to self-evaluate the potential impacts of their projects on endangered species, even if their staff lacked knowledge of wildlife and ecosystem biology.  Supporters of this proposal claim that eliminating much of the independent review process will allow efforts to be focused on the most menacing projects.  Unfortunately for listed species such as manatees, the cumulative impacts of multiple, smaller projects can be as much, if not more damaging than individual large projects. 

The ESA has been a strong protector of manatees and other species.  Its strength is what has made it a target for pro-development forces and their representation in the federal government, including the White House.  The changes required only a brief public comment period (no congressional approval) before being adopted by the Interior Department and implemented by the Bush administration. 

Despite the submittal of more than 200,000 public comments, the plan to implement the changes was published in the Federal Register in December 2008. The Obama administration hasn't reversed the Bush rules yet, but in March 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum stopping last-minute rules from being enacted and asked the Interior Department to evaluate the previous administration's approach to endangered species.

If a new public comment period is required, Save the Manatee Club will notify the members of our e-mail Action Alert team and provide you with an opportunity to show your support for a strong Endangered Species Act. If you aren't an Action Alert Team Member yet, it's free to join. Just go to our Take Action page.