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For Immediate Release
Bald Eagle Delisting Delayed
Bush Administration Efforts to Weaken Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act Set Back Delisting
Statement By Jamie Rappaport Clark, Executive Vice President, Defenders of Wildlife
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the final decision on whether to remove the bald eagle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species will be postponed. The Service has reached a court-approved agreement allowing the agency to make a final determination on the eagle’s status no later than June 29, 2007.
"The recovery of the bald eagle is a true Endangered Species Act success story. But the Bush administration could be putting that success in jeopardy.
"Eleventh hour tinkering with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act appears to show that the administration is more interested in catering to developers than to the continued conservation of our nation's icon.
"It is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's responsibility to ensure that there are adequate protections in place to guarantee the conservation of the bald eagle and its habitat once it is removed it from the list of threatened and endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service should take the four-month extension that it received today by the court and ensure that the protections put forth by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act are not undermined. Proper guidance and procedures are critical for the continued recovery of the bald eagle.
"This is our national symbol. The Bush administration should make sure it gets this right."
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Defenders of Wildlife is recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 500,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.
