Statement of Jamie Rappaport Clark on Endangered Species Act, State of the Environment 2005 Briefing
"But the Act has always been viewed by some oil, mining, and timber companies, as well as developers and road builders, as a nuisance, an obstacle to their plans. And now they have a friend in the White House and some in Congress.
"The Bush administration and some influential members of Congress are engaged in a concerted effort to tear down and weaken the Act's protections, to make it easier to drill, log, mine, or pave over and through areas that are home to at-risk wildlife that are protected by or should be protected by the Act's provisions.
"The Act is extremely popular with the American public. Some 86% support the Endangered Species Act and conservation of at-risk species. The Act's opponents know this, so they cloak their efforts to gut the Act under the guise of reform. But the bottom line is this: their efforts will lead to less habitat for species on the brink. Does anyone really think that will lead to greater species conservation?
BUSH ADMINISTRATION
"Since taking office, the Bush administration has demonstrated an unbridled hostility towards species conservation and the Endangered Species Act itself.
"They've distinguished themselves with the fewest numbers of species listed – this president has an annual listing rate of only eight species per year since taking office, and all of them were under court order. Reagan listed almost 32 species per year while in office. The President=s father listed a full 58 per year. Clinton? Sixty-five. We expect the President's atrocious record in this area to continue.
"The White House sees the forest only for the trees – The Bush administration has issued regulations that let the Forest Service conduct extensive logging operations without consulting wildlife experts about how those projects would impact endangered species.
"They also are risking another Silent Spring – The Bush administration has dropped a requirement that the EPA consult with federal wildlife experts on the impacts of new pesticide use on endangered species.
"Under the Bush administration's direction, the Department of Defense has received unprecedented exemptions from the Endangered Species Act and other environmental laws, putting species and habitat at risk in many sensitive areas.
"They have even tried to open international trade in endangered species – amazingly, the Bush administration has also proposed regulatory changes that would allow commercial trade in endangered species for the first time in thirty years, a change that could affect as many as 500 endangered species worldwide.
CAPITOL HILL
"Richard Pombo was the chief House proponent of two proposals in the last Congress that seriously undermine the integrity of the Endangered Species Act. He talks a good game but has backed bills that will only hurt species conservation.
"For example, look at H.R. 2933, introduced by Rep. Dennis Cardoza, which would effectively eliminate any protection for much if not most of the habitat endangered and threatened species need to recover. It would lead to less habitat being set aside and, therefore, less species conservation. H.R. 2933 would change the definition of critical habitat from one that focuses on recovery to one that focuses on mere survival, potentially condemning species to an indefinite limbo at the brink of extinction. It also would substitute the current standard for designating critical habitat with one that attempts to give the Secretary of Interior almost complete discretion in deciding whether to ever designate critical habitat and would exclude from critical habitat areas covered by other, less protective, conservation plans or programs.
"Likewise, H.R. 1662, introduced by Rep. Greg Walden effectively skews the kind of scientific evidence that can be used to determine species eligibility for listing and habitat designation, layering on new bureaucracy to delay decisions and protection and taking scientific decisions out of the hands of scientists. The bill would require greater emphasis on empirical or field tested data and observations in the field and restrict the use of important, time-honored scientific methods, such as modeling, that scientists currently use to assess species' protection. It would also require additional data before recovery plans can be implemented with no time frames for acquiring the data, potentially delaying the already protracted recovery planning process. It would require additional peer review for most actions that are protective while not requiring it for non-protective actions; and substitute political science for real science by directing the Secretary of Interior to develop criteria for the type of data that can be used to list species and to pick peer-reviewers. These changes run counter to findings supportive of current scientific practices under the Endangered Species Act detailed in reports by the Government Accounting Office and three of the largest and most prestigious scientific organizations in the country dealing with environmental issues – the National Academy of Sciences, the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Conservation Biology.
"In the Senate, it is too soon to tell. With Senator Chafee's new assignment as chair of the subcommittee, we have an opportunity for real oversight of the administration of the Act and a comprehensive constructive dialogue on Endangered Species Act issues.
"Any proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act, whether legislative or administrative, must ultimately be judged against a basic standard: will it improve and ensure the conservation of habitat? After all, it hardly matters what you do for species if you don't take care of the places they call home."
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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 480,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues. To stay current on hot topics in wildlife conservation, subscribe to DENlines, Defenders of Wildlife's electronic update and action alert network.
Contact(s):
William Lutz, (202) 772-0269
