Defenders' Experts
Endangered Species Act
Bush-era rule thrown out!
On April 28, the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce revoked an 11th hour Bush administration rule that undermined ESA protections by eliminating the requirement that federal agencies consult with federal wildlife biologists.
For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has helped prevent the extinction of our nation’s wildlife treasures including beloved symbols of America such as the bald eagle, the Florida manatee and the California condor.
Only nine of the more than 1800 plants and animals currently protected by the act worldwide have been declared extinct, an astonishing success rate.
The Endangered Species Act provides added benefits to people by maintaining healthy natural systems that provide us with clean air and water, food, medicines and other products that we all need to live healthy lives.
We owe it to our children and grandchildren to be good stewards of the environment and leave behind a legacy of protecting endangered species and the special places they call home.
Bush Administration's Parting Shots at ESA Revoked: One Harmful Rule Revoked, One Harmful Rule Accepted
Just before leaving office, the Bush administration finalized new regulations that cut huge holes in the Endangered Species Act, a safety-net for plants and animals on the brink of extinction.
On March 11, 2009 President Obama signed a large federal funding bill into law that also gave Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke the authority to revoke the regulations, as well as a damaging rule that would undermine protections for the polar bear.
The Obama administration recently revoked the majority of these damaging regulations; however, on May 8, Secretary Salazar announced that the administration would retain the harmful polar bear rule. Defenders will be challenging this decision in court.
House Letter Urging Revoke of Rules (4/3/2009)
Senate Letter Urging Revoke of Rules (4/23/2009)
Letter from Environmental Groups to Sec. Salazar Urging Revoke of Rules (4/9/2009)
Letter from Environmental Groups to Sec. Locke Urging Revokeof Rules (4/9/2009)
Jamie Clark's Testimony before the House (12/11/2008)
Jamie Clark's testimony before the Senate (9/24/2008)
Editorials written in response to this attack
Fact Sheets
Get the facts about these proposed changes straight from
Defenders' experts, Jason Rylander and Robert Davison.
Bush Administration's 11th Hour Proposed Changes to ESAThe Bush administration's 11th hour regulation proposal for the Endangered Species Act removes safeguards for endangered species.
Details about Proposed Changes to Section 7 of the ESAA close look at how the Bush Administration's proposed regulations put endangered species at risk.
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