A Bush administration proposal that would eliminate the input of
independent government scientists in some endangered species reviews
would be tossed out if Democrat Barack Obama wins the White House, his
campaign says.
“This 11th-hour ruling from the Bush administration is highly
problematic. After over 30 years of successfully protecting our
nation’s most endangered wildlife like the bald eagle, we should be
looking for ways to improve it, not weaken it,” said Obama campaign
spokesman Nick Shapiro. “As president, Senator Obama will fight to
maintain the strong protections of the Endangered Species Act and undo
this proposal from President Bush.”
A spokesman for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican
presidential nominee, said he had no comment on Bush’s revisions.
The Associated Press reported Monday details of a proposal by the
Interior and Commerce departments that would change how the 1973 law
is implemented, allowing federal agencies to decide for themselves —
without seeking the opinions of government wildlife experts — whether
dams, highways and other projects have the potential to harm
endangered species and habitats.
Current law requires federal agencies to consult with experts at the
Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service if a
project poses so much as a remote risk to species or habitats.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne defended the changes in a call with
reporters Monday, calling them narrow modifications to make the law
more clear and efficient.
In recent years, both federal agencies and developers have complained
that the reviews, which can result in changes to projects that better
protect species, have delayed work and increased costs.
The proposed regulations, which will be published Thursday in the
Federal Register, included one significant change from the earlier
draft: The public comment period was cut in half, from 60 to 30 days.
“In this case, it was determined that we need to move forward in a
timely fashion,” said Interior Department spokeswoman Tina Kreisher.
If the proposal should become final by November, a new administration
could propose another rule, a process that could take months. Congress
could also pass legislation, but that could take even longer.
An aide for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said
that panel would hold a hearing on the rule changes when Congress
returns in September.