Rules change damages species act

By the Journal Editorial Board | Friday, August 29, 2008

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President Bush seems intent to gut the Endangered Species Act on his way out of office, something he couldn’t get done in the eight years prior.

Last week, the administration proposed new rules that would allow federal agencies — not scientists performing independent reviews — to determine if highway projects, dams, mines and other construction projects would harm endangered species.

Talk about putting the fox in control of the henhouse.

To add to the misery, greenhouse gas emissions can’t be considered under the act even though they are largely considered responsible for destroying the natural habitat of the polar bear.

The administration made it a two-fer deal: 1) Put the feds in charge of making important environmental decisions they aren’t qualified to make; and, 2) Ignore global warming as a factor in the destruction of species.

The changes in the rules (if approved), it’s noted by the Associated Press, would accomplish what conservative Republicans have been unable to do via Congress – end environmental reviews and expedite major projects, even if at the expense of endangered species.

The Endangered Species Act has been in effect since 1973. The bald eagle, whooping crane and gray wolf are all counted as success stories under the act.

Will Congress step in and stop the president from effectively gutting the endangered species act? Let’s hope so. Today, energy has stolen the limelight from most of the other important issues (there are still wars under way in Iraq and Afghanistan, after all) but energy concerns shouldn’t lead the nation down a road of blissful ignorance concerning the future of endangered species.

There’s too much to lose to ignore the misguided attempts to trample the natural wonders of our world in pursuit of development and government projects. There has to be a balance and Congress must be challenged for finding it.

The first step is to put down this attempt to remove an effective tool for the proper enforcement and application of the Endangered Species Act.

Already the time period for public comment has been cut in half leaving just weeks before a decision can be made. Too short a time? For the public, yes; for an administration leaving office and bent on taking this action, no.

Maintaining a diverse variety of species is necessary to maintain a natural balance not only in the animal world but the human world as well. Without diversity, finally no species will survive. Continuing on this road away from the protection of endangered species will cost many species dearly, especially one we’re particularly fond of, our own.