The Obama administration has revoked a controversial regulation that eliminated the long-standing requirement forcing government agencies to consult with biologists at the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries when proposing an action that would impact a species listed as endangered or threatened.
Interior secretary Ken Salazar and Commerce secretary Gary Locke, in immediately revoking the last-minute Bush administration regulatory change, used power given them by a provision in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. In addition, President Barack Obama had directed the cabinet officials to review the Bush ESA regulation.
The Bush administration's regulation was finalized in December 2008 and took effect January 15, 2009.
Showing posts with label "midnight " rules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label "midnight " rules. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
First Move to Override Bush ESA Rule Introduced in House
U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-West Virginia, introduced Thursday a joint resolution that would invoke the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Bush administration's recent changes to Endangered Species Act regulations.
H.J. Res. 18 would override an effort by the Departments of Interior and Commerce to eliminate the consultation requirements of section 7 of the ESA. Under the new regulations federal agencies could decide for themselves whether a proposed project would adversely impact a listed species or critical habitat without obtaining the input of biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries.
"The Bush Administration has had a long - though one could hardly say proud - history of trying to undermine the ESA and the protection it provides to America's most imperiled species," Rahall said. "Today, I introduce legislation, using the authority granted to the Congress under the CRA, to overturn a rule that served as the Bush Administration's final assault on, and insult to, one of the Nation's landmark conservation laws."
First proposed in late August 2008, the Bush administration sped the regulation ito effect in November.
The joint resolution is co-sponsored by Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., George Miller, D-Calif., Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Maurice Hinchey, D-NY, Lois Capps, D-Calif., Jay Inslee, D-Wash., Rush Holt, D-N.J., Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., John Dingell, D-Mich., Norm Dicks, D-Wash., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.
H.J. Res. 18 would override an effort by the Departments of Interior and Commerce to eliminate the consultation requirements of section 7 of the ESA. Under the new regulations federal agencies could decide for themselves whether a proposed project would adversely impact a listed species or critical habitat without obtaining the input of biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries.
"The Bush Administration has had a long - though one could hardly say proud - history of trying to undermine the ESA and the protection it provides to America's most imperiled species," Rahall said. "Today, I introduce legislation, using the authority granted to the Congress under the CRA, to overturn a rule that served as the Bush Administration's final assault on, and insult to, one of the Nation's landmark conservation laws."
First proposed in late August 2008, the Bush administration sped the regulation ito effect in November.
The joint resolution is co-sponsored by Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., George Miller, D-Calif., Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Maurice Hinchey, D-NY, Lois Capps, D-Calif., Jay Inslee, D-Wash., Rush Holt, D-N.J., Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., John Dingell, D-Mich., Norm Dicks, D-Wash., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.
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