New BushCo Rules Limit Endangered Species Habitat, Demand "Sound Science"

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration issued new guidance Wednesday seeking to limit the cases in which it will designate "critical habitat" meant to preserve endangered animals but which often infuriates Western landowners.

Under the letter sent to Fish and Wildlife field offices, the restrictions associated with critical habitat will be imposed only when they are supported by sound science and economic analysis and will be used only in limited areas that are vital to species conservation. The new guidelines also instruct the field offices not to designate critical habitat if other conservation steps already are in place.

"The present system for designating critical habitat is broken," Craig Manson, the Interior Department's assistant secretary in charge of endangered species programs, told the House Resources Committee.

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The House committee debated a proposal Wednesday that would require the Fish and Wildlife Service to weigh the direct and indirect economic impact of protecting areas as critical habitat. It also requires the agency to prepare a recovery plan before designating critical habitat, a proposal that has been pushed by both the Bush and Clinton administrations. The change would postpone the protection of the land, but would ensure there is a scientific basis for closing off areas."

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http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/04292004/utah/161678.asp

"Sound science" Hooo-boy. My head aches.

No habitat will ever be put aside for endangered species again while this bunch of thieves remain in charge. There is always someone to complain if the science doesn't say what the lobbyists want it to say.

People, we are losing them -- we're seeing huge drops in species that no one has even gotten around to listing yet. And now we're not even going to provide habitat for the relatively few species that do jump through the hoops and get listed?

Oh well, I suppose the future generations will never know what they missed. A life of eating fish farms and algae and breathing from an oxygen tank when they want to go outdoors will seem normal to them. You can get used to anything.

This is getting soooooo old.