Bush To Relax Endangered Species Regulations Before Obama Can Reverse Them

WASHINGTON — Animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct could lose the protection of government experts who make sure that dams, highways and other projects don't pose a threat, under regulations the Bush administration is set to put in place before President-elect Obama can reverse them.

The rules must be published Friday to take effect before Obama is sworn in Jan. 20. Otherwise, he can undo them with the stroke of a pen.

The Interior Department rushed to complete the rules in three months over the objections of lawmakers and environmentalists who argued that they would weaken how a landmark conservation law is applied.

A Nov. 12 version of the final rules obtained by the Associated Press has changed little from the original proposal, despite the more than 250,000 comments received since it was first proposed in August.

The rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorizing or funding a project to determine for itself if it is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants.

Current regulations require independent wildlife biologists to sign off on these decisions before a project can go forward, at times modifying the design to better protect species.

The regulations also bar federal agencies from assessing emissions of the gases blamed for global warming on species and habitats, a tactic environmentalists have tried to use to block new coal-fired power plants.

Tina Kreisher, an Interior Department spokeswoman, could not confirm whether the rule would be published before the deadline, saying only that the White House was still reviewing it. But she said changes were being made based on the comments received.

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"We started this; we want to finish this," said Kreisher.

If the rules go into effect before Obama takes office, they will be difficult to overturn since it would require the new administration to restart the rule-making process. Congress, however, could reverse the rules through the Congressional Review Act _ a law that allows review of new federal regulations.

It's been used once in the last 12 years, but some Democratic lawmakers have said they may employ it to block the endangered species rules and other midnight regulations by the Bush administration.

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said Wednesday that he and other Democrats were committed to "the change that is needed."

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House will be looking at ways to overturn the endangered species rules and other midnight regulations.

"The House, in consultation with the incoming administration and relevant committees, will review what oversight tools are at our disposal regarding this and other last minute attempts to inflict severe damage to the law in the waning moments of the Bush administration," Hammill said.

The Bush administration has made no secret of its intent to complete the endangered species changes quickly.

When the proposal was first announced in August, the public was initially given 30 days to comment. That period was later doubled after Democratic lawmakers pressed for more time.

Then, last month, the head of the endangered species program corralled 15 experts in Washington to sort through 200,000 comments in 32 hours.

"This is definitely lightning quick," said John Kostyack, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming initiative. "I would be surprised that they spent all this time rushing it through if it wasn't greased."

If successful, the Bush administration will accomplish through rules what conservative Republicans have been unable to achieve in Congress: ending some environmental reviews that developers and other federal agencies blame for delays and cost increases on many projects.

Supporters of the changes also expected it to be finalized later this week.

The Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights, urged that the rules be approved.

"Litigious activists have used the Endangered Species Act to fight projects," Reed Hopper, the foundation's principal attorney, said in a statement. "The administration's current proposal is a step toward curbing these abuses."

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On the Net:

Interior Department: http://www.doi.gov

Comments

[BillyShears]

Let me understand this- in the wreckage that we call an "economy" Bush is overturning laws allowing for "the possibility"for environmental litigation, "if" the time ever comes for some far off unforseen project proposal. And in the meantime, this legislation puts endangered speceies at risk right here and right now- no "if's" or "possibilities".
What the eff is wrong with this guy?
Congress needs to step up and censure this one man wrecking crew before Jan. 20. I think we all agree he's done quite enough damage already.

[strandwolf]

You sound like "the one and only"--we need to clone you in that case. Right on with your own bad self. Soon, ex-prexy Bush will be down in Paraguay, lurking amongst as yet unnamed species of crickets. We will work to repair the damage and make strong law to prevent recurrences of same.

[Culturemaven]

Why does GWB seem to have an active grudge against nature?

[peacekitten]

because he's such an aberration of it.

[DodgeCounty]

And America?

[TakeTheCanolis]

I'm posting this on Saturday, Nov. 22, one day after Bush's deadline to enact his dreadful regulations. I can't find one word, either way, on whether he met his deadline. Has anyone heard any update?

[strandwolf]

I likewise was wondering. We biodiversity nuts get short shrift it would seem. I hope someone monkey wrenched their maneuver. A mole....

[leeman79]

The republican party is an endangered specie.

[MissingAmerica]

Sadly, Bush is a one-man wrecking crew. Congress could have taken the key from him a long time ago, but did not, and now the world pays for Congress' failure.

[missviv]

"Only when the last tree has died and
The last river has been poisoned and
The last fish has been caught,
Will we realise that
We cannot eat money"
19th century Cree Indian.

[dizmo4]

Doesn't the congressional review act mean that Congress can reverse all of these deregulation rules once the new Congress meets by a simple non-filibuster majority vote?

[djregn]

Wow. Six pages of comments and not one dissenting opinion?

To be fair, putting "Bush" and (insert environmental issue here) in the same headline is pretty much a red flag for blind liberal rage, but try to have some perspective. Trust me, I hate Bush as much as the next guy, but the ESA is a near-worthless, shortsighted piece of legislation that has had little to no positive effect on the environment and gives overzealous regulators carte blanche to restrict development. The sooner it's revised into something more sane, the better.

[GregJL]

Mmmm...and in which branch of environmental science is your degree?

[llstudent]

You are dead wrong, and sound like an anti-envir­omentalist to me. In fact the esa does not go far away and needs to be more restrictive, if they so-called private property rights zealots had their way the whole earth would be paved with concrete. I say more more more regulation for the environment and the wildlife that has just as much right to be here as humans.

[postman606]

It's so worthless that it took eight years for Bush to get around to doing anything, and so eleventh hour. You would think in the midst of so many pressing matters he would have something else to do with his short, miserable time.

[strandwolf]

More 'balanced', eh? Instead of 98% asphalt, 2% wilderness, we sure need that extra 1% for big box stores, strip malls, used car lots, church parking (3 hours a week use), and McMansions. Those pesky wetlands, full of creepy crawly things--weird chemistry, can't figure what's up with them critters, but some interesting traits if you happen to be a nerd--or a medical researcher: you know, working on cancer cures and that sort of stuff. Curious relational 'webs' that have, er, evolved over many thousands of years--to the Biblical limit of 6K, and....sor­ry...beyon­d, it seems.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

A president without a scintilla of shame,how does that happen?

[hortonhearsawho]

learned at home he did.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

It's likely that he won't get away with this. He doesn't have the clout or the support to implement this because everyone just wants him out of there. He's got 17 hours left until his deadline and will not be able to pass it off. They may want to finish it, but that's just it - he's finished. It's over and he's over. He's the most hated person in this country as well as in other countries. His dictatorship's sails have no wind to guide it to win in the remaining minutes. It's done.

His last ditch efforts won't save his legacy, that's for sure - but nothing will.

[thecanadian]

Another Bush Criminal act!
Bush team illegally changing endangered species rules.
http://www.propublica.org/article/california-attorney-general-demands-that-bush-halt-endangered-species-rule-/
"This isn't the first time the Bush administration has come under fire for its approach to endangered species. Last year, the Interior Department's inspector general found that former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald was "editing, commenting on, and reshaping" (PDF) scientific reports on endangered species, despite the fact that she is not a scientist."

[sarge311]

If you look at past Interior Department Secretaries, you will see how contemptible the rethuglicons were.
# Cecil B. Andrus 1977-1981- Jimmy Carter
# James G. Watt 1981-1983- Ronald Reagan
# William P. Clark 1983-1985- Ronald Reagan
# Donald P. Hodel 1985-1989- Ronald Reagan
# Manuel Lujan, Jr. 1989-1993- George H W Bush
# Bruce Babbitt 1993-2001- Bill Clinton
# Gale A. Norton 2001-2006- s a t a n
# Dirk Kempthorne- s a t a n

james watt did everything in his power to destroy all living creatures and the land that they lived upon. He wanted to open up every wildlife preserve to drilling. Animals meant nothing to him. Manuel Lujan didn't know the difference between a brown squirrel and a grey squirrel.
Now compare to Bruce Babbitt, the ultimate environmentalist who served in President Clinton's cabinet. And now rumor has it that President-elect Obama is considering Robert Kennedy Jr. as the head of the EPA or Interior Department. Someone who would actually CARE for wildlife and our national parks.
When s a t a n writes this into law, then it is up to each and every one of us to contact our representatives to call for an up and down vote on this. Only Congress can undo this with the Congressional Review Act. Don't let s a t a n win on this one. putrid corpse of vile s c u m that he is.

[Vixter]

Sarge311, tell me what you really think! I totally agree with you on all the above stated facts. One of my most fervent wishes is that President-elect Obama could pour a bucket of water on dubya - like Dorothy did for the Wicked Witch of the West. Then he and all his illegal b.s. would be forever wiped from the America that I learned to love in grade school.

[llstudent]

So true, everything you said is right on. If there is a god , Robert Kennedy Jr. will be in Obama's adminstration.

[strandwolf]

Watt was a lunatic, one of those End Times types. Also a crook caught peddling influence.
Babbitt was a cattle rancher involved in some shady land swaps, as I recall, and more to the point, did cater to mineral interests, though not like Norton, Lujan, or Watt. Clark was some sort of a Nature Conservancy type, wasn't he? (Along with General Schwartzkopf and other country club bird watcher types, huh, Sarge?) Sarge? Sarge! Ten--HUT!

[1lalady]

Why would anyone be surprised what Bus does? This president is a criminal, has no brain, and thinks only of himself and his croonie friends.

[pearl89]

My father used to say that he couldn't understand why workers would ever vote for a Republican. He said all they care about is money, big business, and taking care of the rich. I use to think this was an exaggeration, but since I've become an adult, I agree with him wholeheartedly.

It seems like Bush is doing everthing within his power to assure that history will regard him as the worst, most selfserving president ever. Just making sure that he takes care of his cronies during his last days in office. He cares nothing for the environment or climate change, it's all about big bucks and those that have 'em.

[rf-hawaii]

Yes, that's a good description of the Republican party.

[indy100]

The guy is a criminal, a liar and a terrible human being. The only consoling thought is that eventually you get what you deserve. I'd hate to have that guy's Karma.

[cyndeewi]

Democrats better do something. They aren't good for anything else.

[old lady]

Slamming Democrats is ludicrous after the condition your party has left us in. Get a life