sneak attack on ESA

I previously wrote about efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act, led by Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif.).  He's made his move.  Today's New York Times reports that, while we are all distracted by hurricanes and gas prices, Pombo introduced a bill yesterday amending the ESA that would "make it more difficult for the federal government to set aside land it deems crucial to the health of endangered species" and "increase the obligation of government agencies to tell landowners quickly if the law limits their development options, and to compensate them."  The piece goes on to say,

"The proposal was markedly different from draft legislation circulated earlier this summer, which put even greater restrictions on federal agencies that enforce the law, and which would have automatically taken the law off the books in 2015. The new measure abandons the latter goal but creates new hurdles for federal agencies - chiefly the Fish and Wildlife Service - as they take actions to protect species."

In a typical stealth maneuver, the bill is on the fast track and could go before the full House next week. I will update with action items as environmental organizations post them; or feel free to post them in the comments.

UPDATE 21 Sep:  The Endangered Species Coalition has posted background on this bill and talking points to provide when you contact your Representative in Congress.  There is also a list of House members on the Resources Committee; if your Rep is on this list it is especially important you contact him/her.  Hat tip to A Concerned Scientist for posting that link, as well as info on Bush's nominee to head the USFWS, Dale Hall.  As USFWS Southwest regional director, Hall reportedly gave illegal orders to his staff not to make scientific findings protective of wildlife, rewrote scientific conclusions for political reasons and issued a questionable policy forbidding biologists from considering genetic information about species’ recovery. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Executive Director Jeff Ruch said that Hall's "moral flexibility is apparently why he was picked for this job.”

Defenders of Wildlife has info on their site, with an online form. Another web site offers actions items: Save the Endangered Species Act (dot org).  Includes a quick online form, a nice section on writing a letter to your local newspaper editor, and lots of background.