Bush To Relax US Protected Species Laws
By Matt J. Weiss, August 12, 2008 @ 02:00 AM (EST)
Source: Iht.com
Parts of the Endangered Species Act, which has protected nature in the United States for 3 1/2 decades, soon may be extinct. The new regulations, which do not require Congress' approval, would reduce the numbers of mandatory, independent reviews government scientists have been performing for 35 years, according to a draft first obtained and reported by The Associated Press.
In a hastily arranged news conference, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Monday the changes were needed to ensure that the Endangered Species Act would not be used as a "back door" to regulate gases blamed for global warming. In May, the polar bear became the first species threatened because of climate change. Warming temperatures are expected to melt the sea ice the bear needs for survival.
In a hastily arranged news conference, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Monday the changes were needed to ensure that the Endangered Species Act would not be used as a "back door" to regulate gases blamed for global warming. In May, the polar bear became the first species threatened because of climate change. Warming temperatures are expected to melt the sea ice the bear needs for survival.
Comments
Be the first to add a comment to this article.
You must be logged in to comment.
Related Content
May 9, 2009, 1:00AM
Here is a New York Times article relating to the recent decision to not overturn Bush's controversial polar bear rules more
October 24, 2008, 2:00AM
Polar bears are dying out in the remote Arctic region of Chukotka because of melting ice and increased killing by humans more
June 11, 2007, 8:24AM
An ongoing count of endangered humpback whales - like the two that made a lengthy side trip into the Sacramento Delta recently - more
March 10, 2007, 1:45PM
The Bush Administration has been accused once again of gagging US government scientists by getting them to agree not to talk about more
February 5, 2007, 8:28AM
They cling precariously to the top of what is left of the ice floe, their fragile grip the perfect symbol of the tragedy of global more
Sponsors
Dive Industry News
Participants in PADI Public Safety Diver workshop help recover stolen vehicleDAN Alert Diver magazine now available for Android usersFirst recipient of the Richard A. Hartley Scholarship AnnouncedAtlantis Azores announces new Philippines departures, itinerariesDive Pirates to stage DIVEAPALOOZA this weekend in Texas
What's New
