[env-trinity] Alert - Pombo Wildllife Extinction Bill in Congress!

[Daniel Bacher]

Pombo Extinction Bill in Congress

The Center for Biological Diversity has sent out an alert that a bill to 
eliminate key protections of the Endangered Species Act is slated to be 
introduced in Congress next week.

Representative Pombo's extinction bill would eliminate key protections of 
the Endangered Species Act. Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA) has stated 
that next week he will introduce a bill that would greatly rewrite the 
Endangered Species Act. Representative Pombo has long carried the message of 
developers and extractive industries and is Congress's loudest opponent of 
endangered species protections. Pombo is also chair of the House Resources 
Committee.

A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, and a 
committee vote on Thursday, September 22.

Pombo has not yet released the full legislative language, but according to 
the summary, the bill would:

* completely repeal protections for endangered species critical habitat

* remove protections for species listed as "threatened" under the law

* allow political appointees - such as Secretary of Interior Gale Norton - 
instead of scientists, to determine what constitutes the best available 
science

* exempt federal agencies from the requirement to consult with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service on actions that might impact endangered species

* bankrupt the endangered species program by forcing the Fish and Wildlife 
Service to pay developers to comply with the law.

The Endangered Species Act is America's safety net for wildlife, fish and 
plants on the brink of extinction. Rep. Pombo's bill would eliminate many of 
the Act's protections for wildlife, including critical habitat protections.

The Center for Biological Diversity press release about the Pombo bill is at 
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/press/pombo9-15-05.html

 

You can look up members of the House Resources Committee, which will hear 
the bill next week, at:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/fullcommittee/members.htm

 

You can sign up for Center for Biological Diversity action alerts at 
http://actionnetwork.org/BIODIVERSITY/join.html?r=Op1ZMbM13RITE

If you would like to be removed from this e-mail list, please notify me by 
return e-mail.

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Jeff Miller, Director

Alameda Creek Alliance

P. O. Box 192

Canyon, CA 94516

(510) 499-9185

Fax (415) 436-9683

E-mail alamedacreek at hotmail.com

Web site www.alamedacreek.org

 

“Protecting and restoring the natural ecosystems of the Alameda Creek 
watershed”

 

The Alameda Creek Alliance is a non-profit community watershed group. 
 Please support our efforts by becoming a member.