assault on wildlife

7/28/2019 Assault on Wildlife

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T E S AU Aseptember 2011

ASSAUL onWiLdLie


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Rgr chlcks, Prst a CEO

Jam Rappaprt Clark, Prst- a CEO-sgat

REERCH EM

lxara ams

Mary Bth Btham

Rbrt Dwy

Ya-

Haah altr

EDIORI EM

rtr/Etr: Mark Chatr

Prjct Maagr: Jh Mtsgr

Publcats Drctr: Kat Davs

Pht Etr: Charls Kg

rt Drctr: J

Prt Pruct: Ptr Crcra

2011 Drs ll

1130 17th trt, N..

ashgt, D.C. 20036-4604

202.682.9400

Cvr pht: bal agl sarg th sks vr ur cutry s ramatc

vc th succss th Eagr pcs ct. Pam Mulls

Rght: T st Ia maat s hurs mprl craturs

that ps th saguars prv by th Eagr pcs ct.

Jl artr/jlsartr.cm

DEFENDER OF IDIFE

Drs ll s a atal, prt mmbrshp

rgazat cat t th prtct all atv wl amals

a plats thr atural cmmuts.


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T E S A U Aseptember 2011

ASSAULon

WiLdLie


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ON IDIFE: T Eagr pcs ct r ttack2

section 1: the endangered species act under attack

Frwr ...................................................................................................3

Excutv ummary ...................................................................................5

SECION I: HE ENDANGERED SPECIES AC UNDER AACK

Hstry a uccss th E ................................................................ 6

hy av pcs? .................................................................................... 7

Currt ttacks th E ..................................................................... 8

Cmm Dagrs .................................................................................... 8

Immacy Trats ............................................................................... 9Drawg a th a ......................................................................11

upprt r th ct ..................................................................................11

SECION II: ARGEING IMPERILED WOLVES

H.R. 1819: tat ll Maagmt ct .............................................. 12

H.R. 838: str Grat aks l Maagmt ct ............................ 13

mmt t E Mxca Gray l Rcvry Erts ......................... 14

Rr FY 2012 Itrr pprprats Bll tExmpt l Dlstg rm Jucal Rvw ........................................... 15

SECION III: BLOCKING VIAL PROECIONS

H.R. 1837: a Jaqu Vally atr Rlablty cta H.R. 1251: Mr atr r Our Vally ct, 2011 ................................ 16

H.R. 1287 a . 706: 3-D, Dmstc Jbs, DmstcErgy, a Dct Ruct ct 2011 ............................................... 18

H.R. 1806: Blu ua Fshrm Emplymt Prsrvat ct ......... 19

mmts t Blck stg th ssr Prar Chck .................. 20

mmts t Blck stg th a Du zar ......................... 21

SECION IV: SWEEPING HARMUL AMENDMENS

H.R. 1042: Dscrt Etral stg Iqualty pcs akgs ct (DEI ct) ......................................................22

H.R. 1505: T Natal curty a Fral as Prtct ct ........24

Rr Hus FY 2012 Itrr pprpratsBll t Prhbt E Pstc Csultats ........................................... 26

ppx 1: Bakrllg t-Eagr pcs ct gslat ..........28

ppx II: ttr Frm Frmr Drctrs th .. Fsha ll rvc ............................................................................... 29

Ctts

MEXICAN WOLF JOEL SARTORE/JOELSARTORE.COM


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www.rs.rg 3

h I bga my carr

almst 30 yars ag,

prgr alcs wr r strats. Fr cas,

ths swt a pwrul brs pry ha

b slwly ps by th wspra

us th harmul pstc DD, wpg

ut th spcs acrss much th t

tats. I spt a summr cllg wrk-

g wth th Crll vrsty ab

Orthlgy Ithaca, Nw Yrk, rlasg

captv-br prgr alc chcks back

t th wl, hlpg th spcs tak tsrst stps th ra t rcvry. I vr

wul hav ram that arly 20 yars latr, I wul b

aucg th ull rcvry prgr alcs as rc-

tr th .. Fsh a ll rvc.

Tat crbl succss was a rct rsult th Ea-

gr pcs ctur ats mst rwar-thkg a

ctv wll csrvat law. Nt ly has t rcv-

r craturs such as th prgr alc, bal agl, gray

whal a brw plca, but t has brught back rm th

brk may mr, clug th black-t rrt, thCalra cr a th Flra maat. rtuatly,

sm Cgrss ar wllg t g backwars ur

ats cmmtmt t g stwarshp a ar ray t

gv up prsrvg th amazg vrsty plats a

amals r ur chlr a grachlr.

ar, th currt Cgrss has truc mr tha

a z blls r lgslatv prpsals t urm th

Eagr pcs ct. m thm chp away at th

uat th act tsl, whl thrs sgl ut spcs

m uwrthy ur prtct. ll thm ru aul

cr mrca valus that hav gu succssul wll

csrvat rts r arly ur cas.

O July 25, thr my llw rmr rctrs th

Fsh a ll rvc, s that srv ur bth

Rpublca a Dmcratc amstrats, j m

sgg a lttr (see Appendix II) cryg a prvs

th Itrr Dpartmt pprprats bll kw as

th xtct rr. T xtct rr wul hav

blck l-savg prtcts r hurs mprl

plats a amalsprhaps th sgl

gratst xcss ths Cgrss thus ar.

Frtuatly, wth th actv cur-agmt Drs sta a ts

thusas actvsts, mmbrs

Cgrss bth ss th asl wr

abl t gt th prvs rmv rm

th apprprats bll. But wr ur

llus that Cgrss s wllg t

mak a habt stag up r wll.

I act, just a w hurs atr th xtc-

t rr was at, th Hus cast

a sparat vt agast th Eagrpcs ct t prvt ay lgal chal-

lgs t utur lstgs gray wlvs ymg

a th wstr Grat aks.

h Cgrss rsums ts busss ths all, lgsla-

trs wll b wrkg bh cls rs t alz a

cmprhsv ral spg bll, whch mas may

at-E prpsals cul bcm law br th

th yar. thut a gruswll publc supprt, th law

prtctg mrcas agr spcsa thrr

th spcs thmslvss srus agr surg aath by a thusa cuts.

Evry ay, I am rm th mprtac ur

cllctv csrvat mss wh I pursu my gratst

pass: bg a mm t my 12-yar-l s. I am sbr

by th t that ur grat wll pass a prr

vrmt t ur chlr tha th w hrt.

t hl urslvs accutabl a rmmbr that

ths cmg bh us srv th sam rchs that w

hav jy. w at last that much t all ur ks

m a yurs.

crly,

Jam Rappaprt Clark

President-designate, efenders of Wildlife

Former irector of the .S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1997-2001)

Foreword

KRISTA SCHLYER/DEFENDERS O F WILDLIFE


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The Legislative Assault on the Endangered Species Act

Sponsor Legislation Intent Status

Rep. Candice Miller

(R-Mich.)

HR 1819: State Wildlie

Management Act

Eliminate ESA protections or wolves. Pending in House Natural

Resources Committee.

Rep. John Kline(R-Minn.)

HR 838:Western Great LakesWol Management Act

Prohibit ESA protection or wolves in Minnesota,Wisconsin and Michigan.

Pending in House NaturalResources Committee.

Rep. Steve Pearce

(R-N.M.)

Amendments to FY11 House

continuing resolution and FY12House Interior Appropriations bill

End Mexican gray wol recovery eorts in New Mexico

and Arizona.

Proposed or inclusion in FY12

House Interior Appropriations bil

Rep. Cynthia Lummis

(R-Wyo.)

Rider to FY12 Interior

Appropriations bill

Prevent citizens rom challenging uture delisting o gray

wolves in 10 states (Wyoming and the nine states inwestern Great Lakes area).

Included in FY12 House Interior

Appropriations bill.

Rep. Devin Nunes

(R-Cali.)

HR 1837: San Joaquin Valley

Water Reliability Act

Roll back protections or the endangered Delta smelt,

Chinook salmon, steelhead and green sturgeon inCaliornias Bay-Delta region.

Pending in House in Natural


Rep. Jim Costa

(D-Cali.)

HR 1251: More Water For Our

Valley Act

Replace science-based measures taken under ESA

to protect wildlie in Caliornias Bay-Delta region withweaker standards and preempt stricter state laws

governing water projects.

Pending in House Natural


Rep. Rob Bishop(R-Utah)

Sen. David Vitter(R-La.)

HR 1287/S706: Domestic Jobs,Domestic Energy, and Decit

Reduction Act o 2011

Prevent ederal and state agencies rom ensuringthat sh and wildlie in Caliornias Bay-Delta receive

lie-sustaining supplies o water, prohibit consideration

o impacts o greenhouse gases when implementingESA, and lit ESA compliance during state-declared

emergencies.

Pending in House NaturalResources, Judiciary, Energy and

Commerce, Science, Space, and

Technology, and Transportationand Inrastructure committees.

Placed on Senate legislative

calendar.

Rep. Frank Guinta

(R-N.H.)

HR 1806: Bluen Tuna

Fishermen Employment

Preservation Act

Amend ESA so bluen tuna can not be treated as

endangered or threatened species.



Sen. James Inhoe

(R-Okla.)

Reps. Steve Pearce

(R-N.M.) and Randy

Neugebauer(R-Texas)

Amendment #429 to S782:

Economic Revitalization Act o

2011

Amendment to FY12 Interior

Appropriations Bill

Prevent U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service rom extending

ESA protections to lesser prairie chickens.

Filed in Senate but not oered.

Proposed or inclusion in FY12

House Interior Appropriations bil

Sen. John Cornyn

(R-Texas)

Rep. Steve Pearce(R-N.M.)

Amendment #397 to S782

Economic Revitalization Act o2011

Amendment to FY12 InteriorAppropriations Bill

Prevent U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service rom extending

ESA protections to sand dune lizards.

Filed in Senate but not oered.

Proposed or inclusion in FY12House Interior Appropriations bil

Rep. Joe Baca

(D-Cali.)

HR 1042: Discredit Eternal

Listing Inequality o SpeciesTakings Act

Amend ESA so that rare species listed as endangered

or 15 or more years must be considered extinct ipopulations have not improved.



Rep. Rob Bishop

(R-Utah)

HR 1505: The National Security

and Federal Lands Protection Act

Exempt Homeland Security rom ESA and other

environmental laws within 100 miles o U.S. borders.



Rep. Ken Calvert

(R-Cali.)

Rider to FY12 Interior

Appropriations bill

Prohibit EPA rom using unds to modiy, cancel or

suspend registration o pesticides in response to ESA

biological opinions.

Included in FY12 House Interior

Appropriations bill.


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www.rs.rg 5

mrcas atv plats a amals ar

srus trubl. Tyr alray ur thrat

rm txc pstcs, ar a watr pllu-

t, lss habtat a glbal warmg.

Nw w ca a t that lst th mst mmat a

srus thrat thm all: Cgrssal attack th

rm 13 rt prvss that wul urm

th Eagr pcs ct a ts ablty t prtct urats mprl wll.

Frm barrg prtcts r partcular spcs t

swpg chags t hw th law ca b appl, ths

lgslatv assaultsummarz th ppst chart

strks at th uat th law a thus ur cu-

trys grat cmmtmt t prsrvg th tr wb

l r th bt utur grats mrcas.

T Eagr pcs ct was pass arly 40

yars ag wth strg bpartsa supprt, a was sg

t law by Prst Nx. I th cas sc, wvwtss sm hstrys mst crbl cmbacks.

mals that wr c th vrg sapparg

rvr ar thrvg aga. Bcaus th act, bal agls,

Calra crs a prgr alcs ar stll takg

t th sks. Flra pathrs, gray wlvs a grzzly

bars ar kpg pry spcs chck. mrca allga-

trs, Flra maats a gray whals ctu t grac

ur swamps, rvrs a cas. Mr uamtally,

ly a haul th spcs rcvg prtct ur

th act hav g xtct.Yt Cgrss s ps ths all t u much

th prgrss that has b ma t rstr agr

spcs. I may stacs, th tru mtvat r

ths assault appars t b t supprt th trsts

partcular bg bussss. T spsrs th at-E

blls hav cllctvly tak mr tha $5.9 mll

campag ctrbuts rm Bg Ol a agrbus-

sss al. mak mattrs wrs, may th

prvss ar lkly t gt rll t largr spg

blls as plcy rrs, bcmg th subjct back-

rm gtats that vr ac publc scruty utlts t lat. It happ wth th wl lstg rr

ths sprg, a t cul happ aga.

Cgrss shul t aba cr mrca valus

avr bg bussss that s pprtuty th

at-gvrmt stmts currtly spus by a

small but vcal mrty. rct pll shws that mst

mrcas agr th mprtac prsrvg ur

ats rch a uqu atural hrtag: 92 prct

agr that css abut wll maagmt a

whch amals prtct shul b ma bysctsts, t pltcas; 90 prct agr that th E

has hlp hurs spcs rcvr rm th brk

xtct; a 87 prct agr that th E s a

succssul saty t r prtctg wll, plats a

sh rm xtct.

Ccr ctzs, wll champs Cgrss

a th Obama amstrat must sta up t ths

assaults a ctu th ght r ur ats mprl

wll a th law that prtcts thm. must s

that Cgrss uphls th Eagr pcs ct th mst succssul, rwar-thkg vr-

mtal laws vr acta prsrvs mrcas grat

csrvat lgacy r ur chlr a grachlr

executive summary


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Section I

the endangered species actunder attack

O ur ats mst sgcat, succss-ul a ppular csrvat lawsthEagr pcs ct (E)s ur sg.

Dspt arly ur cas accmplsh-mts ur th E a vrwhlmg publc supprt rt, sm mmbrs Cgrss ar makg a rchstrata uprct attmpt t urm th uats th law. s th ugust 2011 cgrssal rcss, 13 bllsr lgslatv prpsals ar pg that wul urcutr ramatcally wak th E. I at, th HusNatural Rsurcs Cmmtt has auc plas t bgrauthrzg th E.

Ts lgslatv attackswhch rag rm blckgprtcts r partcular spcs t scarg th xprtps tp sctstsput ur mprl plats aamals, publc las a thr atural rsurcs srusjpary. I th currt Cgrss, prpts thspcmal attacks agr spcs hav vgruslypursu thm a, may cass, alray attmpt t athr amagg prpsals t varus urlat blls. Tsalls cls-r prcss vlpg a cmprhsvral spg bll maxmzs th rsk that ths publclyuppular at-wll prpsals wll bcm law. I thy, thy wll vscrat ur ats strgst csr-vat laws, lavg ur chlr a grachlr wth ampvrsh atural wrl.

May ths attacks ar bg prmt ur th gus rvtalzg th cmy r stramlg rgulats rrucg th sz gvrmtv thugh th E salray th mst xbl a traspart ral lawsa prvs umrus rct a rct cmc bts.I may stacs, th tru mtvat r ths assault apparst b t supprt th trsts partcular bg bussss. Tsbussss hav gv sgcat campag ctrbuts tth spsrs at-E blls btg ths sam backrs.T spsrs th at-E blls hav cllctvly tak mr tha $5.9 mll campag ctrbuts rm Bg Ola agrbussss al (see Appendix 1: Bankrolling Anti-ESA

Legislation). Ts paymts suggst that bg bussss sa uusual pprtuty th at-gvrmt stmtscurrtly spus by a small but vcal mrty, a ar lgup thr cgrssal alls t thr bg.

Cgrssal attacks vrmtal lgslat grala th E partcularar t w. But w havvr s s may rt at-E blls r ammtstruc such a shrt pr tm. vr hasatal csrvat larshp a curag b suchshrt supply, bth s Psylvaa vu. s a rsult,th rsks t th act hav vr b gratr. ll that s cs-

sary r at-csrvat rcs t succ s, t paraphras

Emu Burk, r g m a wm t thg.

history and success oF the esaI th arly 1970s, th bal aglth ats symblwas th vrg sapparg. T gray wl, whch cram rm Mxc t th rctc, ha b lmatrm mr tha 99 prct ts rmr habtat th lwr48 stats. Oly a w hur grzzly bars cul stll bu th ctguus stats. vral spcs whals wrprlusly cls t xtct. a turtls, brw plcas,maats, Calra crs, black-t rrts a thrcraturs als sm st r racat.

But a strg, bpartsa majrty bth huss Cgrss rsp that ark hur r ur ats wlhrtag by passg th E 1973. T act was sg tlaw by Prst Rchar Nx, wh, althugh t csra vrmtalst, thlss rcgz th mprtac prtctg ur atural lgacy a passg t tact t uturgrats. Nthg s mr prclss a mr wrthy prsrvat tha th rch array amal l wth whch urcutry has b blss, h t hs sgg statmt Dcmbr 28, 1973. It s a may-act trasur, valut schlars, sctsts, a atur lvrs alk, a t rms a


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www.rs.rg 7

vtal part th hrtag w all shar as mrcas.Fr arly ur cas sc th, th E has b th

crrst mprl wll a plat csrvat tht tats. It has prv strumtal savg hurs spcs rm xtctt ly th cc bal agl,whch was rmv rm th agr spcs lst 2007atr ts umbrs th cttal t tats rbu t10,000 brg pars, but als th grzzly bar, th gray wl,th black-t rrt a may thr spcs. Oly 10 ut

arly 2,000 mprl plats a amals prtct ur thact hav g xtct urg that tma succss rat mrtha 99 prct1.

why save species?t ts cr, th E rprsts mrcas cmmtmt trspsbl stwarshpa rcgt ur uty t prsrvur atv wll r utur grats. Ts mral mpratvhas bcm crasgly urgt as vc has mut thxtct crss acg ur plat. Bcaus huma-causchagshabtat struct a ragmtat, clmat

chag, ar a watr pllut, th spra vasv spcs,vr-shg a th lkth Earth s surg th wrstpr spcs lss sc th sapparac saurs 65

mll yars ag. ctsts stmat w ar currtly lsgspcs at as much as 10,000 tms th atural rat xtc-t2. Mr tha -thr th mr tha 6,000 kwspcs amphbas arat rsk sapparg3.Mr tha 30 prct th800 spcs brs thcutry ar csrvatccr4. Narly 40 prct Nrth mrcas shspcs ar mprl5.lmst 50 prct thwrls prmat spcsar agr6. Harvarblgst E. O. ls, th wrls pr-mtschlars bvrsty, hasstmat that hal allspcs wrlw ar lklyt g xtct th xtctury gv currt rats habtat srupt by humas.

T xtct crss s mr tha just acamc trst;

ur survval as a spcs ps th halth th platscsystms. Humas rly plat a amal spcs t lyt prv us a sustac rctly, but r a varty thr srvcs crucal t ur survval: hlpg t cla urwatr, prv xyg a absrb carb x, rch ursl, prvt rs, ctrl s, pllat crps, a s. T ttal valu ths csystm srvcs s fcult tmasur, but cmst has stmat t at $33 trllpr yar7. Eagr plats a amals may als hl thkys t brakthrughs th tratmts aly sass.

Nothing is morepriceless and

more worthy ofpreservation than

the rich array ofanimal life withwhich our countryhas been blessed.

Prst Rchar Nx

gg statmt r th Eagr

pcs ct, Dcmbr 28, 1973

BEAR TAMMY SHELTON; FERRET (CAPTIVE) JOEL SARTORE/JOELSARTORE.COM

1. .. Fsh a ll rvc, Evrmtal Csrvat Ol ystm. Dls

g rprt at http://cs.ws.gv/tss_publc/DlstgRprt., accss July 31, 2012. E.O. ls. 2005. Te Future of Life. lr . Kp. Nw Yrk, Nw Yrk, .

3. ak, D. B. a V. . Vrburg. 2008. r w th mst th sxth massxtct? vw rm th wrl amphbas. Proceedings of the ational Academof Sciences105: 1146611473.

4. Nrth mrca Br Csrvat Itatv, .. Cmmtt, 2009. Te State of thBirds, nited States of America, 2009. .. Dpartmt Itrr: ashgt, DC.

5. Jlks, H. J., t al., 2008. Csrvat status mprl Nrth mrcarshwatr a armus shs. Fisheries33(8): 372407.

6. Mttrmr, R. ., t al. (s.). 2009. Primates in Peril: Te Worlds 25 MostEndangered Primates 20082010. ICN/C Prmat pcalst Grup, ItratalPrmatlgcal cty a Csrvat Itratal, rlgt, V.

7. Cstaza, R., t al. 1997. T valu th wrls csystm srvcs a aturalcaptal. ature, 387:253-260.

Grizzly bears in the Northern Rockies (previous page)

and black-ooted errets (above) have both beneted

enormously rom the saeguards provided by the ESA.


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Exampls spcs that hav alray prv mprtatctrbuts t mc clu th Pacc yw tr, thbark whch yl th at-cacr rug taxl; th Maa-gascar prwkl, th sap whch ctas substacs that

hav prv ctv th tratmt Hgks sasa chlh lukma; a th mamala tr, rm whch thprmsg at-ID rug Prstrat was slat.

Halthy ppulats plats a amals als hlpsupprt ur cmy. Each yar, mrcas sp blls llars hutg, shg, brwatchg a thr rcratthat p wll a habtat csrvat. Frxampl, vstrs wh cm t Yllwst Natal Park tvw gray wlvs rstr by th E sp a stmat $35mll ach yar8. O th East Cast, arly hal a mllbrrs travl t th Dlawar Bay ach sprg t catch aglmps mprl r kts a thr shrbrs thr aual mgrat. Ts brrs grat a ttal $12mll t $20 mll cmc mpact r Dlawar Baycmmuts9. Natw, th .. Fsh a ll rvcstmats th ttal valu wll-pt rcrat at$122 bll aually10.

current attacks on the esaT currt spat attacks th E s cmg rmpltcas wh thr wllully r ut grac al tackwlg th succss th E a th may bts

prtctg spcs. Ista, th authrs ths blls cus th supps csts t scty savg rar a mprlplats a wll, tryg t alsly cast th act as ampmt t cmc vlpmt r atal scurty.Nt surprsgly, may ths attackrs ar back by largcrprat trsts that sta t prt rm a mshE. Ol a gas cmpas, r xampl, hav at

arly $4.9 mll t th campags ur th bllsbackrs Cgrss. grbussss hav gv mr tha $1mll t v spsrs at-E lgslat th Husa at.

T 13 rt lv blls r prpsals us a varty rt tactcs a apprachs, but thy all braly tthr ma catgrs: Frst, lgslat that wul rmvE prtcts a trmat rcvry rts r mprlwlvs; sc, blls that wul blck E lstgs rw spcs; a thr, swpg ammts that wulsrusly amag th ablty th E t prtct mprlamals a plats.

common dangershl ach ths attacks cul spll sastr r thtargt spcs, th vrall ct th tgrty thE tsl s much mr alarmg. ll ths lgslatvprpsals thr gr r rctly gat th sctcgs that rm th backb th E. I partcular, aumbr prpsals wul vrr scc-bas blgcalps vlp by th .. Fsh a ll rvc rth Natal Mar Fshrs rvc rgarg th lklyct prps ral agcy acts up agrr thrat spcs. ch ras r th succss

th act s ts rlac th bst avalabl scc t maktrmats abut th lkly mpacts prps agcyacts up lst spcs a hw ths acts shul bm t mtgat r av harm t th act spcs.Ts lgslatv attacks wul splac scc as th ctralcsrat, gvg prrty ly t ths spcs that sutth whms crta lct fcals.

thr blw t th acts tgrty that wul b struckby ths blls s that takg css ut th has ral sh a wll agcy xprts. Dcss abut hwt prtct a rcvr mprl amals a plats shul bma by agcy sctsts a wll maagmt prs-sals, t by pltcas whs prcpal ccr s thrw r-lct. T E was ttally cstruct tlvat such css abv th pltcal ray a lav thm

MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE ISTOCKPHOTO/JOSEPH WHITE

Our survival depends on the continued existence o animal and

plant species such as the Madagascar periwinkle, which contains

substances that have proven eective in the treatment o Hodgkinsdisease and childhood leukemia.

8. Dufl, J., Nhr, C. a Pattrs, D. lvs a Ppl Yllwst:Impacts th Rgal Ecmy, vrsty Mtaa, Fal Rprt r

Yllwst Park Fuat, pt. 2006.

9. Eubaks, ., tll, J. a Krlgr, P. ll-asscat Rcrat th NwJrsy Dlawar Bay hr. Nw Jrsy Fsh, Gam, a ll, 2000.

10. .. Dpartmt th Itrr, Fsh a ll rvc; a .. Dpartm Cmmrc, .. Csus Burau. 2006 Natal urvy Fshg, Hutg, a

ll-sscat Rcrat.


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www.rs.rg 9

th has ral wll agcs.T blls wul als urm mprtat lcal mult-

stakhlr csrvat plag rts. Ts rts arcrucal tls r cllabrat a csultat prvur th E. Ty allw r a w rag grups, bus-sss a vuals wh mght b act by E lstgst cm tgthr a cllctvly wrk t vlp plas t

prtct crucal habtat. uch cllabratv rts ar bgurtak svral placs aru th cutry, clugth Bay-Dlta Calra, r xampl. But lgslatprps by Rp. Dv Nus (R-Cal.) wul vrrul thsgg stakhlr vlvmt rt a st a agrusprct r mpsg th wll utal grup (ths cas, agrbussss) vr th s th act lstspcs a th trsts thr stakhlrs.

immediacy oF threatsgslatv attacks th E hav cm a g vr thyars, but th act has vr b as much jpary as t s

w. O ras s smply th umbr a scp th bllsam at urmg th act. ar ths Cgrss thrhav b 13 rt blls truc that wul urcut

The ESA is requently and inaccurately portrayed by

opponents as a rigid, draconian tool used to stand in

the way o development. The truth is that the ESA is one

o our nations most fexible laws, with a variety o toolsand incentives or private landowners and the regulated

community to reduce potential regulatory burdens by

participating in the conservation process. History shows

that the act has had a negligible economic impact. For

example, between 1979 and 1992, an average o only

two out o 11,000 projects reviewed annuallyless than

one-tenth o one percentwas prevented rom moving

orward due to protections or endangered species.11

ESA Is Extremely Flexible

WALRUS COURTESY USFWS

Anti-conservation orces in Congress are seeking to block ESA

protection o creatures such as the Pacic walrus, which is imperiled

by global warming.

11. .. Fsh a ll rvc, Te Endangered Species Act at 25, 1999.


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th E way r athrmr blls by th ugustrcss tha ay thr Cgrss rct mmry. I,thr ar almst as may at-E blls as wr truc byth ugust rcss th prvus ur Cgrsss cmb.

Passag prl lgslat that rmv gray wlvs th Nrthr Rcks rm th agr spcs lst sa partcular ras r ccr. Ts mark th rst tm

th 38-yar hstry th E that Cgrss strpp prtc-ts r a partcular spcs ( ths cas, by rcg thrugha lstg rul that ha alray b struck w by a ralcurt). Ts -ru aru th E was tack t amust-pass ug bll a was vr publcly bat brt bcam law, sttg a pttally catastrphc prctthat Cgrss cul llw r thr spcs that mght bpltcally cvt t prtct.

T currt pltcal stuat s yt athr causr alarm. ratally, csrvatsts hav b ablt cut bth Rpublca a Dmcratc alls Cgrss wh saw th bts savg plats a amals

rm xtct. ays pltcal calculus sms t havchag, hwvr. Dspt havg a umbr wllchamps th Hus, th rsults th 2010 lct

hav gv ctrl that lgslatv by ta larshp hstl twll. Mawhl,at Dmcratcwll champsrma largly slt th wl lstgmasur t hlp a

lctrally-vulrablcllagu a thus hl t thr majrty.I at, ulkpast Dmcratcamstrats,whch cul larglyb rl up t vtat-vrmtal bllsa sst that at-vrmtal rrs brmv rm must-pass blls, th Obamaamstrat has ha

a csstt rcr stag up t at-E rrs. Iact, Itrr crtary K alazar rpatly sgal tCgrss hs wllgss t accpt lgslatv tamprg wthth E prr t act by Cgrss t trv pltcallya rmv agr spcs prtcts r wlvs th Nrthr Rcks a thr stats. I prl, thamstrat accpt th Nrthr Rcks wl lstgprpsal, whl July t pps a rr t th Itrr

Dpartmt pprprats bll that wul hav ba thlstg ay w agr r thrat spcs.

Durg th rct Hus r bat vr th Itrrspg bll, E supprtrsclug lg-tm stalwarts csrvat a a umbr Rpublca Cgrssmwh brk raks wth thr Cgrssal larshpwr

succssul rmvg th lgslats xtct rr, th mst swpg attacks th act yars. Ts prv-s wul hav cras th rsk xtct r hurs mprl spcs by prvtg w lstgs ur th act.T succssul at th Extct Rr shw that thE ca b prtct wh ts rtally attack ull vw th publc y.

Hwvr, th agr th z mr pg attacks sthat thy may vr s th lght ay. Ts all Cgrss sxpct t c aga us a cls r prcss t vlp acmprhsv ral spg bll, whch cul clu ayumbr at-E prvss that wll vr gt bat.Cgrss us ths prcss last sprg t pruc a alspg bll that clu varus at-vrmtal rrs,clug th lstg wlvs th Nrthr Rcks.

thut a strg sta by th Obama amstrat aat larshp, th tactc clug at-E plcy rrs must-pass lgslat wll ramatcally cras th chacsthat at-E rcs wll b succssul ths all. cat allwths t happ. I th mths aha, ctzs must spak utluly a tll plcymakrs t pps ay a all gratutusattacks mrcas mprl wll a al spg bll.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, above, ailed to protect the Northern

Rockies wol rom delisting but did oppose the extinction rider that

was deeated in Congress.

SALAZAR KRISTA SCHLYER/DEFENDERS O F

Unlike pastDemocraticadministrations

the Obamaadministrationhas had aninconsistent recordof standing up toanti-ESA riders.


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www.rs.rg 11

drawing a line in the sandI Cgrss gts th busss rutly lstgprtct spcs ur th E, th th act wll b rrmaglss. hats mr, t wll ly xacrbat th majrvrmtal challgs w ac. Imprl spcs ar tmrly th symptms w-ragg, systmc prblms

that ca r wll act humas, t. I w gr r rus ttrat th symptms, t st mak th sas g awaytly gts wrs. I th lg-trm, wll ly hurt urslvs w allw mprl spcs t b sacrc th am shrt-trm cmc ga, r b tra away bh clsrs as part sm cycal pltcal al.

Its tm r ur pltcal lars t rscvr thprcpls that gu th passag th E ur casag. T rgal gal th act was t cy mrcascmmtmt t g stwarshp a prsrv th wb l ths plat. T E was mat t sur that urchlr a grachlr wul hrt a wrl wthabuat blgcal vrsty, prtctg all rgasms larga small. Ts prcpls rspsbl stwarshp havhstrcally trasc pltcs ths cutry, a wrmbrac by bth Rpublcas a Dmcrats acrss a wpltcal spctrum.

T at prhaps th strgst vrmtal law vract rsts th has th Obama amstrat,mmbrs Cgrss a th ctzs ths cutry. Bytakg a strg a clar sta r su scc a gstwarshpa agast lgslatv trrc th blg-

cal cs-makg ur ral wll agcsw ca allsur a halthy atural lgacy r utur grats.

support For the actT mrca publc stll vrwhlmgly supprts prtc-t r mprl spcs, wth 84 prct mrcaspll sayg thy supprt th E. I at, 92 prct

agr that css abut wll maagmt a whchamals prtct shul b ma by sctsts, tpltcas. Furthrmr, 90 prct blv that th Ehas hlp hurs spcs rcvr rm th brk xtct, a 87 prct say th E s a succssul satyt r prtctg wll a plats rm xtct 11. Tss a hug a utal csttucy avr matagth E that pltcas ashgt shul h asthy csr ay blls that wul urm th act.

Furthrmr, xprts hav cm ut strgly avr th law. I prl, arly 1,300 sctsts sg a lttr urggth at t t lgslat away prtcts r th wl,

shwg thr supprt r th Es scc-bas appracht spcs csrvat. T lttr ra, part: Bcaus ts strg sctc uat, th Eagr pcsct s th mst crtcal a succssul law r surg thprtct thrat a agr wll urcutry. T sctsts wt t stat: Blgcal vrstyprvs , br, mcs, cla watr, a myrathr csystm pructs a srvcs whch w pvry ay. urm th carul a thughtul sctcprcss that trms whthr a spcs s agr rrcvr wul jparz t ly th spcs qusta th ctu succss th Eagr pcs ct,

but th vry uat th csystms that susta us all.Bth th sctc cmmuty a th mrca publc

ralz smthg that may Cgrss a th htHus appar t hav rgtt: hav a rspsblty tkp spcs alv ur ur watch. Our grat s pst ha a msh atural-rsurcs lgacy t urchlr a grachlr. T E s th w lawsthat stas btw us a that ubus stct.

I th xt w mths, pltcas ashgt,D.C., wll ac sm crucal tsts. Ty ca vt t sacrcspcs r pltcal xpcy r shrt-trm cmcga, r thy ca vt r rspsbl stwarshp a urchlrs utur. Our ata ur plats athags th balac.

12. Pll cmmss by th Eagr pcs Calt a cuct byHarrs Itractv, bas 1,009 tlph survys amg aults th ttats btw Fbruary 16-21, 2011. urvy summary avalabl at: http://www.rs.rg/rsurcs/publcats/prgrams_a_plcy/wll_csrvat/mprl_spcs/agr_spcs_act_pll.p

Imperiled creatures such as sea turtles oten are merelythe symptoms o wide-ranging problems such as pollution,

overharvesting, global warming and habitat destruction. Ignoring thesymptoms doesnt make the disease go awayit only gets worse.

A TURTLE ISTOCK PHOTO/ RON MASESSA


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Section II targeting imperiled wolves

G

ray wlvs wr sstally wp ut thrrmr habtat th lwr 48 stats by tharly 20th ctury atr a xtsv a

brutal xtrmat campag. But th lastsvral cas, thaks t th E, ths majstc amalshav b rtruc t th Nrthr Rcks a thuthwst, a hav ma a strg cmback th wstrGrat aks rg. T wl rstrat rt thNrthr Rcks s mrcas gratst csrvatsuccss strs, a t has brught t ly sgcatclgcal bts, but cmc s, t.

rtuatly, bjcts t wl rstrat by a smallbut vcal mrty th st rsult Cgrss passg May a lgslatv rr t a ug bll that prmaturlyrmv gray wlvs th Nrthr Rcks (xcpt

ymg) rm th agr spcs lstth rst tmCgrss has lt prtcts r a agr spcs.Fllwg up that uprct a grgus act,svral blls hav b truc that wul allw stats trastcally ruc r v lmat wl ppulats, jpar-zg th lg-trm rcvry th spcs. T mst rctlgslatv prpsal, smgly atcpatg a publc utcryvr rts t strp E prtcts rm wlvs, wulprvt ctzs rm askg a jug t rvw such acts.Ts blls wul p th gats r thr spcs t b E prtcts, scarg scc-bas staars avr pltcal xpcy.

h.r. 1819: state wildliFemanagement act

Legislative Treat:Itruc by Rp. Cac Mllr(R-Mch.) May 10, 2011, H.R. 1819 wul lmatEagr pcs ct prtct r gray wlvs all rparts 19 stats.

Overview:Erts t rstr a prtct gray wlvs havb succssul th Nrthr Rcks a th wstrGrat aks, but ths amals tay stll ccupy lss tha 1prct thr hstrc habtat th lwr 48 stats. Dsptths act, H.R. 1819 wul lst gray wl ppulats Nvaa, Clra a th rthr Rcky Mutas,clug wlvs ymg. (lvs ths rg wully rga E prtct th vrall ppulat allsblw 450 wlvs.) Furthr, gray wlvs th strGrat aks wul ls E prtct ulss thr umbrsrp blw 1,200 Msta, 150 Mchga a 150 scs. E prtct wul als b autmatcally

lmat r wlvs rza a Nw Mxc as s asth cmb ttal wlvs bth stats rachs 100.

Treats to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:H.R. 1819 wul st th agrus prct takgagr spcs css ut th has wllxprts a allwg Cgrss t c whch spcs srvprtct a whch hav rcvr. Furthr, ths bll stsarbtrary lstg umbrs, barrg ral prtctss lg as th spcs stays at r abv ths lvls. I thNrthr Rcks r xampl, th bll wul allw Iah,Mtaa a ymg t gt r arly all th wlvsthat xst tay xcpt r a small ppulat 450 wlvsaru Yllwst Natal Park. Each stat shul b hlaccutabl r maagg halthy, sustaabl wl ppula-ts, t rlgatg th tr rgs wlvs t ara.

I at, by cusg strctly arbtrary ppulatszs, ths lgslat grs th mprtac havgaquat stat maagmt plas plac t sur that wlppulats ar sustaabl a scur. r currt rgula-ts, stats must arss prsstt thrats t th survval


15/32

www.rs.rg 13

th spcs br E prtcts ca b rmv. Mrvr,by rcg a lgslatv lstg, H.R. 1819 wul lmatth publc rvw prcss that accmpas a rmal lstg.Ts crucal stp allws ctzs t vc thr ps ahlp rm th utur maagmt th spcs.

astly, H.R. 1819 wul prclu ral act placswhr wlvs prtct. Fr xampl, th bll wulallw wlvs that tr Nvaa a Clra t b kll aslg as thr ar at last 450 wlvs lswhr th NrthrRcks. arg parts Org, ashgt a tah, whr wl packs ar currtly kw t xst, wul b -lmts r ral prtct, as wul ymg, whr thstats prps wl maagmt pla wul allw wlvs tb sht sght acrss arly 90 prct th stat.

Current Status:H.R. 1819 s pg th Hus NaturalRsurcs Cmmtt.

h.r. 838: western great lakes wolFmanagement act

Legislative Treat:H.R. 838 was truc by Rp. JhKl (R-M.) Fbruary 28, 2011. Ts bll wulprhbt gray wlvs Msta, scs a Mchgarm bg trat as a thrat r agr spcsur th E. Ista, ach stat wul hav xclusvjursct vr th maagmt gray wlvs wth thrstat.

Overview:By th tm thy wr a t th agrspcs lst 1974, gray wlvs ha b lmat rmmst thr habtat th lwr 48 stats, xcpt r a small

ppulat rthr Msta. Trugh th prtctsar by th E, wl umbrs Msta grw, aby 1978, wlvs th stat wr rclass as thrat. swl ppulats cras Msta, th amals bgat sprs t scs a Mchgas ppr Psula.

ay, wlvs ar lst as agr Mchga(ppulat: 580) a scs (ppulat: 662) athrat Msta (ppulat: 2,922). tr svralattmpts t rmv prtcts past yars, th .. Fsha ll rvc ssu a prps rul t lst wlvs th wstr Grat aks May 5, 2011. th rbust statwl maagmt plas plac, ral prtcts ar lkly

t b lt by th xt yar.

Treats to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:H.R. 838 urms th sctc prcpls thEagr pcs ct by crg that a spcs wll lgr b prtct, sta llwg th sctc prcss a prpr lstg. Cgrss shul t b trmgwhch vual spcs srv prtct a whch s t. Ts css shul b ma by wll xprtsbas th bst avalabl scc wth carul csratgv t th lg-trm survval th spcs.

Tugh wlvs ar c aga thrvg th Grat aks,that s t ma thy wll vr prtct aga.Furthrmr, bcaus wlvs ar w-ragg a rqutlycrss stat ls, gvg th stats prmat jursct wllt sur that th tr ppulat rmas vabl. T Eprvs a crtcal saty t shul cts th gruchag, r shul ay stat al t aquatly maag thspcs. Prmatly lmatg prtcts wul prvtth k crat rcvry rts that ultmatlybrught ths spcs back rm th brk xtct thlwr 48 stats.

WOLF DAVID BOLIN

Congress recently passed legislation removing ESA protections

or wolves in most o the Northern Rockies. Several other bills andlegislative proposals would urther compromise saeguards or

these imperiled animals.


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section 2: targeting imperiled wolves

shul b clbratg th succss wl-rcvryrts brught abut by th act, t mshg thaccmplshmt by gvg up as w ar th sh l.It has tak cas t rstr gray wlvs th wstrGrat aks, but w that wr clsg ur gal,mpatt pltcas ar puttg that lgacy at rsk wthll-ccv lgslat.

Current Status:H.R. 838 s pg th Hus NaturalRsurcs Cmmtt.

amendment to end mexican graywolF recovery eFForts

Legislative Treat:I Fbruary, Rp. tv Parc (R-N.M.)prps a ammt t th FY11 ctug rslut th Hus Rprstatvs that wul hav blckug r Mxca gray wl rcvry rts Nw

Mxc a rza. H prps ths ammt aga, aspart th FY12 Itrr pprprats bll.

Overview:T Mxca gray wl s ur rarst wl, wthly wl ppulat 50 amals Nw Mxc arza. c th wls rtruct t th wl 1998,th ppulat has struggl t cras, surg havylsss rm pachg a rm a shrt-sght a ctvrcvry pla that rsult may wlvs bg kllucssarly. I th past yar th ppulat has shw sgs rbug, a th .. Fsh a ll rvc s wtakg th cssary stps t put th Mxca wl rmly

back th ra t rcvry. It has assmbl a tam sc-tsts a stakhlrs t hlp raw up a w rcvry pla; ts wrkg t hlp rachrs av ccts wth wlvs; at has stablsh a u t cmpsat lvstck wrs rlsss t wlvs.

Tr s justcat r a attack Mxca graywlvs. Ctrary t th clams sm, thy ps almst thrat t ppl, lvstck r gam th uthwst. TNatal grcultural tatstcs rvc rprts that 2010,ly 0.2 prct cattl aths atw wr causby wlvs. Far mr lvstck ar kll by rspratry agstv prblms tha by wlvs a all thr pratrscmb. I at, accrg t th v-yar rvw th Mxca gray wl rtruct prgram, thr havb tctabl chags bg gam ppulats, r thumbr hutg lcss ssu sc wl rtruct.

Mrvr, a strg majrty vtrs th uthwstsupprt Mxca gray wl rcvry. I a 2008 pllcuct by Rsarch a Pllg, Ic. lbuqurqu,N.M., 69 prct Nw Mxcas a 77 prct rzas supprt th rtruct Mxca graywlvs thr stats.

hreat to species conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:Gv thr ty ppulat a prcarus status,Mxca gray wlvs ar uttrly pt ralrcvry rts. Cuttg ug r ths prgram wulsstally m ths rar amals t xtct. It wulals hav harmul mpacts th small suthwstrcmmuts wth th rcvry z, whr th ralprgram pays r sta a prjcts t hlp av cctsbtw rachrs a pratrs. Rachrs wh lslvstck t wlvs ca w apply r cmpsatthrugh a varty ral a stat prgrams, but slash-g ral us wll almst crtaly mpact thr abltyt ga such cmpsat.

I at, ths act wul st a agrus prct substtutg Cgrss jugmt abut whch spcs srvprtct, a hw rcvry prgrams shul b maag,r that prssal wll xprts. Ista usgth bst avalabl scc t trm what s bst r thlg-trm survval th spcs, Rp. Parcs act wulpltcz th mplmtat th Eagr pcs ct,urmg th acts brck prcpls a mprlg rarspcs vrywhr.


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www.rs.rg 15

Current status:T Parc ammt t th Mxcawl rcvry prgram cul b vt by th Hus ptmbr th Hus rsums csrat th FY12Itrr pprprats bll.

rider in house Fy 2012 interiorappropriations bill to exempt wolF

delisting From Judicial reviewLegislative threat:t th rqust Rp. Cytha umms(R-y.), th Itrr pprprats bll clus aat-E rr that wul prvt ctzs rm challggutur lstg gray wlvs all r parts 10 stats.

Overview:T rstrat gray wlvs t th gratr Yllw-st csystm has b a grat succss, wth bth clgcala cmc bts t th rg. Br E prtctsca b lt hr, hwvr, th vual stats must vlp

maagmt plas t sur th scurty a sustaablty wl ppulats wth thr brrs. Hstrcally, statfcals ymg hav b hstl t wlvs, a thy havrus t crat a csrvat pla that wul allw ralfcals t lgat maagmt authrty t th stat. s arsult, th .. Fsh a ll rvc has b uabl tsaly rmv prtcts r ymgs wl ppulat.

Hwvr, July 7, ymg Gvrr Matt Ma aItrr c. alazar agr prcpl t a wl maag-mt pla that wul allw wlvs t b sht sght acrssmst th stat r mst th yar. T Itrr Dpart-mt rlas tals th pla ugust 3 a s xpctt ssu a prps lstg rul ptmbr.

I atcpat a publc utcry vr such a act,Rp. umms rr wul sulat th lstg graywlvs ymg rm jucal rvw. It wul als xtths jucal xmpt t ay stat wth th rag thstr Grat aks (.., all Mchga, Msta, ascs, a prts Nrth a uth Dakta, Iwa,

Ills, Iaa a Oh), c th Fsh a llrvc alzs ts lstg rul. Tus, HR 1819 (scrbabv) passs, t wul mak t vrtually mpssbl rmrca ctzs t challg wl maagmt plas thatallw hurs wlvs t b lssly kll.

hreat to species conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:Ts lgslatv prpsal urcuts th mstmprtat chcks a balacs bult t th Ethpublcs ablty t challg curt ral act t lsta lst spcs. I th gvrmt prpss t lstwlvs ymg a lswhr wthut usg th

bst avalabl scc, ctz grups t b abl tchallg such css curt. I, thrughut thyars, ctz lawsuts hav succssully rval sruslgal a sctc ccs wth th gvrmtsmaagmt wlvs a thr spcs. Ts prpsalwul lmat ths mprtat tl r csrvg wlvsa prv th publc ts rghts.

By th agrus prct gvg a ralagcy uttr pwrs r rm jucal rvwwhchs ctrary t ur csttutal systm chcks abalacsths prpsal urms th scc-bas prcssthat has wrk wll r th E. Oc aga, Cgrss stryg t srt tsl th prcss a pltcz th E,sta lavg spcs maagmt t wll maagrs.

Current status:T Hus may apprv th FY12 Itrrpprprats bll ptmbr, clug th ummsammt.

MEXICAN WOLF COURTESY JIM CLARK / USFWS

With only 50 animals in the wild, the Mexican gray wol is one o the

countrys rarest species. Still, Congress is considering a proposal toblock unding or the wols recovery eorts.


18/32


blocking vital protections

I

tgral t th E s a scc-bas prcss trmg whch spcs plats a amals arthrat r agr, prtctg ths spcs

rm harm a vlpg plas r thr rcvry. sur that thy us th bst avalabl scc thrcs-makg prcss, ral wll fcals csultxprts bth s a uts th ral gvrmt,a rvw ata rm a w varty surcs, clugacamc sttuts a thr stat gvrmt agcs.s a atal chck, thy rqutly ask ptsctc xprts t pr-rvw gs a css. TEs scc-bas prcss s xmpl by blgcalps, whch prscrb masurs r prtctg mprlspcs rm ucssary harm (s bx ths pag).

vral blls hav b truc rctly that wul

ully blgcal ps r thrws blck crucalsaguars r a umbr spcs varus parts th cutry. Tr ths blls al spccally wthCalras Bay-Dlta rg, a sk t plac th s pltcally cct agrbussss abv ths vulr-abl sh a brs. T thrs tak am at prtcts rtua, lssr prar chcks a sa u lzarsagalvatg prts r ustry abv th csrvat s clg spcs a thr habtats. Nt ly wulths blls thwart csrvat rts a harm th actwll, but thy wul subvrt th Es carully crata succssul scc-bas prcsssta placg th

at rar craturs th has pltcas a thrcrprat backrs.

h.r. 1837: san Joaquin valley waterreliability act and h.r. 1251: morewater For our valley act, 2011

Legislative Treat:H.R. 1837 was truc May 11, 2011,by Rp. Dv Nus (R-Cal.). Ts bll wul rll backprtcts r th agr Dlta smlt, Chk salm,stlha a gr sturg Calras Bay-Dlta rg.

I g s, t wul urm ky lmts th Ea-gr pcs ct, th Ctral Vally Prjct Imprvmtct a th a Jaqu Rvr Rstrat ttlmt ct.Ts bll wul als vrtur Calra laws gvrg watrrghts a curtal th ablty stat agcs t prtct sha wll th Bay-Dlta.

H.R. 1251 was truc by Rp. Jm Csta (D-Cal.) March 30, 2011. Ts bll wul rplac scc-basmasurs tak ur th E t prtct wll Calr-as Bay-Dlta rg wth wakr staars, a t wulprmpt strctr stat laws gvrg watr prjcts.

Overview:T Bay-Dlta rgwhr th acramta a Jaqu rvrs mrg a w t th a FracscBayprvs habtat t 750 spcs plats a amals.T wtlas thr ursh vtal stg, g a brgspts r watrwl a mgratry brs, a th watrs arhm r ursry grus t a w array aquatc spcs,clug svral typs mprl sh. But as Calrasppulat has grw, th watrs vtal t ths csystm havb vrt thrugh a vast twrk rsrvrs, caals apumpg stats t cts, arms a bussssprmarly

One crucial provision o the ESA is a requirement that any

ederal agency proposing an action that could aect an

endangered or threatened species rst seek the expert

opinion o the U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service or the National

Marine Fisheries Service about the impacts o the action onthe listed species. The appropriate agency will then issue a

biological opinion about the proposed action. The opinion

is strictly a scientic judgment, and not a political or policy

perspective. The primary goal o a biological opinion is to

prevent unacceptable harm to an imperiled species or its

habitat. It may include conservation recommendations, and

it may also impose reasonable and prudent measures to

minimize any harmul impacts, including monitoring and

reporting to ensure compliance.

Biological Opinions: Science-basedTools or Protecting Imperiled Species

CHINOOK SALMON MICHAEL QUINTON/MINDE

Section III


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www.rs.rg 17

th ar ctral a suthr parts th stat. (Ts vr-ss ar maag thrugh a vast twrk rsrvrs, caalsa pumpg stats prat by th ral gvrmt th Ctral Vally Prjct, a by th stat gvrmt thCalra tat atr Prjct.) Yars vrus, r-grg atural watr ws a cras pllut hav rv thBay-Dlta csystm t th pt cllaps. gussh spcs, th Dlta smlt, was lst as thrat ur th

Eagr pcs ct 1993 atr ts ppulat was slashby huma-uc chags t th atural systm, clugrmus pumps us t vrt watr t th suth.

T Bay-Dlta systm has b at th ctr yars ltgat a s w gvr by a umbr laws,clug th Ctral Vally Prjct Imprvmt ct 1992 a th a Jaqu Rvr Rstrat ttlmtct. T Bay-Dlta s a ls gvr by a st stat bllspass 2009, whch stablsh c-qual gals watrsupply rlablty a csystm csrvat. cal watragcs, stat a ral agcs, vrmtal rga-zats a thr trst grups hav b wrkg rth past thr yars t mt ths c-qual gals by rat-g th Bay Dlta Csrvat Pla. Ts pla s xpctt cmply wth bth th E a stat vrmtallaws, a thus allw th gg prat stat aral watr prjcts th Bay-Dlta.

I 2008 a 2009, blgcal ps wr ssu urth E rqurg atal watr b lt th Dlta tprtct th Dlta smlt, Chk salm, stlha a grsturg. T Natal camy ccs rvw thsps, a a March 2010 rprt cclu that th watr-

vrs rstrcts wr just, a ma a w suggstsr strgthg th ps. I May 2010 th Dpartmt th Itrr a th Dpartmt Cmmrc aucthat thy wll jtly pruc a w blgcal p that wllarss th ssus ras by th Natal camy ccsa wll mr ully tgrat w scc.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered Species

Act:H.R. 1837 svrly waks th Eagr pcsct by maatg that all E rqurmts ar csrully mt r all spcs mpact by th Ctral VallyPrjct a Calra tat atr Prjct, as lg as thprjcts ar csstt wth th 1994 Bay Dlta ccr.pccally, F a NMF ar rqur t ssu blgcalps r bth prjcts that ar mr rstrctv thath prvss th agrmt, a ths ps cab m ly wth th cst th sgatrs t thagrmt. T bll als prhbts Calra rm aptgstat rgulats r E lst spcs that ar mr rstrc-tv tha th prvss th bll.

H.R. 1251 wul st w, wakr staars r watrw lmts, pumpg prats a salty lvls th Ctral Vally Prjct a th Calra tat atrPrjct tha ths prscrb th Bay-Dlta blgcalpsrctly urmg th Es staar usgth bst avalabl scc. I at, H.R. 1251 bstructsth prtct Bay-Dlta spcs ur th CalraEagr pcs ct, as th bll spccally prmpts aystat law gvrg Ctral Vally Prjct a tat atrPrjct prats wh that law s mr rstrctv.

STEELHEAD COURTESY BLM / OREGON OFFICE DELTA SMELT COURTESY PETER JOHNSEN / USFW

Several bills pending in Congress this year would stymie eortsto protect imperiled species that depend on water fows rom

Caliornias Bay-Delta ecosystem, including Chinook salmon(previous page), steelhead (let) and the Delta smelt (above).


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section iii: blocking vital protections

Ts masurs wul srusly urm th Esscc-bas staars a bstruct th prtct Bay-Dlta spcs ur th Calra Eagr pcsct. t ts wrst, ths blls wll sur ramatc ruc-ts th ppulats svral mprl spcs-clug th lta smlt, Ctral Vally sprg-ruChk salm, Ctral Vally stlha, a th gr

sturga may prvt ral a stat agcsrm takg acts t avrt xtcts. Mrvr, thsblls wul ully yars cllabratv wrk by armrs,csrvat grups, a lcal, stat a ral agcst bul a Bay Dlta Csrvat Pla r th bt bth th lta csystms a th stats cmywthsrus pttal harm t bth.

Current Status:H.R. 1251 a H.R. 1837 ar pg thHus Cmmtt Natural Rsurcs. Tr hav btw hargs hl Ju H.R. 1837 th Hus NaturalRsurcs ubcmmtt atr a Pwr. I at,

prl 11, 2011, thr was a l harg hl Frs,Calra, by th Hus Natural Rsurcs ubcmmtt atr a Pwr.

h.r. 1287 and s. 706: 3-d, domesticJobs, domestic energy, and deFicitreduction act oF 2011

Legislative Treat:H.R. 1287 was truc March 31,2011, by Rp. Rb Bshp (R-tah). (I at, ts cmpa- bll, .706: 3-D, Dmstc Jbs, Dmstc Ergy, aDct Ruct ct 2011, was truc March 31,

2011 by atr Dav Vttr [R-a.]). H.R. 1287 prvtsral a stat agcs rm surg that sh a wll Calras Bay-Dlta csystm rcv l-sustagsuppls watr. I at, H.R. 1287 prhbts ralwll fcals rm csrg th mpacts grhusgass wh mplmtg th E. Fally, ths bll rqursral agcs t tmprarly xmpt rm E cmplacay masurs m cssary t av r as th mpacts stat-clar mrgcs.

Overview:T Bay-Dlta watrsh s a clgcalsystm that has b rv t ar-cllaps by yars vrus, rgrg a cras pllut. T aJaqu Vally, prr t th vlpmt th grwatr systm, was a ry xpas wth ly a w armgcmmuts that wr lcat prmarly aru aturalwatr suppls. T Nw Dal-ra Ctral Vally rrgatprjct allw th usustaabl grwth larg, watr-pt agrbussss a mtrplta ctrs. Tsgrwth cam at th xps th Bay-Dlta a thratv csystms, lag t th cllaps ppulats smlt, salm a thr sh.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:H.R. 1287 ctas a umbr agrus prvss,spcally svral that urm crtcal prtcts ragr spcs th Calra Bay-Dlta rg a may thr parts ur at. By prvtg rala stat agcs rm surg sufct watr wsr Bay-Dlta wll a habtats, ths bll cul mmprl spcs that p that watr. I at,th bll s t xmpt stat watr-pumpg prats

rm th Calra Eagr pcs ct. Tus, t avvlatg th stat act, ths prats must apt gratrrstrcts t cmpsat r th ruc rstrcts ral watr-pumpg prats that wll rsult rm H.R.1287. Ts placs a uar bur th stat prats.Dlta smlt, Chk salm, stlha a gr sturg at t may thr spcs, wul sur a bpush twars xtct.

Prhaps v mr trublg, H.R. 1287 wul prvtral wll srvcs rm csrg th mpacts grhus gass wh mplmtg th E, a thusblck th gvrmt rm hlpg E-lst spcs aaptt clmat chag. Fr xampl, a spcs shts ts ragbcaus clmat chag, ral wll fcals cul tr-sgat crtcal habtat r th spcs, sc g swul b t csr th mpacts grhus gas-ucclmat chag th spcs. Furthr, ral fcals mghtt b abl t csr clmat chag mpacts E lstgcss. c clmat chag s xpct t mpact mayspcs atw, ths prhbt cul mprl craturssuch as plar bars, trut, salm, Flra pathrs agrassla brs, amg may thrs.

Endangered species in Caliornias Bay-Delta ecosystem havebeen suering at the expense o water-dependent agribusiness

in the San Joaquin Valley, a trend that would be exacerbated by

pending legislation.

WILLIAM JAMES WARREN/SCIENCE FACT


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www.rs.rg 19

Fally, ths bll wul mak th E subsrvt tay stat-clar mrgcy. Bcaus H.R. 1287 s t what csttuts a mrgcy, t cul b trprtbraly t urm E prtcts may stuatswhr a xmpt rm th E s uwarratthushamstrgg ths mprtat law.

Current Status:H.R.1287 s pg th Cmmtt Natural Rsurcs a th Cmmtts th Jucary,Ergy a Cmmrc, cc, pac, a chlgy,a rasprtat a Irastructur. It was rrr tsubcmmtt prl 1, 2011, clug th Hus ras-prtat a Irastructur ubcmmtt Ralras,Ppls a Hazarus Matrals a th ubcmmtt atr Rsurcs a Evrmt. .706 was plac th at gslatv Calar.

h.r. 1806: blueFin tuna Fishermenemployment preservation act

Legislative Treat:H.R. 1806 was truc May 10,2011, by Rp. Frak Guta (R-N.H.). H.R. 1806 ams thE s that blu tua may t b trat as a agrr thrat spcs.

Overview:T tlatc blu tua s a larg, ast sh thatmgrats lg stacs a s hgh ma by sprt acmmrcal shrs, partcular by sush chs aru thwrl. Dma r ths sh grw th 1970s, spurrg wshg rts a catchg mths such as purs s tsa lgls. Ts tsv shg rts, plus th lack ctv tratal shg rgulats a th shsslw rat maturty hav rsult ppulat crashs.T 2010 Dpwatr Hrz l spll th Gul Mxcput atal strss th Gul-brg ppulat thtlatc blu. ll thr blu spcs ar bg caught atrats that utpac thr ablty t rpruc, urthr m-shg thr umbrs a ablty t rbu. Bcaus th blus xtsv mgrat pattrs a hgh mawrlw, tratal cprat s rqur t prtctths spcs rm xtct.

Ts bll was truc rsps t a E lstgptt r th tlatc blu tua l May 2010,llwg th Dpwatr Hrz spll. I May 2011 thral gvrmt rjct th ptt, g thatlstg was t warrat. Ista, a cmmtmt wasma t rvst th cs 2013 wh mr rma-

t abut th cts th Dpwatr Hrz l spll sxpct t b avalabl.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:Rathr tha allwg scc t trm whchspcs shul b lst, a wh, ths bll pltczs thatcsurmg th uats whchth act was bas. I at, th blls laguag rrssmply t blu tua, a thus cul ccvably bus t prvt th lstg ay th thr spcs blu: tlatc, Pacc a uthr. Mr mprtat, byamg th act t xclu a spcs rm prtct bas

th trsts a partcular grup wth a acal stak th xpltat that spcs, ths lgslat wul sta trrbl prct. It wul p th r t thr lgsla-tv trrc wth sctc valuat a csrvatr pltcal xpcy r acal ga.

Current Status:H.R. 1806 s pg th Hus Cmmt-t Natural Rsurcs May 10, 2011.

NORBERT WU / MINDEN PI CTURES

Instead o allowing the ESAs science-based process to determine

whether bluen tuna should be protected, H.R. 1806 would bar

listing o the sh.


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section iii: blocking vital protections

amendments to block listing oF the

lesser prairie chickenLegislative Treat:I th at, Jams Ih (R-Okla.) l,but t r, mmt #429 t . 782, th EcmcRvtalzat ct 2011, whch wul prvt th .. Fsha ll rvc rm xtg E prtcts t lssrprar chcks a wul thrat xstg csrvatagrmts r th spcs. I th Hus, a ammt tblck th lstg lssr prar chcks has b prps byRps. tv Parc (R-N.M.) a Ray Nugbaur (R-xas)r clus th FY12 Itrr pprprats bll.

Overview:T lssr prar chck s a m-sz, brw-a-wht strp mmbr th grus amly. Ts chck-lkbrs rag r scts a st th gru pgrasslas mat by shry ak r sa sagbrush.I th 1880s, th lssr prar chck ccup mr tha176,000 squar mls acrss parts Clra, Kasas, NwMxc, Oklahma a xas. ay, th spcs habtslss tha 15 prct ts hstrc rag. I 1998, th ..Fsh a ll rvc rst trm that E lstg th spcs was warrat; 10 yars latr, th srvcma lstg th spcs a hgh prrty. Ogg thrats tth lssr prar chck clu l a gas vlpmt,lss habtat rm th cvrs atv raglas tcrpla, svr vr-grazg by lvstck, r supprss,th us hrbcs t stry shry ak habtat actu habtat ragmtat u t la vlpmta rabulg.

Rp. Parc, . Ih a thr backrs th la gas ustry clam that savg spcs such as th lssrprar chck s ba r th cmy a wll rsult majr jb lsss.

I truth, th E prvs plty xblty t allwr cmc grwth, such as thrugh habtat csrvatplas (HCPs), whch allw vlprs t prc wth crtaprjcts that harm lst spcs, prv that th harm smmz a mtgat. HCPs als cta surprsassuracs, whch prms lawrs that urscrcumstacs rqur atal mtgat, th lawrswll t b rqur t cmmt atal rsurcs r ac

atal rstrcts th us thr la. Btw 2001a 2009, th gvrmt apprv mr tha 424 plas,a by th 2007, almst 50 mll acrs la wrcvr by HCPs.

Equally mprtat, spcs prtct rts ca play amprtat rl gratg cm rural cmmuts thr w rght. Fr xampl, war, Oklahma,a wll-att stval clbratg th lssr prar chckha rgstrats rm 15 rt stats a tw prvcs 2009. I Mlsa, Nw Mxc, a smlar stval w ts10th yar prvs thusas llars t hlp mata thcmmuty ctr a supprt th lcal r partmt12.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered Species Act:thut ral prtct a ully u csrvat rtsths mprl amals a th sstv habtat thy p cul b lst rvr. I at, ths lgslat urms urats cmmtmt t prtctg mprl wll. s wthmay thr at-E blls, t wul st a agrus prctr wll csrvat, makg t subjct t th whms pltcas a thr crprat bactrs.

LESSER PRAIRIE CH ICKEN JOEL SARTORE/JOELSARTORE.CO

Lesser prairie chickens ace threats such as loss o habitat rom

oil and gas development, conversion o rangeland to cropland and

overgrazing. Despite this, Congress is considering legislation thatwould block listing o the species under the ESA.

12. Prsal cmmucat wth stval rgazr llar Hck Clvs, N.M.


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www.rs.rg 21

Current Status:T ammt t blck th E lstg th lssr prar chck prps by Rps. Parc aNugbaur may b vt by th Hus ptmbr th Hus rsums csrat th FY12 Itrrpprprats bll.

amendments to block listing oF thesand dune lizard

Legislative Treat:I th at, Jh Cry (R-xas)truc, but t r, ammt #397 t . 782, thEcmc Rvtalzat ct 2011. . Crys prpsalwul am th E t prclu lstg th sa ulzar a wul thrat xstg csrvat agrmts rth spcs. I th Hus, a ammt t blck th lstg th sa u lzar has b prps by Rp. tv Parc(R-N.M.) r clus th FY12 Itrr pprprats bll.

Overview:T sa u lzar, als kw as th ussagbrush lzar, s a small brw rptl that habts a tyslvr suthast Nw Mxc a wst xas. T spcsrls shry ak r sha a burs tsl th sat rgulat ts by tmpratur. It s prmarly actv btwprl a Octbr a s ats, crckts, sprs athr small scts.

T majr thrat t th lzar s th struct tsshry ak habtat by l a gas vlpmt, agrcultura -ra vhcl us. ay, th sa u lzar hasb lmat rm 86 prct ts hstrc rag xas. I Nw Mxc, at last 40 prct ts shry ak

habtat has b lst sc 1982. T sa u lzar waslst as a agr spcs ur Nw Mxcs ll

Csrvat ct Jauary 1995, but ths act has al tshl th lzar rm ts gratst thrat, habtat struct.r xas law, th lzar s t prtct as a agrr thrat spcs.

I 2001, th sa u lzar was a t th rallst E caat spcs. c that tm, th F hasalz tw caat csrvat agrmts r th sa

u lzar a th lssr prar chck Nw Mxcthat clu rgulatry assuracs t arss th ccrs armrs a l a gas vlprs. pprxmatly 200,000acrs habtat hav b vlutarly prtct ur thscaat agrmts, yt th sa u lzar rmas srus trubl. F rghtully cclu ths caatagrmts a stat laws al wul t aquatly prtctths spcs, a Dcmbr 2010 t rmally prps tlst th sa u lzar as agr.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:thut ral prtct a ully u csrva-t rts, ths mprl amals a th sstv habtatthy p cul b lst rvr. Rp. Parc a atrCry ar t ly puttg th sa u lzar gravagr, thy ar urmg ur ats cmmtmt tprtctg mprl wll. s wth thr at-E blls,ths lgslat wul st a agrus prct r wllcsrvat, makg t subjct t th whms pltcasa thr crprat bactrs.

Current Status:T ammt t blck th E lstg thus sagbrush lzar prps by Rp. Parc may b vt

by th Hus ptmbr th Hus rsums csrat th FY12 Itrr pprprats bll.

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Distribution in the Permian BasinThe sand dune lizard (below), also known as the dunessagebrush lizard, occupies only a small raction o its

original habitat in Texas and New Mexico, and the U.S. Fish

and Wildlie Service has proposed to protect the speciesunder the ESA. But because the imperiled lizard lives in the

oil- and natural-gas-rich Permian Basin, some members o

Congress are seeking to block ESA listing o the species.

SAND DUNE LIZARD COURTESY BLM/NEW MEXICO OFFICMAP COURTESY WILDEARTH GUARDIANS


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sweeping harmFul amendmentsSection IV

h E s ur ats mst xbl laws,wth may bult- xcpts a altratvs tallw cmc grwth, a varus ctvs r

prvat lawrs t partcpat th csrva-t prcss a ruc ay pttal rgulatry burs.E tls such as caat csrvat agrmts, saharbr agrmts a habtat csrvat plas prvavus t accmmat rspsbl vlpmt a lauss bth br a atr a spcs s lst. T act alsrqurs th scrtars th Dpartmt th Itrr aCmmrc t csr th cmc a atal scurtympacts a crtcal habtat sgat, a allws thm txclu a ara rm bg sgat th csts utwghth bts.

Dspt ths xblty, a th act that th law has rarly

b us t halt vlpmt prjcts, at-csrvatrcs attmpt t prtray th E as a rablck t cmcgrwth r a thrat t ur atal scurty. Tr blls rlgslatv prpsals truc rct mths us ths alsprtrat th E as a xcus t mak bra a pttallyvastatg chags t th act. T rst, ur th gus rmvg E prtcts r a agr sct, wul

plac a 15-yar tm lmt spcs rcvry, pttally m-g may mprl craturs t xtct. T sc wulgv th Dpartmt Hmla curty a blakt wavr a bra rag vrmtal laws acrss larg parts thcutry, puttg t ly wll a habtat at rsk, but ara watr qualty. T thr wul gut rqurmts ur thE that saguar bth mprl wll a ppl rm thus a scharg agrus pstcs. s wth may ththr at-E blls rctly truc, pwrul crprattrstsclug pstc mauacturrs a ral statvlprsar l up supprt ths prpsals.

h.r. 1042: discredit eternal listinginequality oF species takings act(delist act)

Legislative Treat:H.R. 1042, Dscrt Etral stgIqualty pcs akgs ct (DEI ct), wastruc March 11, 2011, by Rp. J Baca (D-Cal.).

Sciencenot politicsshould guide improvements to theESA, and the best way to assure that is to let career wildlie

proessionals take the lead. Beore engaging in a political

process to revise the act, Congress should rst give the

U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service an opportunity to update ESA

policies. During the Clinton administration, or example,

the U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service developed a series o

new policies designed to make the ESA more eective or

private landowners. The Obama administration has stated

recently that it plans to review the ESAs implementation

and develop additional policies to make the act work better.

Now the Obama administration has begun a comprehensive

eort to make ESA regulations and policies more eective

and ecient. For example, the agency is evaluating howhabitat conservation plans can do an even better job at

balancing wildlie protection and real estate development.

The agency is also analyzing how to improve its private

landowner conservation tools, such as sae harbor agree-

ments and candidate conservation agreements. In short, the

agencys brightest scientists, lawyers and policymakers are

working hard to improve the act. Political intervention at this

stage would only derail this eort and jeopardize Americas

natural heritage or uture generations.

Science and Politics Dont Mix

The Delhi Sands fower-loving fy (near right) is an indicator species

or the imperiled Delhi Sands ecosystem o southern Caliornia,

which provides habitat or the western meadowlark (above) and theendangered burrowing owl (ar right), among many other creatures.

Because developers want to build on what little remains o this rare

inland dunes ecosystem, Rep. Joe Baca (D-Cali.) has introduced a bithat would not only remove ESA protections or the endangered fy,

but could doom countless other species to extinction.


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www.rs.rg 23

T bll ams th Eagr pcs ct s that sm rara har-t-stuy spcs must b csr xtct thyar lst as agr r 15 r mr yars. spcs mayrma lst ly ts ppulat has cras substatallyurg that tm, r th ctu lstg s t caus aycmc harshp cmmuts wth th spcs rag.

Overview:Rp. Baca s usg th prsc rarsct spcs hs cgrssal strct, th Dlh aswr-lvg y, as a xcus r a swpg rwrt thEagr pcs ct.

hl th Dlh as wr-lvg y s t ascharsmatc as may th thr amals a plats thagr spcs lst, t stll srvs prtct. s tsam suggsts, ths spcs s a mmbr a vtal class

amals: plat pllatrs. By rtlzg plats, pllatrsplay a crucal rl t ly ur vrmt, but urcmy. Iscts pllat 40 .. cmmrcal crps, asrvc valu at vr $30 bll pr yar. Natv pllatrsbth th t tats a aru th wrl ar prcptus cl, psg a sgcat thrat t bth ur supply a cmy. cat ar t sacrc mr ths craturs th am shrt-trm cmc ga.

I at, ths y s a catr spcs r a rar amprl csystm. T Dlh sas ar als habtat rth wstr mawlark, th agr burrwg wl,th Mrm mtalmark buttry, a may thr scts,rptls a plats. Prtct rts r th wr-lvg ywll als bt th thr plats a amals that p th Dlh as csystm r survval.

DELHI SANDS FLOWER-LOVING FLY COURTESY MARJORY NELSON/USFWS

OWL SCOTT LINSTEAD/FOTO NATURA/M INDEN PI CTUREMEADOWLARK COURTESY JOHN AND KAREN HOLLINGSWORTH/USFWS


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section iv: sweeping harmFul amendments

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:Nt ly cul ths bll m a rar pllatr athr uqu scts u ly th Dlh as rma-t, t wul hav agrus mplcats r may thrtyps mprl amals a plats. I plac th Esscc-bas staars r trmg wh t lst

a spcs, ths lgslat wul mps a arbtrary auralstc tm lmt. O prblm wth ths tm lmts that ral wll xprts t hav ugh rsurcst trm thr hav b substatal crass th ppulats may spcs. Ev thy ha thsrsurcs, 15 yars s smply t ugh tm r mayspcs t shw a substatal mprvmt. I at,bcaus th way th bll s wrtt, t cul m spcsthat sht thr rags atr thy ar rst lst. uch shtsar t ucmm, a may ccur bcaus chags habtat, avalablty a may thr actrs.

Our ats cmmtmt t prtctg mprl platsa amals shult xpr smply bcaus sm arbtrarypr tm has ru ut. ttg a 15-yar tm lmt wully scurag th k lg-trm plag tbrg a spcs back rm th brk xtct. m thcutlss spcs that wul ls prtct ths bll wrt bcm law, a ultmatly ac xtct, clu: GulCast jaguaru, labama sturg a wht sturg.

Current Status:H.R. 1042 s pg th Hus Cmmt-t Natural Rsurcs.

h.r. 1505: the national security andFederal lands protection act

Legislative threat:H.R. 1505 was truc by Rp. RbBshp (R-tah) prl 13, 2011. It wul xmpt thDpartmt Hmla curty rm cmplyg wth

zs vrmtal lawsclug th Ewth100 mls ur cutrys brrs.

Overview:T stat purps ths bll s t allw thDpartmt Hmla curty t achv pratalctrl vr th brrs th t tats. It wul sby xmptg hmla scurty fcals rm a crblybra array vrmtal lawst ly th E, butth lrss ct, Natal Frst Maagmt ct, aDrkg atr ct, Cla r ct, Mgratry Br ratyct a Natal Evrmtal Plcy ct.

Nt ly ar th lgal xmpts th bll swpg,but s s th ggraphc rach. Narly tw ut vry thrmrcas lv wth 100 mls a brr, a 10 statsar trly cta wth ths rgclug FlraHawa, Cctcut a Nw Jrsy. Mr tha a zthr stats wul hav hal r mr thr la massclu ths blakt xmpt, clug Calra.Ev thugh th suthwstr brrlas accut r 97prct all apprhss ucumt trats byth Brr Patrl, ths bll wul apply th sam xcssvxmpt t all brrs a castls th t tats.

BORDER WALL KRISTA SCHLYER/WAYFARER PHOTOGRAPHY


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www.rs.rg 25

lg th crucal brr wth Mxc, spt smrprt lays u t cmplac wth vrmtallaws, 22 ut 26 Brr Patrl stats rprt that pra-tal ctrl thr ara has t b act by lamaagmt laws. Ista, actrs lk rugg trra havth hghst mpact pratal ctrl. O th urbrr stats that rprt mpacts rm vrmtallaws, tw th stats t v rqust atalrsurcs r assstac t al wth th prblma thtw that rqust hlp wr by thr w agcybcaus bugt cstrats a thr, hghr-rakprrts.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct:H.R. 1505 wul gv th Dpartmt Hmlacurty swpg a uparalll authrty t grvrmtal laws larg, havly ppulat aras urcutryt ly puttg mrcas wll a habtats at

rsk, but th ar w brath a th watr w rk.T bll wavs th r Hmla curty fcals

t cmply wth ay prvss th E wth th100-ml bur ara, clug rqurmts t prtcthabtat crtcal t spcs survval. Ts blakt wavr mtsv a basc rqurmt t csr th mpacts pt-tal acts t mprl spcs r t mt wth th ..Fsh a ll rvc t scuss ways t av r m-mz ths mpacts. Ts cul pttally mpact zs mprl spcs aru th cutry. I th uthwst,craturs that cul b harm clu Mxca spttwls, srt trtss, jaguars, clts, ra prghr,lssr lg-s bats, Yaqu catsh a Chrcahua lparrgs, amg thrs. Elswhr th cutry, th lst mprl amals that mght b act clus Flrapathrs, grzzly bars, Caaa lyx, humpback whals,plar bars, lathrback sa turtls, ppg plvrs, stIa maats a may thrs.

HUMPBACK WHALE WILLIAM WELCH MANATEE JOEL SARTORE/JOELSARTORE.COM

DESERT TORTOISE (CAPTIVE) KRISTA SCHLYER/WAYFARER PHOTOGRAPH

Legislation introduced by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) would exempt

the Department o Homeland Security rom complying with the ESA

and many other environmental laws not only near our border withMexico (opposite page), but within 100 miles o all our borders.

Not only would this bill imperil creatures such as the humpback

whale (above), the West Indian manatee (top right) and the deserttortoise (bottom right), but it would put at risk clean air and water

or millions o American citizens.


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H.R. 1505 wul als put valuabl publc las at rsk.T bll wul gv th Dpartmt Hmla curtymmat accss t ay publc las r actvts that assst scurg th brr. Bas past hstry, such actvtswul clu ra a c cstruct, vhcl patrls,vrghts, -ra vhcl us a lghtg. Ts actvtshav a w varty gatv mpacts t mprl wll,

clug strss, habtat ragmtat a struct, lack accss t g sts a watr surcs, amag t stga brg aras, a trrupt mgrat pattrs,amg thrs. mg th ral las crucal t wllthat cul b harm by ths bll: Cabza Prta a Busrs atal wll rugs rza; a Pr RparaNatal Csrvat ra rza; wr R GraVally Natal ll Rug xas; Carlsba CavrsNatal Park Nw Mxc; Bmbay Hk Natalll Rug Dlawar; Ncah Natal llRug scs; Evrglas Natal Park Flra;ht Muta Natal Frst Nw Hampshr; Cap

Hattras Natal ashr Nrth Carla; OlympcNatal Frst ashgt; Klamath Natal Frst Calra; gass Natal Frst a rctc Natalll Rug laska; Glacr Natal Park Mtaaa lv O. Ct ll Rug Massachustts.

Current Status:H.R. 1505 s pg th Hus Cmmt-t Natural Rsurcs.

rider in Fy 2012 house interiorappropriations bill to prohibit esapesticide consultations

Legislative Treat:T FY 2012 Itrr pprpratsbll clus a at-E rr a by Rp. K Calvrt(R-Cal.) that wul prhbt th Evrmtal Prtctgcy (EP) rm usg ay us t my, cacl, rsusp th rgstrat pstcs rsps t ay Eblgcal p. Ts wul largly lmat th Esablty t prtct mprl spcs rm agrus pstcs.

Rlat blls hav b truc t bth bs Cgrss that wul prvt th EP rm rgulatg thscharg crta pstcs t watrways. I th Hus,th bll s H.R. 872, spsr by Rp. Bb Gbbs (R-Oh),whch was apprv March 31, 2011 a als has passth at grcultur Cmmtt. thr smlar bll that, . 718, was spsr by atr Pat Rbrts (R-Ka.). rr rlat t ths blls s als clu th FY12 HusItrr pprprats bll. rr rlat t ths blls s alsclu th FY12 Hus Itrr pprprats bll.

Overview:I th 1950s, th wspra us agruspstcs such as DD play a majr rl th rap

cl cc spcs clug th bal agl, prgralc a Calra cr. Tugh DD was ba th .. 1972, thr cmmly us pstcs ctu t

harm agr salm, rgs a sa turtls, a kll mrtha 67 mll brs vry yar.

T Fral Isctc, Fugc a Rtcct (FIFR) s th prmary law rgulatg pstcs, butt al s t aquatly prtct agr spcs. Itly rqurs EP t wgh th prts rm usg a pstcagast th llar valu th vrmtal harm causby that pstc. Nthg FIFR prvts EP rmapprvg th us pstcs that wul harm mprlspcs. T E, th thr ha, rcgzs that llar amut ca b plac th xtct ur atstrasur wll. It rqurs th EP t csult wth ralwll agcs t sur that pstc us s t uac-cptably harm mprl wll. Ts csultats rsult scc-bas blgcal ps that hlp EP ruc thmpacts pstc us agr wll.

Ts E-mps rqurmts pstc ushav t ly clgcal bts, but avatags r urcmy a ur halth, t. Fr xampl, E csulta-ts hav rsult gs by th Natal MarFshrs rvc (NMF) that svral pstcs ar lklyt srusly harm 27 prtct salm spcs th Nrth-

Even though the widespread use o pesticides (above) in the 1950s

led to the decline o the brown pelican (right), the bald eagle and

other species, several proposals are pending in Congress that wouldprohibit the EPA rom protecting imperiled creatures rom these

harmul chemicals.

CROP DUSTER PAUL SUTHERLAND/NATIONAL GEOGRA

section iv: sweeping harmFul amendments


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www.rs.rg 27

wst. Halthy salm ppulats a cla rvrs cratlcal jbs. I 1988, br Nrthwst salm ppulatsha rpp sharply, salm shg prv cm tmr tha 21,000 amls a ctrbut mr tha $1.2bll t th Nrthwst cmy. I at t psgagr sh, pstcs als pllut th watr a lathat humas p . mg th pstcs that harmsalm ar thr rgaphsphat cmpus that ar alslk t bhavral prblms humas.

Csultats ur th Eagr pcs ct arals crtcal t surg that pstc us s t harmmprl brs, bats a thr wll that pllat crps,ctrl psts a lmt th spra sas. Brs a batsprv trmus bts t humas by ctrllgscts a th sass thy carry. sgl bat may csumup t 3,000 scts ghtly, spcally msquts. Brsprv smlar srvcs, a th pttal csqucs thr cl clu th xtcts plats that p brs r pllat a s sprsal, crass thumbrs sct psts, crass crp amag a thspra sass. t th atal lvl, $14 bll wrth .. crps p pllatrs. Glbally, 87 th 115

lag crps p amal pllat, clugmprtat cash crps such as cca a c.

Treat to Species Conservation and the Endangered SpeciesAct: Rp. Calvrts ammt wul largly lmat thEs ablty t prtct mprl spcs rm pstcsa wul urthr pllut ur ats watr, la a ar.ak tgthr, ths pcs lgslat wll agr tly amphbas, sh, brs, bats a thr wl craturs,but ur chlr, t. T ly bcars ths bllsar ths th pstc ustry. T E s alrayxbl ugh t prtct wll a huma halth whlaccmmatg cmc grwth. By ctug t rly th scc-bas prcurs stablsh by th Ea llwg th rcmmats xprt blgsts,EP ca prvt th ucssary psg agrcraturs a prsrv th cmc bts that thsamals prv.

Current Status:T Hus may apprv th FY12 Itrrpprprats bll ptmbr, clug th Calvrtammt.

BROWN PELICAN COURTESY THOMAS G. BARNES/USFW


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Ol a gas cmpas a agrbusss rms havcllctvly gv mr tha $5.9 mll campagctrbuts t mmbrs Cgrss wh ar spsrgat-E lgslat that wul bt thr ustrs.T charts blw (raw rm rmat cmpl

by th pt, partsa Ctr r RspsvPltcs a pst thr wbst Opcrts.rg

July 2011), shw th ltm ctrbuts accpt byths mmbrs rm ths ustrs. T agrbussschart tals ttal pltcal act cmmtt ctrbutsrm ths ustry mus ats rm th tbacc,rstry a ary ustrs. T l a gas chart tals

ttal pltcal act cmmtt a vual atsrm ths ustry.

Sponsor Bill/Threat Contributing Industry Total (PACsand Individuals)

Sen. John Cornyn(R-Texas)

Amendment no. 397 (sand dune lizard) to S. 782: theEconomic Revitalization Act o 2011

Oil & Gas $1,809,300

Sen. James Inhoe(R-Okla.)

Amendment no. 429 (lesser prairie chicken) to S. 782: theEconomic Revitalization Act o 2011

Oil & Gas $1,308,173

Rep. Steve Pearce(R-N.M.)

Amendment (sand dune lizard) to H.R. 2584, the FY12Interior Apprpriations Bill

Oil & Gas $1,280,901

Rep. Randy Neuge-bauer (R-Texas)

Amendment (lesser prairie chicken) to H.R. 2584, theFY12 Interior Appropriations Bill

Oil & Gas $468,822

appendix 1:

bankrolling anti-endangered species act legislation

Oil and Gas Campaign Contributions

Sponsor Bill/Threat Contributing Industry Total(PACs Only)

Rep. Jim Costa(D-Cali.)

H.R. 1251: More Water or Our Valley Act Agribusiness (Minus tobacco, orestry & dairy) $502,427

Rep. Devin Nunes(R-Cali.)

H.R. 1837: The San Joaquin Valley WaterReliability Act

Agribusiness (Minus tobacco, orestry & dairy) $246,549

Sen. David Vitter(R-La.)

S. 706: 3-D, Domestic Jobs, DomesticEnergy, and Decit Reduction Act


Rep. Ken Calvert(R-Cali.)

Endangered Species Pesticides Rider inH.R. 2584


Rep. Rob Bishop(R-Utah)

H.R. 1287: 3-D, Domestic Jobs, DomesticEnergy, and Decit Reduction Act


Agribusiness Campaign Contributions


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appendix ii:

letter From Former directors oF the u.s. Fish andwildliFe service

July 27, 2011

Dear Member of Congress:

As former directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from both Democratic and Republicanadministrations, we are writing to express our respectful, but strong opposition to the proposed provision inthe House Interior Appropriations bill prohibiting the Fish and Wildlife Service from spending any moneyon listing imperiled plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act, or protecting their critical habitat.This so-called Extinction Rider would likely increase the risk of extinction for hundreds of imperiledplants and animals, including more than 260 candidate species for which the Fish and Wildlife Service hasalready determined that listing under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. Some of the imperiledspecies that would be impacted include wolverine, Pacific walrus, Rio Grande cutthroat trout and red knot.Many of these species have been waiting for more than a decade to be protected under the Endangered

Species Act and any further delay could consign them to extinction.

As professional wildlife biologists, we firmly believe that decisions regarding the conservation of imperiledplants and animals should be based on science and be made by qualified wildlife conservation professionalsas provided by law. This principle has been at the foundation of the Endangered Species Act for almostfour decades and has been widely embraced in a bipartisan manner for many years. The Extinction Rider isdirectly counter to this principle and establishes a dangerous precedent of substituting politically-basedwildlife conservation decision-making for that based on science and law. Moreover, as history hasdemonstrated regarding previous riders preventing new species listings, this provision will becounterproductive in the long-run because it will make future efforts to conserve imperiled species morecontentious, difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

Conserving Americas rich wildlife heritage is one of our nations proudest traditions and has been a model

for the international community. The Endangered Species Act has consistently enjoyed broad publicsupport. It has been exceedingly effective in preventing the extinction of hundreds of plants and animalsand is our nations most important law for ensuring the conservation of its rich biological heritage for futuregenerations. The Extinction Rider will severely undermine the Endangered Species Acts effectiveness andplace hundreds of imperiled plants and animals at further risk of extinction. We therefore respectfully urgeyou to support the amendment expected to be offered by Rep. Norm Dicks to strip this provision from theHouse Interior Appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

Lynn A. GreenwaltDirector, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1973-1981)

John F. TurnerDirector, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1989-1993)

Jamie Rappaport ClarkDirector, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1997-2001)

Steve WilliamsDirector, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2002-2005)


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DEFENDER OF IDIFE

1130 17th trt, N..

ashgt, D.C. 20036-4604202.682.9400

www.rs.rg

assault on wildlife

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