'Back for Another Whack': Trump Admin Rule Proposal Would Further Undermine Endangered Species act

[Demovictory9]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/08/01/back-another-whack-trump-administration-rule-proposal-would-further-undermine

'Back for Another Whack': Trump Administration Rule Proposal Would Further Undermine Endangered Species Act

Environmental groups on Friday condemned the announcement of a new rule proposed by President Donald Trump that would further weaken the Endangered Species Act by making it easier to destroy habitats vulnerable species rely on for survival.

"President Trump is back for another whack at another key environmental law," said Oceana senior federal policy director Lara Levison.

At issue is a planned rule change to the Endangered Species Act, or ESA, from the Department of Fish and Wildlife that would redefine "habitat" as "areas with existing attributes that have the capacity to support individuals of the species," precluding the restoration and repair of historical habitats that could, with time, support endangered species.

"The Trump administration won't be satisfied until it removes all protections for the natural world, including clean air and water, land, and now even habitat for our most vulnerable wildlife," Noah Greenwald, the endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement.

As the Center for Biological Diversity explained:

The definition stems from a 2018 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that said the Service needed to define the term habitat in relation to the highly endangered dusky gopher frog. The frog survives in one ephemeral pond in Mississippi. Recognizing that to secure the frog would require recovering it in additional areas, the Service designated an area in Louisiana that had the ephemeral ponds the frog requires. However, this area would need forest restoration to provide high-quality habitat.

[Submariner]

1. Another stupid decision to be reversed on Jan 21st

I presume Biden’s people have a punch list of all the trump policy reversals that need to be flipped right after inauguration. Evil and ignorant science illiterates are running our environmental protection agencies and need to be fired ASAP

[North Shore Chicago]

2. He enjoys destroying.

Been a sadist, still a sadist, always will be a sadist. Inflicting pain offers him enjoyment. All he is missing is a coliseum.