Major changes to Endangered Species Act ... (these guys are SICK!)

[snowbear]

Major changes to Endangered Species Act
Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer

Thursday, December 11, 2008


(12-11) 20:28 PST --

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced major changes Thursday to the Endangered Species Act, causing environmental groups to charge that the "midnight rules" set to go into effect before President-elect Barack Obama takes office are intended to eviscerate the nation's premier wildlife-protection law.



The regulations eliminate a requirement that federal agencies seek review by government scientists before approving logging, mining and construction projects to make sure the activities don't endanger rare animals and plants.

In addition, the regulations say the law could not be used to protect polar bears, walruses, mountain frogs and other species vulnerable to the effects of global warming.

"The Bush administration is using this to go after our most imperiled wildlife and kick them when they are down," said Janette Brimmer, an attorney with Earthjustice, an environmental group. "The act is our nation's most important law for protecting wildlife like wolves, grizzlies, salmon and lynx."

Reid Cherlin, a spokesman for the Obama-Biden transition team, said, "President-elect Obama will review all 11th-hour regulations and will address them once he takes office." Obama has said he does not favor changing the Endangered Species Act.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/11/MN6A14MK48.DTL

[snowbear]

1. He also did this one JUST FOR PALIN..

As Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced new rules to reduce the influence of federal scientists on endangered species decisions, he also made permanent a "special rule" that will block steps that could protect threatened polar bears.

Kempthorne today made permanent a rule that says the listing of polar bears will not be used to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a leading cause of global warming, and the primary reason for the loss of Arctic sea ice, the main habitat of polar bears.

Summer sea ice this year shrank to 1.74 million square miles, the second lowest level on record and 860,000 square miles below the average between 1979 and 2000.

Kempthorne's rule also declares that decisions on petroleum management off Alaska's coast will continue to be governed by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a law that conservation groups say has been interpreted too loosely to afford adequate protection for whales, polar bears, walrus and seals that depend on ice. Continued: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/619987.html

Palin -->

[Quantess]

2. who the fuck does that asshole think he is?

[firedupdem]

3. These are a bunch of evil sick people! Horrible! n/t

[Chulanowa]

4. I remember when I stopped reading "Outdoor" magazines

Back in the 90's when a few joggers got mauled by cougars in California, suddenly the entire southwest decided to go on a total cougar wipeout. Fish and Game, Field and Stream, these magazines I used to read (I like fishing, sue me) ate it up with long detailed stories about the hunters defending mankind from the feline menace.

Five men with high-powered rifles would bring a pack of 20 to 30 hounds, and roam around in the mountains or desert until the dogs caught the scent of the cat. The chase was on! One mountain lion, literally hounded until it sought refuge in a tree. The five "hunters" would then surround the tree and take potshots at the cat until it died. At the end of the photo sequence it would barely be recognizable as a cat, from the blood matting its fur, the limpness, the frozen facial expression. Just slung across the branches. The hunters would drag it down and pose with that big stupid "lookit whut ah jes kilt, maw!" grin.

And then the magazine would give a long applaud for these studly rugged motherfuckers protecting the children from vermin.

I always figured that the wrong animals were in that tree.

[amborin]

5. fireflies are now going extinct, due to excess nighttime lights and development

[rasputin1952]

6. One would think they'd back the ESA...after all R's are are endangered

species at this point.

[ellie]

7. I can't believe how fucking angry

I am. This along with the union busting, I may have to lay down.

[mtnsnake]

8. Bush, Cheney, & Kempthorne should be thrown into a cage w/hungry grizzly bears

or tied to one of those giant ant hills full of red fire ants. :mad: