Trump administration weakens habitat protections for endangered species
The rule could ease permits for drilling, mining and logging, while critics say it weakens protections for species that rely on habitat to survive.
- On Friday, the Trump administration finalized a rule narrowing the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, removing regulatory protections that prevented damage to wildlife habitats.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the change, claiming federal agencies for years "abused the ESA to obstruct lawful land use and burden American families and businesses."
- Attorneys general from 16 states, including Arizona, California, Illinois and New York, condemned the rationale as "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and contrary to law."
- Kristen Boyles, an attorney for Earthjustice, vowed to challenge the rule in court, stating there is "no scientific support, no legal support, no public support" for the change.
- Wildlife experts warn the policy could put threatened animals on a path to extinction, with Tara Zuardo of the Center for Biological Diversity calling habitat destruction the "number one threat to endangered species.
64 Articles
64 Articles
Trump, ending decades of protection, opens wild habitats to drilling and mining
The Trump administration on Friday moved to open the habitats of imperiled animals to farming, drilling, mining, real estate development and other activities in what environmentalists characterized as the most severe erosion of protections for wildlife in half a century. The post Trump, ending decades of protection, opens wild habitats to drilling and mining appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, responsible for federal lands, restricts the interpretation of a major text adopted in 1973, which could facilitate the establishment of industrial activities harmful to the habitat of certain animals.
The U.S. executive claimed that its interests are to speed up the approval of projects that impede the law that it classified as "obsolete."
The Trump administration eases the protection of endangered animal and plant species. Nature conservation organisations warn of the consequences for sensitive habitats.
Trump administration rule weakens protections for threatened species - Regional Media News
July 10 (Reuters) - The Trump administration finalized a major change on Friday to how threatened species are considered in agency actions, removing regulatory language aimed at preventing damage to wildlife habitats and drawing a legal challenge. The change limits the reach of the 50-year-old Endangered Species Act, which is credited with helping to save the bald eagle, California condor and numerous other animals and plants from extinction. Th…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
