Bush Set To Ease Endangered Species Rules

Policy Would Exclude Input Of Scientists; Rush To Enact It To Prevent Obama Reversal

(AP)  Animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct could lose the protection of government experts who make sure that dams, highways and other projects don't pose a threat, under regulations the Bush administration is set to put in place before President-elect Obama can reverse them.

The rules must be published Friday to take effect before Obama is sworn in Jan. 20. Otherwise, he can undo them with the stroke of a pen.

The Interior Department rushed to complete the rules in three months over the objections of lawmakers and environmentalists who argued that they would weaken how a landmark conservation law is applied.

A Nov. 12 version of the final rules obtained by the Associated Press has changed little from the original proposal, despite the more than 250,000 comments received since it was first proposed in August.

The rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorizing or funding a project to determine for itself if it is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants.

Current regulations require independent wildlife biologists to sign off on these decisions before a project can go forward, at times modifying the design to better protect species.

The regulations also bar federal agencies from assessing emissions of the gases blamed for global warming on species and habitats, a tactic environmentalists have tried to use to block new coal-fired power plants.

Tina Kreisher, an Interior Department spokeswoman, could not confirm whether the rule would be published before the deadline, saying only that the White House was still reviewing it. But she said changes were being made based on the comments received.

"We started this; we want to finish this," said Kreisher.

If the rules go into effect before Obama takes office, they will be difficult to overturn since it would require the new administration to restart the rule-making process. Congress, however, could reverse the rules through the Congressional Review Act - a law that allows review of new federal regulations.

It's been used once in the last 12 years, but some Democratic lawmakers have said they may employ it to block the endangered species rules and other midnight regulations by the Bush administration.

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said Wednesday that he and other Democrats were committed to "the change that is needed."

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House will be looking at ways to overturn the endangered species rules and other midnight regulations.

"The House, in consultation with the incoming administration and relevant committees, will review what oversight tools are at our disposal regarding this and other last minute attempts to inflict severe damage to the law in the waning moments of the Bush administration," Hammill said.

The Bush administration has made no secret of its intent to complete the endangered species changes quickly.

When the proposal was first announced in August, the public was initially given 30 days to comment. That period was later doubled after Democratic lawmakers pressed for more time.

Then, last month, the head of the endangered species program corralled 15 experts in Washington to sort through 200,000 comments in 32 hours.

"This is definitely lightning quick," said John Kostyack, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming initiative. "I would be surprised that they spent all this time rushing it through if it wasn't greased."

If successful, the Bush administration will accomplish through rules what conservative Republicans have been unable to achieve in Congress: ending some environmental reviews that developers and other federal agencies blame for delays and cost increases on many projects.

Supporters of the changes also expected it to be finalized later this week.

The Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights, urged that the rules be approved.

"Litigious activists have used the Endangered Species Act to fight projects," Reed Hopper, the foundation's principal attorney, said in a statement. "The administration's current proposal is a step toward curbing these abuses."

TIMELINE:

In one of the quickest turnarounds for rewriting federal regulations, the Bush administration is changing a rule to cut out government wildlife experts in some endangered species decisions. The new rule has to be published by Friday to deny President-elect Barack Obama the ability to reverse it when he takes office.

Aug. 15: Proposed rule appears in the Federal Register with 30-day public comment period.

Sept. 11: Interior Department announces 30-day extension of public comment period.

Oct. 15: Public comment period ends. Interior receives about 300,000 comments.

Oct. 16: Bryan Arroyo, the chief of the endangered species program, sends e-mail asking for help to review comments in 32 hours.

Oct. 27: Department releases draft analysis of rule's environmental impacts, giving public 10 days to comment.

Nov. 6: Comment period on draft environmental impact statement ends.

Nov. 13: Rule submitted to White House Office of Management and Budget for final review.

Sources: Interior Department, Office of Management and Budget

[mytoosense]

But, you neo-messiah NObama managed to steal the election.
-----------------
Posted by Obama_Dkhed

Replace the word "steal" with "WIN", Dkhed.

[mytoosense]

The Kirtland''s Warbler, seen in this story''s photo, stopped military training operation in a large wooded section of an Army National Guard Base in Northern Michigan.

The army b_itched about it for a few years, then got over it.

Every once in a while you''ll see a picture of National Guard troops bird watching with those giant binoculars they''ve got.

[olderthnadam]

flreason, I do find humor in the verse that you presented. I blieve, rightly or wrongly, that God gave man free will, the right to choose to do good or do evil and I believe that in the end those unrepentant men who chose to do evil to their fellow man will be held accountable for their actions and those who were perscuted for their faith will be rewarded. I also believe that the mere evoking of God''s name does not mean that it is God''s will. For man to claim to know God''s will is a claim to be equal with God and if that were the case there would be no hatred and no greed.

[flreason]

olderthanadam:

On many levels, I''d like to believe your view of earth''s future. The disconnect I run into is God''s hands-off in situations like the holocaust. I hope for the best, but entertain doubt...and temper extremes with humor like Yip Harburg''s irreverant verse:

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
God made the world in six days flat,
On the seventh, He said, "I''ll rest,"
So He let the thing into orbit swing,
To give it a dry-run test.

A billion years went by, then He
Took a look at the whirling blob;
His spirits fell, as He shrugged, "Ah well,
It was only a six-day job."

[olderthnadam]

flreason, while I agree with your assessment of Bush I must voice my own interpretation of the "end of days theology". I do not believe, as many seem to, that God is going to destroy the earth out of some sort of vengeance, but believe that mankind is going to be responsible for the apocalypse, bringing himself and God''s great creation to the brink of utter annihilation and in the end God himself will have to step in to prevent said annihilation. I believe mankind was placed on this planet to "tend the garden" or in other words to be protector of God''s great creation. However time and time again man has shirked his responsibility in this matter and due to his own greed or sense of self-importance has harmed that which he was charged to protect.

[ibzjem]

Ahhh... capitalism hard at work.... living the motto:
"do whatever is good for me"

[flreason]

"It''''s like he actually hates our nation/planet...how could one man be so dumb???"
Posted by jh6379again

Bush is a product of a privileged upbringing that bought him unearned academic degrees, and rewarded him for being front man for special interests. His religious conversion made him vulnerable to manipulation by unscrupulous profiteers like Cheney, Wolfowitz, etc. They fueled his delusion of somehow being chosen by God for a special role, and allowed him to believe that his decisions were divinely inspired and, therefore, always right. Any questioning of his actions was questioning God''s will.

As a believer in the end-of-days theology, in his view the loss of a species is irrelevant, since they would perish anyway in the impending apochalypse. As one of the chosen, he will be rewarded in heaven for his role in ushering in the new age of the kingdom of God. I think he truly doesn''t understand how the rest of the world could doubt his special status, and he believes that he will be vindicated.

[prohb]

Of all the negative things CheneyBush have done this ranks just below starting their war ...their unmitigated assult on the environment. This is why we needed a majority of both houses of Congress plus the Presidency - to undo the mess they have created!

[prohb]

Of all the negative things CheneyBush have done this ranks just below starting their war ...their unmitigated assult on the environment. This is why we needed a majority of both houses of Congress plus the Presidency - to undo the mess they have created!

[afmca]

In less than 2 months the Bush administration will be extinct and the world will rejoice!

[olderthnadam]

olderthnadam STOP TRYING TO SOUND SMART. YOU DUMBA$$


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by WRATH1124 at 12:34 PM : Nov 20, 2008
============================

Before shooting off your mouth maybe you should take some time and sit down and read the constitution. The overwhelming mandate for the federal government layed out in the constitution was for the protection of individual liberties and the welfare of the people as a whole. Something that was entirely lacking under the tyranny of the British crown and the British parliment in which we had no voice. The overwhelming purpose of the revolution and the consitution was to protect the many from the abuses of the few and powerful.

[juliemd]

There''s a special place in hell for the monkey morons in the Bush Administration...good riddance. Neo-cons should NOT govern; everything they value goes against good government. Self serving pigs.

[olderthnadam]

Unfettered and uncontrolled greed will always lead to the raping of the system by those who seek to line their own pockets. Even Greenspan admitted that he was wrong to think that the "Free Market" would police itself. Unfettered greed is alone responsible for the economic plight we find ourselves in. Business will find a way to make money no matter what framework of rules we set for them. For the American government to throw aside it''s responsiblity for the good of the people as a whole for the good of a few wealthy investors is irresponsible, unethical, and downright criminal. But until we the people call them on the carpet and hold them responsible for their treasonous actions business as usual will continue.

[olderthnadam]

Maybe the endangered species act has been misused at times but totally rendering it meaningless will result in abuses by those seeking to make a buck at the people or planets expense. This idea that it''s OK to make a buck any way you can even at the expense of resources that belong to the American people is just plain wrong. The purpose of government is not to facilitate the profits of developers and corporations but to protect the interests of individuals and the American people as a whole. To pervert or subvert the role of the federal government for the benefit of a few wealthy patrons or friends is not only criminal but treasonous in my opinion.

[barbaraf4]

"How''s that ignoring of the experts been working out, Bush?" Posted by ubrew12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, Bush and Cheney consider themselves to be all the expert opinion they need.

[ubrew12]

Bush ignored the advice of financial experts when he cut taxes and doubled the national debt.

Bush ignored the advice of counter-terrorism experts (and most of the world) when he invaded Iraq.

Bush ignored the advice of relief experts when he flubbed the Katrina response.

Bush ignores the advice of atmospheric scientists about Global Warming.

Now, Bush doesn''t want Wildlife Scientists to have any input before Wildlife is impacted through Federal construction contracts.

How''s that ignoring of the experts been working out, Bush?

[cdfoxtrot5]

This is long overdue. The endangered specie''''s act is used and abused by enviro extremists all too often. Its not about a specie that is going extinct, but rather, about an animal or plant disappearing from its natural habitat. Such as a canyon in an urban development. Meanwhile there are more of the same animals elsewhere on this planet.
A specie is not near extinction until its the last of its kind in the world....

Posted by markavelli2

Spoken like a true moron.
I bet you voted for your moron president, twice.

[barbaraf4]

At this point, Bush has nothing to lose. His numbers are in the toilet and he only has two more months to complete the decimation of the Late Great United States.

For everyone who actually voted for him (or as in the case of the Supreme Court who appointed him), take a bow and accept responsibility for this disaster. Lemmings, one and all.

[indianaman13]

Why are we building more projects aimed at making a couple people money while most of America is becoming dirt poor? Why are we still building new homes when we have tens of thousands sitting unsold? Does no one remember how hard this administration and its Fox Affiliates tried to dis-inform Americans about global warming? Now we know how real Global Warming is and what kills me, what lets me know what kind of people are in the Republican party, is that even after all this hoopla, instead of being wrong, or even trying to fix what they have done, this administration just keeps on killing. How ungodly. This administration says they believe in God, yet promote only killing and death of life. What good is being against the murder of abortion if your willing to lie and deceive the public into going to war and getting the public''s kids killed? What kind of murderer does that make you when your lie gets people killed but makes your friends billions?

[strangeworld]

If big-business had a use for your dead mother''s body, the republican party would dig her up. This play by the bush administration is nothing more than pandering to the big GOP campaign contributors by changing law to allow the wealthy to continue to exploit what little that the US taxpayer has left well into Obama''s term in office. I''d like to see Obama return to the good old days of the late 1950''s, when America was doing great and creating lot''s of jobs. To do that, the top tax rate needs to be what it was then...91%.