FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2005
Contacts
: Cindy Hoffman 202/772-3255
William Lutz 202/772-0269
HOUSE
GUTS ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Rep.
Pombo's Bill Carves Loopholes in
Act for Developers, Undermines
National Commitment to Conserving
Animals for Future Generations
Washington,
DC -- Congress dealt a deadly
blow to the protections provided
by the Endangered Species Act by
passing Congressman Pombo's bill
weakening this important
conservation law. Many of the Act's
most important protections for
plants and animals facing
extinction were eliminated by the
House's action and new loopholes
were created to allow developers
to dodge the law.
"The
Pombo bill is the dream of every
irresponsible developer out
there," said Defenders of
Wildlife President Rodger
Schlickeisen. "Not only does
this bill gut the Endangered
Species Act, but it creates a
government give away program to
greedy developers and provides new
loop holes to make it easier to
use deadly pesticides that will
impact not only wildlife but our
children, by polluting our lands
and waters, " said Schlickeisen.
"Mr.
Pombo's bill undermines our
national commitment to the
recovery of threatened and
endangered plants and
animals," said Rodger Schlickeisen.
In
a fatal weakening of the
Endangered Species Act, this bill:
- replaces
the current mandatory critical
habitat system with a system
of purported recovery plans
that are discretionary and
fail to protect habitat
essential for recovery;
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- allows
federal agencies to avoid
consultation, resulting in
agencies with little to no
experience in wildlife issues
deciding if projects will harm
wildlife;
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- exempts
all pesticide decisions from
ESA compliance, taking away
the ability under the ESA to
stop pesticide use even when
necessary to prevent
extinction;
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- requires
the federal government to use
taxpayer dollars to pay
developers for complying with
the law, setting no limits on
these payments.
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"Our
children will pay the ultimate
price for Mr. Pombo's reckless
disregard for the conservation of
our nation's wildlife,"
said Schlickeisen.
"Normally,
one would look to the Senate to
right the wrongs of this
bill," said Schlickeisen,
"but it is questionable as to
whether this bill can be salvaged
at all."
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Defenders
of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit
conservation organization recognized as one of the
nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and
its habitat. With more than 490,000 members and
supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective
leader on endangered species issues.
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