Endangered Species: Endangered Again

September 8th, 2008 by Rory Rory's feed

Photograph by Joel Sartore

The last month or so has proven to be rocky times for the well-being of endangered species in the United States. As if urbanization and changes in our climate weren’t enough trouble, the federal government seems to be putting a wrench in the plans for these precious animals to continue their road to recovery.

Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working on the final revision of a map that outlines the new dimensions of the habitat being set aside for the well-being of the peninsular bighorn sheep. Unfortunately, these new dimensions are nearly half the size the agency previously considered to be critical to the survival of the sheep. The new land will also be split into islands of reserved habitat in what was previously a contiguous piece of land. Need an analog on how this may effect the sheep? Just think about John Conway’s Game of Life. Very rarely do cells survive when broken up into smaller, unconnected bunches. In addition, the bighorn sheep are easily disturbed by human activity and susceptible to diseases and illness brought on by residential development and urbanization. In the mean time, U.S. Gypsum Co. is looking to expand its operations into land that may soon be considered former habitat.

Via the LA Times

In other news, the Associated Press reports that the Bush administration is looking to alter and potentially destroy the Endangered Species Act by relaxing its rules on construction and development projects. Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service conduct consultations to determine whether a project will damage habitat or affect the well-being of any endangered species. The new revision will allow the Interior Department to do their own reviews without consulting any third parties. They believe by relaxing the rules they will be streamlining the process which some say has resulted in delays and increased construction costs. But, Eric Glitzenstein, the attorney representing environmental groups in the lawsuit, says it’s like “the fox guarding the hen house.”

Via the Associated Press

At the end of last month, Alaska Governor and Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Mining Association and the American Iron and Steel Institute all have joined to file suit again Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall. Sarah Palin and the five parties joining her are fighting against the Interim Final Special Rule which designates the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and in turn as part of this rule, sets greenhouse gas exemptions for every state except Alaska. NAM says they don’t oppose the polar bear being listed as threatened but do oppose greenhouse gas controls in Alaska. NAM Vice President Keith McCoy said that it could curtail oil and gas exploration and that the controls put on Alaska may be opening a back door for greenhouse gas regulations nationwide. In the meantime, Kassie Siegel, climate program director for the Center for Biological Diversity, is sueing the federal government as well in order to have them change the polar bear’s status from “threatened” to “endangered”.

Via the Washington Post

Lastly, in good spirit, the grey wolves are to be put back on the endangered species list after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had removed them back in February. U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy granted environmentalists an injunction to the delisting and issued a 40-page critique of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s actions.

Via the LA Times

Hooray!

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Tags: Alaska, Animals, Bighorn Sheep, Bush, Endangered, Grey Wolf, oil, Petroleum, Polar Bear, politics, Sarah Palin