Trump administration proposes stripping some endangered species protections

[webfact]

Trump administration proposes stripping some endangered species protections

By Nichola Groom

 

FILE PHOTO: A grizzly bear and her two cubs approach the carcass of a bison in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States, July 6, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday proposed changes to key provisions of the U.S. Endangered Species Act in a move it said would streamline the law but which conservation groups slammed as an assault on wildlife protections.

 

Under the proposed revisions, the administration would end a practice that automatically conveys the same protections for threatened species as for endangered species, and would strike language that guides officials to ignore economic impacts of how animals should be safeguarded. Threatened species are defined as those at risk of becoming endangered.

 

The 1970s-era Endangered Species Act is credited with bringing back from the brink of extinction species such as bald eagles, grey whales and grizzly bears, but the law has long been a source of frustration for drillers, miners and other industries. New species listings can put vast areas of territory off limits to development.

 

"ESA implementation was not consistent and often times very confusing to navigate," Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Greg Sheehan said in a statement, explaining the changes.

 

Conservation groups, however, called the moves a handout to big business.

 

“These proposals would slam a wrecking ball into the most crucial protections for our most endangered wildlife,” Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement.

 

The proposed changes also include evaluating a species' critical habitat initially only in places where it currently lives, rather than including areas where it could be expected to live if its population recovered.

 

"These rules will be very protective and enhance the conservation of the species," Interior Department Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt said on a conference call with reporters about the changes.

 

"At the same time we hope that they ameliorate some of the unnecessary burden, conflict and uncertainty that is within our current regulatory structure," he said.

 

The U.S. Departments of Interior and Commerce worked jointly to develop the new rules as part of President Donald Trump's push for federal agencies to streamline regulatory processes. The USFW Service falls under the Interior Department.

 

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; additional reporting by Daniel Wallis; editing by Richard Valdmanis and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-20

[spidermike007]

Of course this is being proposed. Not sure if the US has ever had a president with less regard for nature. He would rather stay holed up in one of his gold gilded penthouses, than enjoy nature. Can anyone imagine this guy on a hike up in the mountains? Fortunately, nearly every proposal that Poison Pruitt tried to get passed, and nearly every protection he tried to remove, was blocked in the courts. He was not able to sell off the national parks and forests! He went down in flames, due to being a swamp creature, who could not surround himself with enough luxury, all paid for by the little men and women. Same as Tiny Don. Who needs nature, when you have all that luxury? Why save the earth? What is the point? It will save itself, so his logic goes. 

[mtls2005]

"Lock them up, lock them up, lock them up"

 

Don Jr. is a happy hunter.

 

 

[Tug]

Feed the trumps to the grizzlies 

[Happyman58]

Just thought of a funny. Trump is proposing to end protection for certain species of animals Would that include him also?

[Lupatria]

It already worked well with the population of native Americans...

[tomacht8]

They are so greedy, they do not want to leave anything for the next generations. The prophecy of the Hopie Indians will come true under Trump. There has never been a US president who has spread so much hatred in the world.

[Stargeezr]

Hello America, please wake up! Your president sounds like he is going to send your animals into oblivion and you, not having any animals in the future. NRA will not help you, unless you want to buy guns and ammo

of course.

Geezer

[DM07]

Yeeeeee-haaaawwww....#$%@ nature!

Let's do more fracking, more coal, less environmental protection, less renewable energies!

Let's destroy some more jobs in eco-friendly energies, so the "base" can live on the illusion, the "forgotten man will no longer be forgotten"!

Oh yeah...and more guns for everyone and more money for the wealthy!

How did the saying go?

"And if the last river is poisoned...."

[Srikcir]

You had learned that the Dodo bird was extinct.

And now you learned there was still one left.

[Basil B]

2 hours ago, Happyman58 said:

Just thought of a funny. Trump is proposing to end protection for certain species of animals Would that include him also?

I think that is just wishful thinking...

[Basil B]

3 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

"Lock them up, lock them up, lock them up"

 

Don Jr. is a happy hunter.

 

 

There are many more...

 Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump with a leopard they killed on a trip to Zimbabwe. Photograph: Hunting Legends

Even more yank's behaving badly:  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/29/cecil-the-lions-big-game-hunters-social-media

seems this may be a desperate vote winner...

[Jonmarleesco]

A pity Trump is not an endangered species. 

[Nyezhov]

Ah yes TDS. Forget about the harm caused by the misuse of the ESA.

 

Love the hunting photos. Biggest thing I ever bagged was a Moose. Head shot one at 275 yards. Fed a lot of folks.

 

Btw, How much you animal lovers contribute to wildlife? 

 

Look up the Pittman Act.

[tomacht8]

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

There are many more...

 Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump with a leopard they killed on a trip to Zimbabwe. Photograph: Hunting Legends

Even more yank's behaving badly:   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/29/cecil-the-lions-big-game-hunters-social-media

seems this may be a desperate vote winner...

How sick are these people?

Such types are only puke.

[Basil B]

9 hours ago, Jonmarleesco said:

A pity Trump is not an endangered species. 

But I would say fair game...

[spidermike007]

On 7/20/2018 at 9:21 AM, mtls2005 said:

"Lock them up, lock them up, lock them up"

 

Don Jr. is a happy hunter.

 

 

It would be fun to see this little man out in the wild, without a rifle. Survival of the fittest! Man against beast. He would survive for 15 minutes. Again, a demonstration of the family regard for nature, and the animal kingdom.