Fw: Two Weeks to Save the Endangered Species Act

[Guest guest]

Center for Biological DiversityCenter for Biological Diversity

Two Weeks to Save the Endangered Species Act

 

A crucial deadline is looming: By May 9, the Obama administration has to

seize its opportunity to overturn last-minute Bush administration

regulations that gut the Endangered Species Act, or it will miss the chance.

The Bush rules exempt thousands of federal activities from review under the

Endangered Species Act, and specifically exclude greenhouse gas emissions

from regulation. If this administration doesn't withdraw those " extinction

rules " by May 9, they will stay in effect -- a disaster for endangered

species.

 

Congress specifically empowered Obama's secretaries of Commerce and Interior

with the authority to overturn the Bush extinction regulations with the

stroke of a pen. The secretaries of Commerce and Interior jointly administer

the Endangered Species Act, with the National Ocean and Atmospheric

Administration (under Commerce) responsible for marine species such as

whales and sea turtles, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (in Interior)

responsible for species such as wolves and polar bears.

 

While more than 80,000 people have written to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

demanding he revoke the Bush rules, Gary Locke has only recently been

confirmed as secretary of Commerce and has yet to take a position on the

issue. Similarly, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the new head of the National Ocean

Atmospheric Administration, has failed to take a public position on

rescinding the extinction rules.

 

Please contact Secretary Locke and Dr. Lubchenco and urge them to

immediately revoke the Bush extinction regulations.

 

Click here to find out more and take action:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2

7121.

 

 

 

Sample letter:

Rescind the Bush Extinction Regulations!

 

I strongly oppose the Bush administration's illegal and illogical

regulations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, which reduce

protections to imperiled species and create an exemption for greenhouse gas

emissions.

 

I request that you revoke these regulations immediately, within the 60-day

window provided by Congress for their removal. The Endangered Species Act

has a proven track record of success at reducing all threats to species, and

it makes absolutely no sense, scientifically or legally, to exempt

greenhouse gas emissions - the number-one threat to many species - from this

successful system.

 

This is a critical moment for the new administration. President Obama

pledged on the campaign trail that he would toss out these misguided

regulations. Please do not be responsible for breaking this important

campaign promise to the American people.

 

 

Please take action by May 9, 2009.