Bush Relaxes Endangered Species Protections; Obama Vows Reversal

[Unspeaked]

LINK (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hXBV9U9SBb_hysHw0UpNdHvcmx4gD950N6T00)


Bush relaxes protections for endangered species

By DINA CAPPIELLO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration is reducing protections for endangered animals and plants.

Just six weeks before Democratic President-elect Barack Obama takes office, the current Republican administration is changing endangered species regulations.

Some mandatory, independent reviews that government scientists have performed for 35 years are being eliminated. The scientists' advice from such reviews can delay or block dams, highways and other projects.

The new rules will take effect in about 30 days. The rules also prohibit federal agencies from evaluating the effect on endangered species and the places they live from a project's contribution to increased global warming.

Obama has promised to reverse the new rules. Congress also could overturn them.

[bradl]

So going off the calendar, if Congress doesn't overturn this, this will be in the wild (pun intended) for 10 days until Obama takes office.

Do as much damage on the way out as you can, eh? :rolleyes:

BL.

[leekohler]

This is how Bush wants to leave office? Fine, let him. It's fitting end to a horrible presidency.

[mactastic]

Anyone want to bet that an unusually high number of plans normally subject to these regulations will be submitted during these 10 days?

[leekohler]

Anyone want to bet that an unusually high number of plans normally subject to these regulations will be submitted during these 10 days?

Sure they will. But how are they going to get approved that fast?

[mactastic]

Sure they will. But how are they going to get approved that fast?
Well, typically the way it works is that submitted projects are evaluated based on the rules in place on the day of their submittal for review.

It's really not fair to have a project submitted for review, and then have the rules under which it is reviewed changed during the review process.

For instance, I'm working on a school modernization project right now that was submitted in 2006, and is therefore under the 2006 building code. The fact that the code has since been changed does not affect this project.

So I'm thinking there are going to be a lot of people submitting during those 10 days, and that's what Bush is after here. One more sloppy wet kiss to his corporate buddies.

[Prof.]

I'm a huge environmentalist and this just sickens me.:mad: Buck Fush.:mad:

Hopefully Obama will get this overturned.:)

[KingYaba]

Buck Fush.:mad:

Is this the conduct I should expect from fellow environmentalists?

[Prof.]

Is this the conduct I should expect from fellow environmentalists?
It's the conduct you should expect from every US American at this point.:D

[KingYaba]

It's the conduct you should expect from every US American at this point.:D

He gives Texas a bad name.

[bradl]

He gives Texas a bad name.

Natalie Maines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Chicks_political_controversy) called that one in 2003. ;)

BL.

[Prof.]

He gives Texas a bad name.
Texas... The United States... Mankind... yeah