Stop the Bush Extinction Plan

Stop the Bush Extinction Plan

Target:
Department of Interior Secretary Kempthorne
Sponsored by: 
In a last minute sneak attack, the Bush Administration has released a series of regulations to weaken the Endangered Species Act.  The Endangered Species Act is the safety net for our nation's wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction, including the bald eagle, grizzly bear and pacific salmon.

The Bush Administration is trying to fast track oil drilling, mining, logging and development by stripping away protections for our public lands and wildlife heritage.  These regulations would dramatically weaken protections for endangered species and their habitat. For more information about the proposed regulations, visit www.stopextinction.org

We will collect and deliver your comment personally to the Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Sign the comments below.
In a last minute sneak attack, the Bush Administration has released a series of regulations to weaken the Endangered Species Act.  The Endangered Species Act is the safety net for our nation's wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction, including the bald eagle, grizzly bear and pacific salmon.

The Bush Administration is trying to fast track oil drilling, mining, logging and development by stripping away protections for our public lands and wildlife heritage.  These regulations would dramatically weaken protections for endangered species and their habitat. For more information about the proposed regulations, visit www.stopextinction.org

We will collect and deliver your comment personally to the Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Sign the comments below.
I am strongly opposed to the proposed regulations that would weaken the  Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act is the safety net for  our nation's wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction.  These  regulations would dramatically weaken the federal government's commitment to  protect endangered species and their habitat.  They would exclude thousands of  federal activities, including those that contribute to global warming, from  scientific review and and remove the checks and balances currently in place  under the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered  Species Act requires decisions to be based on the best available science.  This  regulatory change would severely limit the ability of experts in the U.S. Fish  and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to review actions  of federal agencies that could harm endangered and threatened  species.

Despite the fact that endangered species are some of the most at  risk from the effects of global warming, the proposed regulations would remove  our nation's responsibility to protect species from any of the impacts of global  warming. This would block the Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to integrate  global warming into the Endangered Species Act consultation  process.

I strongly urge you to withdraw the proposed Interagency Cooperation Under the Endangered Species Act regulatory changes and  to extend the public comment period to allow adequate public and Congressional  input into these drastic changes to one of our nation's landmark conservation  laws.   Thank you for your consideration of my comments on this critically  important conservation issue.
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We signed the "Stop the Bush Extinction Plan" petition!
# 498:
9:34 pm PDT, Oct 14, Sandy Saccomanno, California
I urge foresight and deliberate action when engaging in any activity. Our current administration thrives on rushing through "urgent" legislation without weighing long term consequences and engaging more rational, alternate choices. Consequently, our nation manages to limp from one crisis to another without any viable game plan. Now they want to rush into oil drilling, mining, logging, and other activites without deep consideration for all the factors involved. The Endangered Species Act is too important to allow this administration to tamper with through reckless activities. It is part of our natural heritage. I urge you to withdraw the proposed regulatory changes and extend the public comment period to allow adequate public and Congressional input. Thank you. Sandy Saccomanno
# 497:
6:49 pm PDT, Oct 14, Margaret Estes, Massachusetts
As we head into a uncertain future with hundreds of scientists around the world agreeing on the impact of Global Warming and the devestating impacts it is having on earth, it would be absolutely irresponcible for the United States to reverse direction in our environmental policies protecting our precious species and untouched land! It is so critical that you stop the hidden agenda of the Bush Administraion NOW!!
# 496:
6:42 pm PDT, Oct 14, Natalie Zarchin, California
# 495:
6:34 pm PDT, Oct 14, Catherine Shill, Idaho
To not protect the endangered species on the earth would be a soulful detriment to us as a species. Since we have the capacity to create and destroy with our intelligence, it is our heartfelt right to protect the species that can't protect themselves.
# 494:
3:36 pm PDT, Oct 14, Christopher Kovach, Ohio
This is very important. If there were no safety net for animals on the brink of extinction or in danger because of mostly human activity or exploition by humans, alot more animals would be gone. Animals are having enough of a hard time with this act already, what with wolves being slaughtered in preventable conflicts by wildife services daily. This law needs to be strengthed not weakened because of livestock's and trophy hunter's interests and hatred towards predators.
# 493:
3:25 pm PDT, Oct 14, Prajje junior Jean-Baptiste, Massachusetts
Protect our endangered species.
# 492:
2:11 pm PDT, Oct 14, Randy McDole, Oregon
# 491:
12:44 pm PDT, Oct 14, Carin High, California
Dear Secretary Kempthorne and Secretary Gutierrez, This letter is in response to the August 15, 2008 proposed rule regarding interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act regulations. I am appalled by the proposed modifications which can only be viewed as yet another attempt by the Bush Administration to severely weaken the protections provided listed species and their habitats through the Endangered Species Act regulations. We have been fortunate to have inherited an incredible diversity of natural ecosystems throughout our country. Preservation of this biodiversity for future generations is a basic tenant of the Endangered Species Act, which provides important protections for those species hovering on the brink of extinction. Previous legislators acknowledged the responsibility our government has in preserving species biodiversity for future generations when they enacted this important environmental law. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are the two agencies tasked with implementing and enforcing the ESA and they are required by the ESA to base their decisions on the best available science. Over the course of the past eight years there have been other attempts by this administration to emasculate the ESA and there have been many instances when the abilities of NMFS and FWS have been stymied – instances where politics, not compelling scientific data, ultimately influenced decisions made. Now, with the latest set of proposed changes to the ESA, the Bush administration proposes to significantly weaken the ESA by removing scientists from the much of the decision-making process. The new regulations would essentially allow federal agencies other than NMFS and FWS to decide for themselves if their actions would harm an endangered species - agencies that currently do not have the in-house expertise to make these important decisions. This not only unacceptable, it is not credible. A recent in-house audit conducted by the USFWS and NMFS of not likely to adversely affect (NLAA) decisions of the Forestry Service (FS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) revealed the stunning failure of these organizations to accurately identify critical components of the decision-making process such as the project area, the impacts to listed species, or even to accurately identify the listed species and critical habitats likely to be impacted. This abject failure occurred despite the implementation of a training program for FS and BLM staff, the implementation of standards for documents required and review required, and an oversight program. The current proposal to alter the ESA regulations has no provisions for training or oversight of action agency NLAA decisions and was proposed in light of evidence that shows a similar program was stunningly unsuccessful. Therefore the proposal to allow federal action agencies to make their own informal consultation NLAA decisions is arbitrary and capricious. The proposed changes to the ESA also perpetuate the “ostrich with its head in the sand” approach to global warming that has characterized this administration, by purposefully removing considerations of global warming from the ESA decision-making process. Global warming and increasing CO2 levels are the greatest challenges we will have to address if we wish to preserve not only listed species, but ourselves. The body of scientific knowledge about the impacts of global warming on the natural environment and the impacts it will have, and is currently being demonstrated to have on species, is compelling. Those tasked with implementing and enforcing the ESA must take the impacts of global warming (i.e. increasing CO2 levels) into consideration when determining how listed species are to be protected. We are fortunate to live in a land of great natural abundance and beauty and the enactment of the Endangered Species Act thirty-five years ago reflects the commitment we made to future generations to be good stewards of our land. The proposed changes to the ESA do not constitute good stewardship; they do not serve the best interests of our people, but instead would serve the special interests of a privileged few. I urge you not to implement any of the modifications proposed in this draft rule. Sincerely, Carin High
# 490:
12:05 pm PDT, Oct 14, Leah Walker, Missouri
# 489:
11:06 am PDT, Oct 14, John Elhardt, California
How will destroying wild lands for profit do any long term good to America?
# 488:
2:50 am PDT, Oct 14, Elizabeth Cardone, New York
# 487:
6:44 pm PDT, Oct 13, Rev. Robert E. Murchison, RPp, Oklahoma
When will he stop trying to get more money for his friends and himself? Everything he has done during his 8 years has been to make money and to keep everyone from seeing him for what he is. If we don't watch him closely he can play one card that can keep himself in office indefinitely. Presently he is doing that and also doing this. Bush must stop before he destroys everything that America once stood for and those he is seeking to hurt by weakening the ESA were once what showed our greatness.
# 486:
5:26 pm PDT, Oct 13, Susan Mailheau, Washington
I urge you and all of the Bush Administration who would undermine this important safeguard to bear in mind: THIS IS OUR COUNTRY, FROM THE CITIZENS TO THE WILDLIFE AND ALL OF ITS HABITAT. AND THIS IS OUR PLANET OF WHICH WE AS HUMANS ARE STEWARDS. Do not go against the will of the people who wish to do all that is possible to safeguard our planet. Do not act against the greater insight of your predecessors who wrote the Endangered Species Act.
# 485:
4:55 pm PDT, Oct 13, Name not displayed, Slovenia
# 484:
2:15 pm PDT, Oct 13, Rebecca Elder, Colorado
The peoples of the future will either praise us for the actions we take to preserve this beautiful planet and all her many gifts and blessings or despise us for being selfish, uncaring "steward" of the earth!
# 483:
1:10 pm PDT, Oct 13, Ayanna Brooks, Washington D.C.
Animals deserve as much protection as people. Do not weaken the Endangered Species Act.
# 482:
11:57 am PDT, Oct 13, Name not displayed, Colorado
# 481:
11:18 am PDT, Oct 13, Sharon Doughetryt, California
# 480:
10:52 am PDT, Oct 13, Donna Elder, Colorado
i have worked as a strong Republican in the past, but am dismayed by what George W. Bush has done in the last few years. I plead for the government to stay with the advice of the EXPERTS when it comes to changing the rules that relate to the Endangered Species Act.
# 478:
10:42 am PDT, Oct 13, Gail Fustos, Wyoming
Please, do NOT weaken the Endangered Species Act. Shame on you!
# 477:
10:27 am PDT, Oct 13, Kurt Warmbier, Wyoming
Dear Secretary Kempthorne The legacy of any society is the condition it leaves the earth for succeeding generations. While the Endangered Species Act may seem extreme those who wish to make millions off natural resources located within these species habitats, once gone, they are gone forever. The U.S. and many developed nations are in or facing serious challenges in financial, energy, and natural resources--most of their own making; especially the U.S. The challenge is not to continue to exploit the available natural resouces until gone, but to effectively and effentiently utilize them and to make them last as long as possible. Areas with unique and/or endangered resources should be protected. More emphasis should be placed on conservation and/or recycling of resources; rather than exploitation of them. Can we live without many of the species currently listed or those waiting to be listed or yet to be identified -- yes; but should we -- NO. The greater measure of our Nation should be in its protection of rare landscapes; maintenance undistrubed of wilderness areas and National Parks, Monuments and other wild and scenic areas rather than its exploitation of those areas for a very limited (long-term) gain in natural resources. Since most resources sought to be mined or drilled for are finite -- far greater emphasis should be on conserving and developing alternatives to their use -- we shouldn't need a scare of $4/gallon gas to finally wake up the citizens and more importantly the administration and Congress to do the right thing, to make tough decisions (e.g., energy efficient vehicles--not 20 or 30 mgp but 50+ regardless of type; alternative propulsion systems; alternative fuels--e.g., ethanol from renewable grasses, not food crops; hydrogen; electric and new promising technologies; and switching usage of the gas tax from new highway construction to construction of new mass transit systems). I rather be remembered as the Secretary of the Interior that protected our wild animals and wild places for future generations so they may hike and see massive redwoods, the chance to see a wolf, grizzly bear or caribou in the wild versus being able to hike the mine tailings, acid mine ponds and forests of rusting oil and natural gas pumps. We don't need to choose between saving our wild natural resources or having a good standard of living; we just need to start living within the means of the earth's carrying capacity and more in line with the rest of the world.
# 476:
9:57 am PDT, Oct 13, Barbara Coulter, New Mexico
# 475:
8:23 am PDT, Oct 13, Tarequl Islam Munna, Bangladesh
# 474:
7:41 am PDT, Oct 13, Christy Ball, Wyoming
I never know how legit these kind of things are. but if it does make a difference YAHOO love christy
# 473:
5:58 am PDT, Oct 13, Alan Long, Florida
# 472:
9:01 pm PDT, Oct 12, Janelle Floyd, Indiana
# 471:
8:48 pm PDT, Oct 12, Lorel Birmingham, Colorado
# 470:
8:31 pm PDT, Oct 12, Andria GrandPre, Wyoming
We are care takers of this great earth, not its only resident. We must be willing to preserve our ecosystems and protect all life on this planet if we are to survive.
# 469:
7:35 pm PDT, Oct 12, William Martin, Wisconsin
The Bush Administration has led us into a financial diaster. Please don't let them let us into the destruction of the Endangered Species Act.
# 468:
4:29 pm PDT, Oct 12, Victoria Eisermann, United Kingdom
# 467:
2:45 pm PDT, Oct 12, Richard Haberstroh, Wyoming
We urge you to please stop this onslaught of the Bush Administration to weaken the protections we have in place to save the Endangered Species Act. This attack against what we hold most important,our environment,is a disgrace!! Thank you.
# 466:
12:00 pm PDT, Oct 12, Lydia Schmidt, United Kingdom
# 465:
11:13 am PDT, Oct 12, Name not displayed, South Carolina
# 464:
10:23 am PDT, Oct 12, Scott Gillis, Canada
George W Bush has the minus - touch. 911, enron, Katrina,Iraq, the 700 billion bailout have all gone horrably wrong. Don't let him get his butterfingers on the envoroment. Bald eagles and Bears BEFOR the bottom line.
# 463:
10:09 am PDT, Oct 12, Christyne Gillis, Wyoming
stop ! havnt the bush adm. done enough damage! they should go hide in a spider hole where they belong! shameful!
# 462:
9:50 am PDT, Oct 12, Maya Puerta, France
# 461:
9:48 am PDT, Oct 12, William Broadhead, Wyoming
i have been a commercial fisherman in alaska for twenty years and have seen the direct effects of global warming and also the effects on the environment from the exxon valdez oil spill.my businees and way of life is being effected by the lack of protection of our environment. big business revolving around resource extraction has to be held accountable for it's effects it has on our planet. the endangered species act seems to be the strongest act for doing that.
# 460:
9:45 am PDT, Oct 12, Loran Hills, Utah
It's bad enough the Bush administration has destroyed the economy, created a non-ending war of devastation in Iraq and ruined international relationships; but, please, leave the earth alone. We need these hard-earned protections. Plants and animals cannot defend themselves, we must do it.
# 459:
9:20 am PDT, Oct 12, Crystal Menick, North Carolina
# 458:
9:07 am PDT, Oct 12, Gemma Zarrillo, Canada
Please save our endangered species. We have a responsibility to this planet and the creatures that inhabit it.
# 457:
8:13 am PDT, Oct 12, Jason Abdale, New York
# 456:
8:05 am PDT, Oct 12, Diane Verna, Wyoming
Living in a western state, we see first hand the damage to our public lands from oil and gas leasing. The animals that share this environment are becoming threatened--from sage grouse to wintering mule deer to the pronghorn antelope, which has the longest land migration in North America.We need to protect these animals as they can not speak for themselves. Wildlife is a huge part of the economy of Wyoming. People from all around the world visit this area to see our amazing wildlife and wild lands. It would be completely irresponsible of this administration to gut one of the only protections for the creatures that God put on this Earth for us to take care of. Shame on you George Bush, Dick Cheney and Dirk Kempthorne for 8 years of destruction to our public lands while you've been in the office. Instead of improving the environment, you've done your best to destroy it--for your greed, and for the greed of Halliburton. As a tax paying citizen of this country, I demand that you protect wildlife and do not weaken the Act as it stands now.
# 455:
11:50 pm PDT, Oct 11, Suzanne Kim, Illinois
# 454:
9:37 pm PDT, Oct 11, Karen Linarez, California
Worst administration ever--why am i not surprised that you will KILL anything and everything.
# 453:
7:30 pm PDT, Oct 11, Name not displayed, California
# 452:
6:41 pm PDT, Oct 11, David Gonci, Connecticut
Visit walkinjim.com for more perspective on protecting the safety net that is Forever Wild.
# 451:
1:07 pm PDT, Oct 11, David Rosky, California
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