The American landscape has plenty of room for development and endangered species to co-exist without one unduly hindering the other. But this can only continue if the Endangered Species Act is kept intact. Congress should reject the Pombo bill.

If the Republican-led Congress passes this bill and President Bush signs it, the 'safety net' that has kept many of America's most treasured animals and plants from extinction would be gone. Survivors that owe their existence to the law include the bald eagle, grizzly bear, peregrine falcon, manatee, wolf and Florida panther.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Richard Pombo of California would dramatically increase the paperwork required to get a species on the list and would require another layer of scientific review. Critical habitat, which has been documented to help species recover, would only be required if necessary for a species' survival, a high standard that would doom some animals and plants to extinction.

It's unfortunate that some lawmakers from California backed gutting the very law that has saved the California sea otter, the California condor and even our national symbol, the eagle, from extinction.   Read full article »

An effort to supposedly improve the Endangered Species Act will instead gut one of the nation's most important environmental laws.

The Endangered Species Act is central to the 1970s-era legislation protecting our environment. Now, that useful act is in danger of destruction.

Pombo is right that few species have been removed from the endangered species list, but if he gets his way, the list will only grow longer.   Read full article »