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FWS to review species decisions |
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The Fish and Wildlife Service will re-examine eight different
endangered species decisions that had the touch of former Interior
Department political appointee Julie MacDonald, Director Dale Hall has
confirmed.
The agency will revisit its decision to decline protection for the
white-tailed prairie dog and propose removing the Preble's meadow
jumping mouse. It will also review critical habitat listings for 12
Hawaiian picture wing flies and five other species. Three of the
decisions are already being challenged in court.
"This is a blemish on the scientific integrity of the Department of Interior," Hall said.
Some of the decisions may be reversed or changed by the end of
the process. "We wouldn't be doing this if we did not at least suspect
that a decision will be different, but we don't know," Hall told
reporters on July 20.
MacDonald resigned in May as deputy assistant secretary for
fish, wildlife and parks after Interior Inspector General Earl Devaney
issued a scathing report saying she had violated ethics rules, edited
scientific decisions on endangered species issues and passed internal
agency information to outside parties.
House Democrats have pressured Interior Department officials
in hearings and letters this summer for a more thorough review of
MacDonald's role in ESA decisions.
"I am heartened to hear that the Department of the Interior is
stepping up to the plate to begin addressing the 'politics trumps
science' ploy endemic throughout this administration," Rep. Nick Rahall
(D-W.Va.) said in a statement Friday.
But Rahall and environmental groups that have pressed for a
review of species decisions said the agency should go even further. The
congressman said there are more endangered species-related decisions
"and goodness know what else" that deserve scrutiny.
Environmental groups say there are at least 15 other species
that deserve review, including some like the greater sage grouse and
Gunnison's prairie dog, where MacDonald's involvement was publicized in
the press.
"This list is kind of a day late and a dollar short -- and in
fact, many, many species short," said Melissa Waage of the Center for
Biological Diversity, which has sued the administration over several of
its species decisions. Waage said the species decisions appeared to be
chosen for limited impact -- few listing or delisting decisions made
the list.
Hall said he drafted the list by asking each of the FWS
regional directors to review listing, delisting and critical habitat
decisions from the past five years and report any with questions of
"inappropriately modified" science. The directors came back with 11
species, then dropped the Mexican garter snake, because MacDonald had
not reviewed it, and the contentious bull trout and marbeled murrelet,
because the questions on those listings revolved more on policy
decisions, not science.
Decisions up for review:
- White-tailed prairie dog, 90-day petition finding.
- Preble's meadow jumping mouse, 12 month petition finding/proposed delisting.
- 12 species of Hawaiian picture-wing flies, proposed critical habitat.
- Preble's meadow jumping mouse, final critical habitat.
- Arroyo toad, final critical habitat.
- Southwestern willow flycatcher, final critical habitat.
- California red-legged frog, final critical habitat.
- Canada lynx, final critical habitat.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 09 November 2007 )
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