Administration Launches Latest Attack on Endangered National Park Wildlife

WASHINGTON – Today, the Trump administration rolled out its latest attack on the Endangered Species Act (ESA), through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule which would undermine critical habitat protections. This proposed rule was announced amid the public comment period on another ESA attack by the agency, with a problematic definition for the term “habitat”.

The rule will include a 30-day comment period beginning September 8, 2020.

Statement by Bart Melton, Wildlife Program Director for the National Parks Conservation Association

“This latest attack on the Endangered Species Act would essentially turn the keys to critical habitat protection for America’s threatened and endangered species over to industry and the whims of agency appointees.

If finalized, this rule would undercut the intent of the Endangered Species Act, which for decades has supported the recovery of national park wildlife. The proposal twists and ignores the intent of the law, favoring short-term economic gains over America’s conservation future.

The rule would allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to favor the concerns of local development projects over conservation efforts that benefit all Americans. In effect, the rule empowers agency appointees to choose development over wildlife conservation.

NPCA will work with our members and conservation partners to push back on this problematic proposal in the weeks ahead.”

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About The National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.4 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.