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Help Stop the Stealth Attack on Species Protection
For almost 30 years, America's wildlife has depended on the Endangered Species Act for protection. But now that protection is being threatened -- Rep. James Hansen (R-UT) has proposed and the House Resources Committee has passed a bill that is a stealth attempt to undermine science and weaken the Endangered Species Act. While the bill purports to ensure "sound science" it actually seeks to limit the scientific tools available to scientists, hamper the ability of citizens to petition to protect species, and give special access to industry. Under the guise of expanding peer review, the bill seeks to delay actions necessary to protect species. Please email your representative today and ask them to oppose Rep. Hansen's "Unsound Science" bill.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Jim Hansen's (R-UT) Bill -- H.R. 4840
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to you today to ask you to oppose H.R. 4840, Representative James Hansen's (R-UT) bill to amend the Endangered Species Act. The ESA is crucial to the protection of America's wildlife and I am against this and any effort to weaken it.
This bill seeks to limit the ability of scientists to use the best available science to conserve species. Furthermore, it takes the power of deciding what counts as science and puts it into the hands of politicians, not scientists. Even though this bill claims to improve the ESA by using "sound science," more than 300 leading members of the scientific community have written in opposition to its provisions.
In addition, H.R. 4840 attempts to limit the ability of citizens to petition for species listing, while giving special rights to industry. Finally, the bill adds unnecessary review and fails to ensure that those performing the reviews are truly independent.
Rather than improve the Endangered Species Act, this bill will only add cost, delay, and bureaucracy. The problem is not, as Hansen suggests, too much protection of undeserving species -- it is that hundreds of species that are at risk of extinction are presently unprotected by the Act. Please consider the future of America's wildlife and oppose H.R. 4840.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
August 02, 2002
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Rep. James Hansen (R-UT) has introduced legislation that seeks to weaken the Endangered Species Act and threaten the hundreds of species that depend on the Act for survival. This legislation, H.R. 4840, has passed the House Resources Committee and it could be voted on by the full House soon.
The Endangered Species Act is a strong, effective and flexible science-based law. It specifically requires use of the "best available scientific and commercial data" in decision-making. This bill seeks to undercut the use of the best science by requiring government agencies to give greater weight to some kinds of science, even if that science is not the best available. This attempt to legislate science is tantamount to requiring a doctor to diagnose cancer with only a stethoscope. Notably, more than 300 leading scientists voiced opposition to this kind of legislation in a letter to Congress. They point out that the proposed changes would not only prevent the use of the best available science, but would also delay protection for species that might be poised on the brink of extinction. (Read about it at: http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=398.)
Over the past two decades, citizen petitions for species listing have become an important part of species protection under the Act. Ninety-two percent of listings in California during the past ten years were initiated by citizens. This legislation seeks to require that citizen petitions demonstrate "clear and convincing evidence" in support of listing -- a standard that would place a higher burden of proof on those seeking to protect species than is currently required to show that cigarette smoking is harmful to your health. While this bill seeks to limit public involvement in species protection, it also attempts to give elevated status to those applying for permits for activities that could harm species. The public would have less access to the process, the special interests of those applying for permits for activities that might harm species would receive elevated status.
Finally, the bill delays species protection by adding unnecessary review and fails to ensure that reviewers are independent and come from qualified scientific bodies. Rather the Hansen bill gives authority to the Secretary of Interior and governors of the affected states to choose a peer review board.
Rep. Hansen's proposal is a clear attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act and to delay its implementation. Please ask your representative to oppose H.R. 4840 and help protect America's endangered wildlife.
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