I am writing to draw your attention to the need to read the rule in question before adding your name to a petition. Read the actual rule, not a third party summary or opinion.
Tom Cuba. > Greetings, > > I am writing to draw your attention to a scientist letter that urges the > Obama administration to strengthen the scientific foundation of the > Endangered Species Act: > http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/solutions/big_picture_solutions/2009-esa-scientists-letter.html > > The letter is intended for scientists with biological expertise who > possess or are working towards an advanced degree in a relevant field. The > deadline for signing the letter is April 22, as the Obama administration > has until May 8 to act. > > In January the Bush administration pushed through a change to the > Endangered Species Act that allows federal agencies without biological > expertise to decide for themselves to what degree their own projects will > impact endangered wildlife, eliminating the requirement for independent > scientific review (known as Section 7 consultations). The new process > removes the expert opinions of the government scientists who, for decades, > have provided critical analysis of the consequences of federal projects > for endangered species, and replaces them with the uneven oversight of > agencies with potential conflicts of interest and without the relevant > scientific expertise. > > Just as importantly, the rules also sharply limit the types of information > federal scientists can consider when evaluating federal projects. By > compromising the quality and independence of scientific review, the rules > undermine effective protections for wildlife and their habitats. > > This issue received significant news coverage and sparked outrage from the > scientific community. In early March, President Obama recognized the > success of the Endangered Species Act and expressed concerns about the new > rules, saying that "we should be looking for ways to improve it - not > weaken it." In response, Congress passed a spending bill in March > containing a provision that gives the secretaries of interior and commerce > the authority to rescind the controversial rules. > > One month later, neither Secretary Salazar nor Secretary Locke have rolled > back the flawed changes, leading to concerns that they will simply let the > deadline pass. Sources within the Obama administration have indicated that > support from the scientific community would help convince the secretaries > to act. A similar letter, issued in 2006 and signed by more than 5,000 > biologists, was widely credited with convincing Congress to stop misguided > legislation that would have gutted the scientific underpinnings of the > Endangered Species Act. > > The Union of Concerned Scientists, Society for Conservation Biology, and > Center for Biological Diversity are providing logistical support for this > effort. We will deliver the letter to the secretaries at the end of April. > Please sign on to this letter urging Secretaries Salazar and Locke to help > restore scientific integrity to the Endangered Species Act by rolling back > the flawed rule changes: > http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/solutions/big_picture_solutions/2009-esa-scientists-letter.html > > Thank you for your consideration of this critical issue. > > More information: > http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/solutions/agency-specific_solutions/changes-to-esa.html > > President Obama's remarks: > http://www.doi.gov/secretary/speeches/030309_speech_pres_obama.html > > Sign the letter: > http://www.ucsusa.org/biologistsletter > > Once you have signed, tell your colleagues about this effort: > http://action.ucsusa.org/site/Ecard?ecard_id=1221 > > > > Michael Halpern > Program Manager > Scientific Integrity Program > Union of Concerned Scientists > 1825 K Street, Suite 800 > Washington, DC 20006 > (202) 331-5452 > http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity > > Please print this only if you need to print this. >
