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AZ species may suffer after Bush rule change

In what critics call a back-door move to weaken environmental regulations, the Bush administration has proposed a rule change for the Interior Dept. that would dramatically reduce the scientific input necessary for agency decisions with the potential to affect threatened species.

The move could have far-ranging impacts on Arizona wildlife, says Sandy Bahr, conservation outreach director for the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon chapter.

“Ultimately, what it does is it takes science out of the decision making process related to endangered species – and there’s already far too much politics involved in endangered species,” she says.  “We’ve seen that in Arizona with the Mexican gray wolf.”

The Associated Press reported that the Bush administration has sought to fast-track the rule changes by cutting a public comment period from 60 to 30 days.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) slammed the move in a recent statement.

“I am disappointed once again by the recent announcement that the lame duck Bush White House plans to roll back the protections for endangered species before leaving office. It doesn’t surprise me that the legacy this President wants to leave is one of further environmental degradation and loss of more species who are already on the brink of extinction,” Rep. Grijalva said.

He continued: “This is just one more example of their ongoing efforts to undermine the environmental protections that have been in place in this country for more than 30 years. What the previous majority in Congress couldn’t accomplish legislatively, the Administration is now trying to do through revised regulations.”

The L.A. Times calls the rule change a “bum rush” in this editorial.

Bahr agrees. “Rather than a frontal attack, it’s an administrative action, so it doesn’t require Congress to do anything. It’s basically more of the same from the Bush administration.

“Ultimately, the impact in Arizona will be fewer species protected, and more politics and political decisions,” she says.

JCR