Bush set to relax endangered species rules

[Kadie]

Bush set to relax endangered species rules
By Dina Cappiello, Associated Press Writer – 16 mins ago


WASHINGTON – Animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct could lose the protection of government experts who make sure that dams, highways and other projects don't pose a threat, under regulations the Bush administration is set to put in place before President-elect Obama can reverse them.

The rules must be published Friday to take effect before Obama is sworn in Jan. 20. Otherwise, he can undo them with the stroke of a pen.

The Interior Department rushed to complete the rules in three months over the objections of lawmakers and environmentalists who argued that they would weaken how a landmark conservation law is applied.

A Nov. 12 version of the final rules obtained by the Associated Press has changed little from the original proposal, despite the more than 250,000 comments received since it was first proposed in August.

The rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorizing or funding a project to determine for itself if it is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081120/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bush_endangered_species_6

[DJ13]

1. Does that mean we can shoot back at Cheney now?

:shrug:

[ananda]

2. This is what happens when..

.. corporations own lawmakers and criminal
sociopaths like Bush are not brought to
justice..

.. when public officials and corporate elites
are allowed uninhibited and unlimited leeway
to force whatever destructive action down
the throats of the people.

Ultimately, the losers are everyone, but the
non elite and havelesses will suffer first.

Sue

[Oregone]

3. The Democrats will have the power to fire back in no time and fix this...

They have already put future protections in place for the Daschus Spineless Democratus, who they are putting in the position of the Health and Human Services department. Without the Spineless, our ecosystem would fall apart quickly. They even have a special place for the Liebermanus Traitorus.

[foxfeet]

4. May polar bears feed on his face.

[underpants]

5. We knew this was coming. What a croc of BS headline that is from AP

This isn't "relax"ing this is railroading through complete crap.

[old mark]

6. This must be part of the "legacy" that Bush said he wants to leave

the American people.

Kind of like shitting in the sink, George.
Just leave.

mark