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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Photo: Bush Aims to Relax Endangered Species Rules


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A bald eagle returns to its nest in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

U.S. President George Bush's government is proposing changes to allow federal agencies to decide for themselves whether subdivisions, dams, highways, and other projects have the potential to harm endangered animals and plants.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said the revisions—which would allow agencies to bypass advice from government scientists—are needed to ensure that the Endangered Species Act is not used as a "back door" to regulate the gases blamed for global warming.

Photograph by Winfield Parks/NGS