Call To Action: Protect America’s Legacy Today
The US government is currently undertaking an historic and massive effort to roll-back major environmental laws by methodically and purposefully gutting or weakening protections that have existed since the Nixon administration in the early 1970s. There are multiple rule changes requiring immediate action by the public. Comment via the deadlines listed below.
Rule change summaries:
The US Department of the Interior announced a new rule that would require decisions for the protections of listed species under the Endangered Species Act to be based on economic factors, rather than have these decisions be based solely on science, as they have been in the past.
Another new rule would negatively influence the designation of critical habitat for newly listed threatened species.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new rule to drastically limit which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act.
The federal government and pro-business advocates for these heartbreaking changes argue that current federal environmental laws are crippling the economy and stiffing job growth. This is untrue.
A strong environment and a strong economy go hand in hand.
Since the Clean Water Act (1972) and the Endangered Species Act (1973) have become law, the US economy has expanded 20-fold, going from an annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.5 trillion in 1973, to an annual GDP of $30 trillion this year. During this time the US has firmly established itself as the major global economic engine.
We need to keep our current environmental laws. They are good laws and have served us well!
Fortunately, with respect to our government’s current attempts, our hands are not completely tied. These rule changes are required to have a comment period, whereby the public can give feedback.
Coastal Corridor Alliance strongly asks you to take 10 minutes and comment on these proposed changes. You don’t have to be an expert. A heartfelt, “Please don’t make these changes. I greatly value and strongly support our environmental laws and the way they have been interpreted previously.” will suffice. Of course, go deeper if you care to.
To comment go to the Federal Register and submit a public comment (upper right corner):
Rule Change #1
Endangered Species Act – Deadline: Monday, December 22nd
Shifting from science-only-based decisions for wildlife protections under the Endangered Species Act to basing decisions on economic interests. Learn more about this proposed rule change.
Rule Change #2
Endangered Species Act – Deadline: Monday, December 22nd
Weakening protections for Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about this proposed rule change.
Rule Change #3
Clean Water Act – Deadline: Monday, January 5th
Narrowing the scope of the Clean Water Act by changing what is considered a “Waters of the US.” Learn more about this proposed rule change.
