Wildlife

February 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of National Wildlife Federation, the nation’s largest member-supported conservation organization, joined Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer today as she unveiled guiding principles of climate legislation.

“Driven by the facts of a warming planet and an economy in crisis, we in the conservation community are here today to support legislation that will repower America's economy through clean energy,” said Larry Schweiger. “The most important action America must take in 2009 to galvanize investment in clean energy technology is to enact strong global warming legislation that invests in clean energy technologies, cuts pollution, and protects our natural resources.”    » read more »

New Rules Endanger Whales and Dolphins and Fail to Satisfy Federal Law

LOS ANGELES (January 23, 2009) – Last-minute rules proposed by the Bush administration will expose millions of marine mammals to harm from naval training with high-intensity sonar unless amended by the Obama Administration. The rules, issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), address Navy sonar training in the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, in waters off Southern California, and around Hawaii.

Together, they authorize over 10 million marine mammal “takes” incidental to Navy sonar training during the next five years. Each “take” is an instance of harm caused by high intensity sonar that can range from disorientation, to hearing loss, stranding and death.    » read more »

Gov. Palin Thanks Lawmakers for Energy Package

August, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today thanked state lawmakers for successfully addressing Alaskans’ energy needs in the recently completed special sessions, both in the short term by passing an energy relief package, and in the long term by authorizing a gasline license under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.

“The members of the Alaska Legislature worked honorably and diligently in the past two months to deal with these critical issues facing our state. I join with all Alaskans in recognizing and thanking them for their accomplishments,” Governor Palin said.

Resource Rebate and Energy    » read more »

Court Order Upholds Federal Environmental Laws and Reduces Harm from Naval Exercises

LOS ANGELES -- August 12, 2008 – The Navy’s use of low frequency active sonar will remain restricted to certain military training areas of the Pacific Ocean, according to an agreement approved by a U.S. district court in San Francisco today.    » read more »

Interior Department Makes Biggest Assault Yet on Landmark Environmental Law

August 11, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. - A new set of draft rules proposed by the Bush administration and reported by the Associated Press today would effectively eradicate the key laws that protect endangered species in the United States.

Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope

This plan repeats and includes all of the disdain for science and political trumping of expertise that has characterized previous Bush Administration efforts to dismantle fundamental environmental laws.

These rules send a clear signal that the Administration will spend the rest of its days razing what remains of the rules and regulations that have kept wildlife like the bald eagle from going extinct.    » read more »

Proposed regulations would gut protections for America’s imperiled wildlife

August 11, 2008 -- The Bush Administration plans to rollback protections for America’s imperiled wildlife by re-writing the regulations of the Endangered Species Act. According to leaked documents obtained by the National Wildlife Federation, the proposed changes would weaken the safety net of habitat protections that have helped protect and recover endangered fish, wildlife and plants for the past 35 years.    » read more »

17 June 2008 -- Great pandas have been a boon to zoos that can afford them, but they have raised visitors' expectations and put pressure on smaller zoos to show off
Forestry officials in China say they estimate that the powerful May 12 earthquake destroyed or damaged more than 80 percent of the giant panda's remaining habitat.

Giant panda: Photo by Chi King (CC)

A senior forestry official told a Hong Kong newspaper the "South China Morning Post" that about two-thirds of the wild population is likely dead, injured or facing starvation.    » read more »

Massachusetts Governor Patrick Signs Law Creating First-In-The-Nation Oceans Management Plan Balancing Preservation, Uses

May 28, 2008 - BOSTON -- Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, with the support of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray, today signed the Oceans Act of 2008, legislation that will require Massachusetts to develop a first-in-the-nation comprehensive plan to manage development in its state waters, balancing natural resource preservation with traditional and new uses, including renewable energy.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick speaks about the importance of the Oceans Act bill.: Photo courtesy Mass. Governor's office    » read more »

Statement of Aaron Colangelo, NRDC Senior Attorney

SAN FRANCISCO May 23, 2008 – A federal court struck down a rule exempting oil and gas development projects from pollution-prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in a case brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The decision will protect thousands of streams throughout the West from sediment contamination caused by energy exploration and development, according to NRDC.

Following is a statement by Aaron Colangelo, senior attorney at NRDC:    » read more »

Agreement will drastically boost salmon returning to Puget Sound and Columbia River

May 22, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today hailed the news that representatives from the United States and Canada have agreed to recommend their governments approve new coast-wide fishing arrangements under the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

The new ten-year agreement outlines each nation’s fishery management plans for Chinook, Coho, chum, and some pink and sockeye stocks from 2009 to 2018. The treaty, if approved, will result in approximately one million fewer Chinook salmon harvested in Canada and Alaska. About half of those fish saved originate from Washington and Oregon waters.    » read more »

Alaska Filing to Challenge Decision

May 21, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced today the state of Alaska intends to file suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne’s decision to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear: Photo by Bruno D Rodrigues (CC)

“We appreciate the Secretary’s recognition that oil and gas activities are already regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to prevent impacts to the polar bear and do not pose a threat to the polar bear,” Governor Palin said.    » read more »

Faced with Scientific Evidence on Global Warming, Court Order, and Public Pressure, Government Grants Polar Bear Endangered Species Act Listing Due to Global Warming

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2008) – Following a three-year legal battle to protect the polar bear from extinction due to global warming, three environmental groups won protection for the species with the announcement today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listing the polar bear as a federally “threatened” species.

Polar bear cub near Svalbard, Norway: Photo by Amanda Graham (CC)    » read more »

Interior Department Plan Will Allow Destructive Energy Development; Attacks Integrity of Endangered Species Act; Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope

May 14, 2008 -- “After months of delay, the Interior Department has finally recognized that polar bears are on the brink of extinction. But the administration’s decision is riddled with loopholes, caveats, and backhanded language that could actually undermine protections for the polar bear and other species.

“We can’t protect polar bears unless we combat global warming and keep oil drills out of their habitat. Yet, the administration is so keen to appease Big Oil they tout the continuation of drilling—in spite of the listing—in the headline of their press release.    » read more »

Alaska Governor Pledges to Work for Conservation

May 14, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its decision today to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne called Alaska Governor Sarah Palin this morning to inform her of the USFWS decision, and assured her that oil and gas developments are not to blame.

Polar bear, Alaska: Photo by AlaskaPodshow.com (CC)    » read more »

05/14/2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry made the following statement today after Sec. of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced that he would list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Kerry sponsored legislation earlier this year to protect polar bear habitat from drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, and he wrote a letter to Kempthorne earlier this week, asking that he adhere to a Federal court-ordered deadline by listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear cub near Svalbard, Norway: Photo by Amanda Graham (CC)    » read more »