Republican-proposed overhaul of Endangered Species Act could lead to more wolf hunts, extinction

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso wants the public to think his proposal to overhaul the Endangered Species Act is in the best interests of endangered species, but consider the special interests endorsing his plan.

Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, in late June released a draft version of the Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2018, which would give states more control and emphasizes local economic concerns. Barrasso’s proposal has the backing of off-road adventure groups, energy lobbyists, farm industry organizations, hunting clubs, development associations and the logging industry.

The Petroleum Association of Wyoming signed a letter of support, as did the American Sheep Industry Association, the Colorado Snowmobile Alliance, Hardwood Federation, American Loggers Council and Safari Club International, a group for hunters not protectors of wildlife.

The collection of correspondence also includes a letter from Jim Holte, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, who says his group supports the amendments to include “a focus on species recovery and habitat conservation objectives that respects landowners.”

Holte also said the ESA must be amended to give states more control of wildlife populations. Specifically, he said, Wisconsin needs greater control over gray wolves and should be allowed to implement its wolf hunting and trapping program.

Not on the list of supporters for the so-called Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2018 proposal? Environmental groups.

The Natural Resources Defense Council says Barrasso’s proposal would eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by Richard Nixon in late 1973. The legislation was one of dozens of federal environmental laws enacted in the 1970s.

"Bald eagles would have been relegated to dusty museum cases if we had taken the approach Sen. Barrasso proposes when our national symbol was in trouble,” said Nora Apter, the legislative director for the NRDC. “When wildlife disappears, it’s gone forever. The Endangered Species Act is the country’s last line of defense to protect threatened plants and animals.”

Cathy Liss, president of the Animal Welfare Institute, used similar words: “This attempt to eviscerate key provisions of the Endangered Species Act is a blatant giveaway to industry and not a genuine effort to improve species preservation. The changes proposed in this bill would expose an increasing number of species to extinction.”

Other environmental groups, including the National Audubon Society and Nature Conservancy, indicated their reviews of the Barrasso proposal continued.

“We appreciate that the Western Governors Association has convened a thoughtful effort to tackle these issues, that Sen. Barrasso wants to continue that conversation and has invited organizations like Audubon to offer our thoughts,” stated Sarah Greenberger, a senior vice president for conservation policy at the National Audubon Society. “We will review the discussion draft with that goal in mind — improving science based conservation for birds now and into the future."