Short Takes

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) has introduced legislation to repeal the Trump administration's recent changes to Endangered Species Act (ESA) rules. Concurrently, the Congressional Western Caucus, which consists of Republican lawmakers from Western states and led by Chairman Paul Gosar (R-AZ), has unveiled a draft legislative package that would overhaul the Endangered Species Act of 1973. According to E&E News, the package would modify the delisting designation process, tighten the petition process to reduce the current backlog, cap attorneys' fees at $125 per hour for ESA lawsuits, and increase the role of state and local governments in the petition and listing processes. It would also call for making the scientific data used in listing and delisting decisions available to the public. The caucus will be introducing the bills, which are still being finalized, in a few months. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler revealed during a September 19 congressional hearing held by the House Science, Space and Technology Committee that the agency is dropping plans to issue the final "secret science" rule this year. EPA will instead issue a supplemental proposal next year that would only apply to future rulemakings. The contentious proposed rule, officially titled "Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science," to bar the use of scientific studies in drafting new regulations unless the underlying data "are publicly a...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news