Washington – Sen. Wayne Allard has joined Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and several other senators in introducing a proposed overhaul of the Endangered Species Act.
Allard says the legislation will strengthen the law by focusing on recovery of listed species and focusing on collaboration with state governments.
The legislation was applauded by House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif., who has sponsored his own overhaul of the law in the House.
“The existing endangered species law is both contentious and ineffective, in some cases actually discouraging the preservation and recovery of species instead of achieving it,” Allard said.
Environmental groups criticized the plan, saying it would weaken protections for endangered species by making habitat protection optional and creating roadblocks to listing new species.
