from the Departments of Commerce and the Interior

Salazar and Locke Restore Scientific Consultations under the Endangered Species Act to Protect Species and their Habitats

April 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the two departments are revoking an eleventh-hour Bush administration rule that undermined Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. Their decision requires federal agencies to once again consult with federal wildlife experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration - the two agencies that administer the ESA -
before taking any action that may affect threatened or endangered
species.

"By rolling back this 11th hour regulation, we are ensuring that
threatened and endangered species continue to receive the full
protection of the law,"
Salazar said. "Because science must serve as the foundation for
decisions we make, federal agencies proposing to take actions that might
affect threatened and endangered species will once again have to consult
with biologists at the two departments."

"For decades, the Endangered Species Act has protected threatened
species and their habitats," said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. "Our
decision affirms the Administration's commitment to using sound science
to promote conservation and protect the environment."

In March, President Obama directed the Secretaries to review the
previous Administration's Section 7 regulation of the ESA - which
governs interagency consultation - and Congress, in the 2009 Omnibus
Appropriations Act, specifically authorized the Secretaries to revoke
the regulation.

Locke and Salazar said the two departments will conduct a joint review
of the 1986 consultation regulations to determine if any improvements
should be proposed.

The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in 1973 to protect
imperiled species from extinction, as well as conserve the ecosystems
and habitats necessary for their survival.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from
the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and
manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works to conserve, protect and
enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing
benefit of the American people. It is a leader and trusted partner in
fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence,
stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and
commitment to public service. Visit http://www.fws.gov.

 
Contact: Hugh Vickery (Interior), 202-208-6416
                              

Scott Smullen (Commerce - NOAA) 202-482-1097