House Panel Sends ESA Changes to Floor

July 12, 2002

The House Resources Committee has passed the Sound Science for Endangered Species Act Planning Act of 2002 (H.R.4840), by a vote of 22-18. The legislation would amend the act and require the use of sound science for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings.

"It is imperative that we make science-based decisions. For almost 30 years, cattle producers have suffered from hasty decisions-- often based more on politics than science-- that imposed unjustifiable restrictions on land usage. We need to bring science into the equation and ensure that any land use decision is accomplished with the best available empirical data," said Chandler Keys, National Cattlemen's Beef Association vice president of public policy.

The bill seeks to amend the Endangered Species Act by requiring the use of the best scientific and commercial data available as a basis of determinations on a petition to add or remove a species from the endangered species list; directing the Secretary of the Interior to give greater weight to any scientific or commercial study or other information that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-reviewed; requiring that a petition regarding a species contain (1) clear and convincing evidence of the current and historic ranges of the species concerned, (2) the most recent population estimates and trends for the species, (3) that any alleged change in the population is beyond normal fluctuations, (4) and the reason that the petitioned action is warranted.

"While we realize this may seem like a small step, it is actually a long-awaited outcome that brings us one step closer in the fight for final amendment of the Endangered Species Act," said Keys.

The bill now moves to the House floor. The Senate has no comparable legislation at this time.