One of the issues with…

One of the issues with authorization processes is the question of who qualifies as eligible for receiving an authorization and whether there are any social or economic barriers to individuals/groups who seek an authorization. Accessibility therefore is an issue that must be kept in mind. The permit and application process must be clear and understandable for applicants. It should include definitions of key scientific or legal terms that applicants might be unfamiliar with where applicable to ensure a fair authorization process. In addition, because authorization processes include activities that would not otherwise be allowed on the Endangered Species Act, there is potential for unexpected environmental/economic/social consequences resulting from these activities which would require close monitoring. There must be a legislative framework in place to ensure compliance of these activities with other regulations. The different provisions under the Endangered Species Act that would allow for these extraneous activities must be spelled clearly and specifically in order to ensure that applicants and legislators understand what types of activities would be safe and appropriate and in what circumstances. Deciding what activities merit approval and authorization might not be a clear-cut process, therefore having an appropriate team or committee of workers of diverse backgrounds should help ensure that the authorization process is conducted in a fair and objective manner.