Habitat destruction and…

Habitat destruction and species extinction are permanent. The provisions in the proposal that allow longer timeframes for destructive activities to continue after identification of a threatened species, and that allow businesses to simply pay a fee rather than mitigating the damage they would do, are not acceptable. The idea that protections would become political rather than automatic based on the science is absurd.

This proposal represents a significant weakening of the endangered species act and should not go forward. Our shared natural heritage is precious, and destroying it for short-term profit of a handful of business owners is ridiculous.