Stauber Reintroduces Legislation to Modernize the Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) re-introduced the ESA Flexibility Act. This legislation will grant landowners leeway and the Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) flexibility when dealing with endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Joining Congressman Stauber in introducing the legislation is House Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY at-large), and Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03).
“I’m pleased to introduce the ESA Flexibility Act today, which creates latitude for species listed as threatened or endangered,” said Congressman Stauber. “If we’re to build infrastructure, permit electricity transmission, mine for resources needed for everyday life, and properly manage our forests, we need commonsense habitat conservation plans that protect wildlife without harming our economy. The ESA Flexibility Act will allow for better management of species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, such as the Northern Long-Eared Bat.
Stauber continued, “The flexibility given to the Secretary of the Interior under this bill will allow for fit-for-purpose protections for species like the Northern Long-Eared Bat, while still allowing for responsible logging and land management across Northern Minnesota. Although my commonsense bill is a small step forward, I hope we build on this reform to make the ESA work for people and animals once again."
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the ESA, and its disappointing track record highlights the urgent need for reform,” said Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04). “I’m proud to join Western Caucus Vice Chair Stauber in re-introducing this legislation to provide the Fish and Wildlife Service with additional flexibilities in implementing regulations to recover species while avoiding actions detrimental to landowners. Western Caucus members will continue to prioritize reforming the ESA to make sure the law works better for both species and rural America.”
Background
There are currently two classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): endangered and threatened. Section 4(d) of the ESA provides flexibility for threatened species, allowing the Department of the Interior and the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop fit-for-purpose regulations to help maintain and improve threatened species' status, while simultaneously reducing undue regulatory burdens that are affecting energy development, farming, and logging activities.
The ESA Flexibility Act will help further alleviate the undue regulatory burdens posed by the ESA by expanding section 4(d) and allowing the Secretary of the Interior to also utilize 4(d) rules for species listed as endangered. The ESA Flexibility Act will allow for better, fit-for-purpose management of endangered species across Northern Minnesota, such as the Northern Long-Eared Bat, while still supporting responsible land use and management.
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