National News

Tipton: Reform Federal Laws to Protect Species. “A measure sponsored by U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton is part of a nine-bill package unveiled last week to reform the Endangered Species Act. The conservative Congressional Western Caucus introduced the measures in what it says is a necessary effort to modernize the law and address unintended impacts on states and communities. Critics attacked the bills as aimed at bolstering industry interests at the expense of wildlife. Tipton, R-Colo., said in a news release that his Land Ownership Collaboration Accelerates Life, or LOCAL, Act would provide financial incentives to encourage more voluntary conservation efforts by landowners to prevent listings under the Endangered Species Act.” [Daily Sentinel, 7/18/18 (=)]

Senators Grill Wyoming Governor on Proposed Changes to Endangered Species Act. “Gov. Matt Mead did not write the draft bill that would overhaul the nation’s bedrock conservation law, the Endangered Species Act, but some senators grilled the Wyoming governor as though he had in a meeting Tuesday in Washington D.C. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-AK, asked Mead why the draft bill, which was sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso, didn’t give states veto power on listing decisions, while the democratic senator from Maryland, Chris Van Hollen, questioned an aspect of the bill that invites states to report on the job performance of individual federal employees. Mead’s position center stage was not unwarranted. Barrasso first introduced his draft by selling its inspiration: a series of recommendations in 2016 and 2017 from the Western Governors Association that followed a request from Mead to take the difficult issue by the horns. The draft would change the Endangered Species Act substantially, in ways proponents say give states a role they were originally intended to have, without restricting the authority of federal agencies. A number of conservation groups have been hesitant to endorse the bill early on — praising the approach instead. Others are boldly critical of Barrasso’s intentions.” [Casper Star Tribune, 7/18/18 (=)]

Gosar’s Plan to “Modernize” Endangered Species Act Called “Extinction Bills.” “A group of Western lawmakers unveiled a package of bills Thursday to ‘modernize’ the Endangered Species Act by allowing more local input and encouraging voluntary conservation efforts.” [Daily Courier, 7/18/18 (=)]

Ottawa Invests $3 Million in Endangered Whale Research. “The federal government is investing $3 million to study populations of endangered whales off Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts, officials announced Wednesday. The joint initiative between the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will provide funding to Canadian universities for research into Southern Resident Killer Whales, North Atlantic Right Whales, and St. Lawrence Estuary Belugas and the challenges they face. ‘In order to better protect these iconic species, we need to understand the threats they are facing and determine the best solutions possible,’ outgoing Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Dominic LeBlanc said in a statement. ‘Ultimately, this initiative will increase the body of scientific information that’s needed to support our government’s policy development, decision-making and conservation efforts related to endangered whale species in Canadian waters.’” [Radio Canada International, 7/18/18 (=)]