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Endangered Species Act

All articles tagged with #endangered species act

ESA rule narrows protection by focusing on direct harm, risking endangered habitats
environment1 month ago

ESA rule narrows protection by focusing on direct harm, risking endangered habitats

The Trump administration issued a rule redefining 'harm' under the Endangered Species Act to exclude habitat destruction that indirectly jeopardizes endangered species, sharply narrowing decades of protection and undermining Habitat Conservation Plans. Set to take effect in September, the change limits protections to direct, intentional harm to individual animals, prompting lawsuits that could reach the Supreme Court. While critical habitat protections and the permitting framework remain, many environmental legal scholars warn the move could eviscerate the Act’s extinction-prevention power and tilt land-use decisions toward developers unless the courts or Congress restore broader protections.

via vox.com|
#chevron-doctrine#endangered-species-act#environment
Trump reshapes endangered-species rules, easing habitat protections
politics1 month ago

Trump reshapes endangered-species rules, easing habitat protections

Trump's administration finalizes changes to the Endangered Species Act that shrink protections for threatened species, expand development exemptions (including Gulf of Mexico drilling), and shift habitat decisions to states; critics warn these rollbacks could jeopardize wildlife recovery, while officials argue they balance conservation with economic interests.

via The Independent|
#canada-lynx#center-for-biological-diversity#donald-trump
ESA rollback unlikely to withstand court challenges
politics-society1 month ago

ESA rollback unlikely to withstand court challenges

The Trump administration rescinded the ESA harm rule, removing habitat-protection language that had limited habitat loss for listed species. A veteran law professor argues the rollback is likely unlawful and unlikely to survive lawsuits that challenge procedural and statutory grounds, including NEPA, the ESA, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and that Sweet Home v. Babbit remains a controlling precedent despite the post-Chevron shift in Loper Bright. Environmental groups have already filed suits and may seek preliminary injunctions to block the rule while litigation proceeds. With over two-thirds of listed species relying on nonfederal habitat, the outcome could hinge on whether courts uphold Sweet Home without Chevron deference, potentially sending the case to the Supreme Court.

via The Conversation|
#endangered-species-act#environmental-policy#habitat-protection
ESA rollback could imperil California wildlife as development expands
climate-and-environment1 month ago

ESA rollback could imperil California wildlife as development expands

The administration redefined 'harm' under the Endangered Species Act, removing habitat destruction from illegal actions and clearing the way for drilling, mining and development in protected areas; California—home to hundreds of endangered species and key recoveries like the California condor—could bear the heaviest impact, risking habitat loss as environmental groups vow lawsuits against the rollback.

via Los Angeles Times|
#california#climate-and-environment#drilling-and-mining
Trump Admin Repeals Habitat-Harm Rule, Expanding Development Under ESA
environment1 month ago

Trump Admin Repeals Habitat-Harm Rule, Expanding Development Under ESA

The Interior Department finalized the repeal of the Endangered Species Act 'harm rule' that treated habitat destruction as harm to endangered species, arguing it aligns with the Act's intent and reduces regulatory burdens; the change could enable more mining, ranching and other development in protected areas, while opponents like Earthjustice vow to sue.

via The Washington Post|
#endangered-species-act#environment#environmental-policy
Trump’s Endangered Species Act Rollback Lowers Habitat Protections
environment-and-energy1 month ago

Trump’s Endangered Species Act Rollback Lowers Habitat Protections

The Trump administration finalized a rollback redefining 'harm' under the Endangered Species Act, deleting the prohibition on habitat destruction unless intentional. The rule would regulate only direct physical harm, letting developers modify or destroy habitat for endangered or threatened species without federal permits, a shift critics say weakens protections and invites lawsuits; the Fish and Wildlife Service says it reduces regulatory burden.

via Bloomberg Law News|
#endangered-species#endangered-species-act#environment-and-energy
Washington man charged after rock-throw at endangered Hawaiian monk seal amid threats
us-news3 months ago

Washington man charged after rock-throw at endangered Hawaiian monk seal amid threats

A 38-year-old Washington state tourist, Igor Lytvynchuk, is set to appear in federal court in Honolulu on charges of harassing a protected Hawaiian monk seal after prosecutors say he threw a coconut-sized rock at an adult male seal in Maui. Video of the incident sparked widespread condemnation, with the defense claiming the man intended to shoo away turtles and later faced assault, threats, and doxxing. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison per charge and fines under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The case highlights protections for monk seals, a critically endangered species with about 1,600 remaining in the wild.

via NBC News|
#doxing#endangered-species-act#marine-mammal-protection-act
Wealthy Tourist Faces Federal Charges After Rock Toss at Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal
crime3 months ago

Wealthy Tourist Faces Federal Charges After Rock Toss at Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

A 38-year-old tourist, Igor Lytvynchuk, was arrested in Washington on a criminal complaint for harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at the seal in Hawaii on May 5. Witnesses say he bragged he was rich and could pay any fines. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison per charge and fines up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

via HuffPost|
#crime#endangered-species-act#federal-charges
Washington Man Charged Over Rock Attack on Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal
us-news3 months ago

Washington Man Charged Over Rock Attack on Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

A Covington, WA man, Igor Lytvynchuk, was charged by criminal complaint on May 12, 2026, for allegedly harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal by throwing a large rock at her head in Maui; he was arrested near Seattle and faces up to one year in prison and fines up to $50,000 (ESA) and $20,000 (MMPA) per charge if convicted. The incident occurred May 5, 2026 in Lahaina; initial appearance is set for May 14, 2026 in the Western District of Washington. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating, with AUSA Michael Nammar prosecuting.

via Department of Justice (.gov)|
#endangered-species-act#hawaiian-monk-seal#marine-mammal-protection-act
Rock-throwing tourist arrested over attack on Hawaii’s endangered monk seal
travel3 months ago

Rock-throwing tourist arrested over attack on Hawaii’s endangered monk seal

A 38-year-old tourist was arrested by federal agents after a witness video captured him throwing a rock the size of a coconut at Lani, a protected Hawaiian monk seal off Maui. He’s charged with harassing a protected animal and could face up to a year in prison per count, plus fines under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. With about 1,600 monk seals remaining, the case underscores ongoing wildlife-cruelty concerns and enforcement in Hawaii.

via CNN|
#endangered-species-act#hawaii#monk-seal
House cancels bid to weaken Endangered Species Act amid drilling concerns
environment4 months ago

House cancels bid to weaken Endangered Species Act amid drilling concerns

Republicans pushed to codify Trump-era weakenings of the Endangered Species Act, but a House vote on the ESA Amendments Act was abruptly canceled amid concerns in tourism‑dependent districts; critics say the bill would undermine habitat protections and hinder species recovery, while pointing to a Gulf of Mexico drilling exemption as evidence of politics over science and warning it could imperil ecotourism economies like Florida’s even if a future administration reverses some actions.

via Ars Technica|
#defenders-of-wildlife#endangered-species-act#environment
Giraffes Proposed for Endangered Species Protection Amid Decline
environment1 year ago

Giraffes Proposed for Endangered Species Protection Amid Decline

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing giraffes under the Endangered Species Act for the first time, covering five subspecies. This move aims to combat poaching and habitat loss, which have significantly reduced giraffe populations. The listing will require permits for importing giraffe parts into the US and is expected to enhance conservation efforts. Environmental groups welcome the proposal, though they criticize the delay in action. The decision is open for public comment until February 2024, with a final rule expected thereafter.

via The Guardian|
#conservation#endangered-species-act#environment