Laserfiche WebLink
Wayne Phillips <br />THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973 <br />...a description of the pertinent sections of the ESA and its <br />application <br />In the beginning.... <br />• Congress passed the first legislation aimed at 'endangered species <br />in 1966. That legislation focused on native animals and provided only <br />limited protection to such 'listed species'. <br />• In 1973 the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed into law. The <br />1973 Act, as modified by subsequent 'reauthorizations' is the ESA of <br />1994. <br />Section 2. Findings, Purposes and Policy of the Congress are: <br />• Findings: "(1) various species of fish, wildlife and plants have <br />been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and <br />development untempered by adequate concern and conservation; (2) <br />other species ... have been so depleted in numbers that they are in danger <br />of or threatened with extinction; (3) these species ... are of esthetic, <br />ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to <br />the Nation and its people...." <br />• Purposes: "...to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon <br />which endangered species and threatened species depend may be <br />conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such..." <br />species. <br />- "...conserve, conserving and conservation mean to use and the use <br />of all methods and procedures which are necessary to bring any <br />endangered species or any threatened species to the point at which <br />the measures provided pursuant to this Act are no longer <br />necessary." <br />• Policy: "...that all Federal departments and agencies shall seek to <br />conserve..." listed species "...and shall utilize their authorities in <br />furtherance of the purposes of this ESA." <br />u <br />1 <br />