National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition Report

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National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition 1050 Thomas Jefferson Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20007 Phone: 202 -333 -7481 January 1992 We, as representatives of a county government, a rural electric generating and transmission company, a water conservation district and the agriculture community, recently formed the National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition. We recognize the Endangered Species Act as one of our nation's most important statutes. We agree with the basic purposes of the Act and agree that the nation must protect important species of plants and animals that are in danger of extinction. We also recognize, however, that the Act is not perfect and that it does not today properly balance the nation's goal of protecting endangered species with the national goals of continued economic growth, the provision of water, electricity and other basic services for our people as well as the recognition of private property rights. We believe that it is imperative that we, the regulated community that is directly affected by the Endangered Species Act, participate actively in the public dialogue regarding the scope and operation of the Act. The role of the Coalition will be to focus the public debate, coordinate the message of each of us and speak to Congress and the Administration with a unified voice on this important issue. Mission of the Coalition It is our purpose to play a constructive role in the forthcoming Congressional deliberations over the 1992 reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. We will work with Congress to develop amendments to the Act to ensure a balanced application of this important law. Our efforts will include working to educate the Congress and the public on the problems of the current law; developing modifying amendments to the Act; and advocating these amendments to the Congress and the Executive Branch. Some of the issues that Coalition members have recommended we address include the listing criteria and the scientific proof required for listings; the deference, if any, to be given to other federal, state and local law, including environmental and planning statutes; the mechanisms in the Act for considering the economic impacts of decisions under the Act; the advisability of applying all restrictions of the Act to "distinct population segments" or subspecies of recently listed species; and the mechanisms for considering the impacts of the Act on private property rights. The Coalition will work to ensure that Congress considers these issues, and other issues of concern to the Coalition membership, during its debate regarding reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. Plans for the Coalition The Coalition will: ► work together to identify and document problems with the application of the Endangered Species Act; ► develop and implement a plan to educate the public, Members of Congress and the Executive Branch concerning current problems with the Endangered Species Act; ► develop, with Members of Congress and members of the Coalition, proposed amendments to the Act that redress the current problems with the Endangered Species Act experienced by the public and the regulated communities; and ► advocate to the Members of Congress and the Executive Branch the enactment of the proposed amendments to the Act. If we are to be effective in the Congressional reauthorization process, the Coalition must begin its work in early 1992. We look forward to working with you on this important issue. If you are interested in Coalition membership, please do not hesitate to call any of us or Nancy Macan at (202) 333 -7481. John C. Datt American Farm Bureau Federation (202) 484 -3600 Russell A. Bovaird Tri-State G & T Association, Inc. (303) 452 -6111 Sam Maynes SW Water Conservation District of Colorado (303) 247 -1755 Arthur N. Lee Apache County Board of Supervisors (602) 339 -4149