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<br />002282 <br /> <br />303-273-]<413 ESEE 1:=11 <br /> <br />781 F05 <br /> <br />l'lHR "31 "?~ 1.0:48 <br /> <br />DISCUSSION OF DEBATE ISSUES <br /> <br />. Species versus Biodiversity. <br />Do we, as a nation, want to continue attempting to save each species and sub- <br />species, relying on habitat preservation, or do we want to maintain examples of <br />the biOdiversitY by preserving entire ecosystems? <br /> <br />If one or both of the bills promoting biodiversitY currently before Congress pass <br />prior to the ESA's reauthorization, the debate should center around the <br />redundancy of saving ecosystems and single species. If such a law passes. the <br />specific arguments can be framed around the requirements of that act. However, <br />a national debate about the presumed value of preserving biodiversity may be <br />beneficial prior to consideration of such bills. <br /> <br />. Can we, as a nation, afford the Endangered Species Act? <br />The full costs - to the federal budget and the social costs to the nation - must <br />be disclosed for intelligent debates on the impacts of the Act. <br /> <br />Budeet costs <br />. It would cost $4.6 billion to fully implement the Endangered Species Act, <br />according to a report by the Department of Interior Inspector General's Office. <br />. This cost will be increased with each listing of a new species and <br />implementation of a recovery plan. The government should also anticipate the ~ <br />costs of defending its actions and decisions in court. <br /> <br />Social costS <br />. Such costs would include unemployment caused by a listing, diminished <br />services by local governments due to reduced tax revenues. reduced housing, <br />food and recreational opportunities. <br /> <br />Examoles include: <br />Northern Spotted Owl <br />According to 8 report prepared by The Scientific Panel on Late Successional <br />Forest Ecosystems, headed by a Quartet of respected foresters. academics and <br />scientists: <br />"Cost to the Nonhwest . 30,000 to 56,000 jobs and $940 million to $2.6 <br />billion in personal income, if a middle range option that ranged from a high <br />timber-harvest plan that would doom the owl and its old-growth habitat to <br />a pure conservation plan that would doom timber-dependent Nonhwestern <br />towns. . <br /> <br />University of Washington researchers predict severe social and political strain <br />if courts and federal agencies sharply cut back logging to protect the spotted <br />owl. <br />"Preventive health-cere programs, law enforcement, youth services and <br />community museums and parks would be most adversely impacted by <br />revenue reductions. " <br /> <br />-3- <br />