Just another "let's rape the earth while we can" move by Bushist special interests:
The Florida Home Builders Association filed a lawsuit Thursday that could strip federal endangered species protection from as many as 90 state species -- among them manatees, crocodiles, bald eagles and five types of sea turtle.
The initial source for the AP story seems to be the
Palm Beach Post.
Florida home builders sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida home builders sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying protections for some species listed as endangered by the federal government are adding to soaring home prices.
Some species that no longer require protection linger on the endangered species list because the Fish and Wildlife Service fails to review their progress every five years, as mandated by the Endangered Species Act, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation. The California-based property rights group filed the lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Orlando on behalf of the Florida Home Builders Association.
The lawsuit calls for federal reviews of 90 out of about 100 species listed in Florida as endangered or threatened, including the Eastern indigo snake, the Everglades snail kite and the wood stork.
"We're not seeking to throw off any species that under the current configuration of the Endangered Species Act deserve to be there," said Steven Gieseler, a Coral Gables attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation. "Those species are going to be the biggest beneficiary of our suit."
A spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service said limited funding and staff sometimes make the reviews difficult to complete.
"We're making every effort to comply with the statutory deadlines," spokesman Chris Tollefson said.
Gee, I wonder who could have cut the budget and staff of the US Fish and Wildlife Service?
You may be hearing some "calls to action" by environmental groups soon. Don't get so wrapped up in thinking about Democracy Bonds and 2006 that you let this slip by. First Florida, then Yellowstone, Yosemite, and elsewhere.
One of the reasons I like the Tampa Bay area so much is that, because builders were forced to take the environment into account, I can see ospreys, falcons, red tailed hawks, and rarely, bald eagles here among others.
Don't forget those that are unable to fight for themselves.
Thanks.