Is The Endangered Species Act Working?
After 32 years and hundreds of millions of dollars, is the Endangered Species Act (ESA) working? That's the question asked in a comprehensive review of law ordered by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA). The document, titled "Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005," identifies areas of concern and possible ways to address them. Enacted in 1973, the ESA currently provides protection to 1,800 species and their surrounding habitat. For years, property owners and four-wheelers have argued that the law allows the government to quickly list a species and designate the surrounding area off-limits. In its criticism of the ESA, the report focuses on the high cost of compliance for landowners combined with the subpar results in species recovery. The 84-page document claims that only 10 species have been recovered and that 60 percent of listed species have an uncertain or declining status. Environmental groups have countered these figures by asserting that species recovery is a long-term goal and that many of the species in question were placed on the list only in the past 15 years. The report also calls for greater input by states, the revision of critical habitat rules, and the establishment of an administrative appeal process similar to the one set forth in the Healthy Forest Act. The appeals process would encourage a mediation of issues before lawsuits can be filed. Chairman Pombo wants to incorporate the report's recommendations into an ESA reform bill. In conjunction with the introduction of this legislation, SEMA and SAN joined with the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) to sponsor a Washington, D.C. Summit for Motorized Off-Highway Vehicle Registration on July 12 and 13. Participants asked members of Congress to support and promote ESA reform legislation. Participants also attended a Congressional reception and a House Resources Committee hearing on "Motorized Recreational Use on Federal Land." Chairman Pombo requested the Summit as a mechanism to help generate support for his bill.
Four-Wheeling Faces Park Service Review
Following in the footsteps of the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service (NPS) has begun a nationwide review of off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and regulations within the National Park System. Operating under an executive order from the 1970s, NPS regulates OHV use on a specific park-by-park basis, factoring in environmental impact and public input. NPS officials have indicated that it will be a couple of years before new regulations and policies are established. Officials have stated that the current review is at the most basic level, including defining what a road is and what qualifies as an OHV. Environmental groups claim that unregulated OHV use contributes to soil erosion and habitat destruction. The SAN continues support of regulation on a park-by-park basis as opposed to implementing a one-size-fits-all national policy.