Attorney General Kwame Raoul is taking a firm stand against a proposed rollback on wildlife protections. In a coalition with 16 other attorneys general, Raoul has sent a comment letter to oppose a change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service that would rescind the regulatory definitions of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As reported by the Illinois Attorney General's office, this alteration could drastically decrease the effectiveness of the ESA at preserving threatened wildlife and habitats.
Under the proposed rule change, activities that destroy crucial breeding and feeding grounds or lead to the death or injury of protected species would not be considered "harm." "For more than 50 years, the federal Endangered Species Act has achieved recovery success stories for imperiled species and helped to preserve our nation’s priceless natural heritage," Raoul said in his statement. He joined his counterparts in urging the current administration to keep these significant protections intact.
Since its implementation in 1973, the ESA has been instrumental in the survival and recovery of numerous species, including the iconic bald eagle, America's national bird. The coalition's letter, addressed to the heads of the Interior and Commerce departments, posits that the proposed rule would significantly undermine efforts to protect vulnerable species and save them from extinction, contradicting the Act's clear language and established case law and Supreme Court precedent.
Furthermore, the attorneys general argue that the proposed rule not only undermines the ESA, but it also violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Raoul and his fellow attorneys general have history of defending the environment and endangered species; recently, they urged congressional leaders to maintain key provisions of the ESA. In taking such a stand, Raoul was joined by attorneys general representing states across the country, from California to Maine and from New Mexico to New York.
