Advocacy Action: New ESA “Harm” Rule

Last week the U.S. Department of the Interior changed the rule about what constitutes “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (1973). The new rule regards “harm” only as something that members of a species suffer when they are wounded or killed, and it removes any consideration about habitat destruction or degradation. This new rule, the administration says, will prevent “federal overreach” into the “rights” of property owners. But the motive is clearly to monetize every last twig of our beautiful forests, every last drop of petroleum or gram of gold, without respect for our wild places that provide habitat for God’s lovely creatures. The forests, rivers, salmon, and other wild things of Washington State could be devastated by the new rule. It will go into effect Sept. 14, and the non-profit Defenders of Wildlife is lining up their lawyers to sue, so please support them. But in addition, please contact your representatives in the Senate and House today and urge them to respond with legislation against this type of defiance of our environmental laws. Here is an article about the rule by Julia Jacobo

Here are links to contact Washington State’s senators and representatives
—Elizabeth Keathley