New Hurdles for the ESA

Since its passage in 1978, the Endangered Species Act has been a litigation rod, with landowners and their allies filing lawsuit after lawsuit to chip away at its protections, and environmental groups lodging their own arguments to force more strict compliance with the law's provisions. Sunday's New York Times features a good summary of recent challenges from both sides, as well as a look at the growing consensus emerging that some changes to the law to offer more incentives for property-owners to comply with the ESA might not be a bad idea.

The article also examines the importance of scientific finding vis-a-vis economic impact in federal agency decisions on ESA designations, an important element in the ongoing debate. It's definitely worth a read.