Judges Rule for Strict ESA Enforcement

Two federal judges on Friday ruled that recent Bush Administration finagling of the Endangered Species Act was arbitrary and in violation of the ESA's provisions, the New York Times reports. In both cases, the EPA had previously designated species populations (of the gray wolf in New England and two subgroups of tiger salamander in California) as endangered, and then tried to backtrack - in the absence of any scientific evidence warranting such a move.

While it is unfortunate that the Endangered Species Act's application has become increasingly convoluted and arcane, it is good that federal judges remain alert and attentive to the provisions and intentions of the ESA.