Tom,

Your assertion that these designations are an environmentalist "trick" is incorrect. What we're talking about here is the application of federal law as it has been enacted by our duly elected representatives in Congress. The law has been in effect for thirty years and remains oneof the most popular pieces of federal legislation ever.

Contrary to your brief daliance with internet search engines, getting a species identified and listed under the Act requires a substantial body of scientific work.

Another key point is that the listing of a species is often about more than just a single species, but about habitat. In Washington state, the decline of pygmy rabbits within the Columbia basin is all about the loss of shrub steppe habitat and a myriad of related species. In fact, just the other day, I met a scientist working collaboratively and cooperatively with agricultural property owners in Douglas County to voluntarily develop and implement best management practices designed to protect what little remains of this habitat. I also once managed about one million acres of publically leased agricultural lands - we were able to develop land management practices that resulted in both use and protection.

The same is true with protecting habitat for endangered salmon here in the pacific northwest. I worked for three years in a collaborative effort with timber companies, small forest land owners, and state and federal natural resource agencies to develop land management prescriptions that provide for both forest harvest and riparian protections. Just got a chance this week to see how this is actually working on the ground - it is, with the full support of the private timber industry and their field foresters.

The bottom line is that there are ways to effectively reconcile private property rights with protecting the environment if given half a chance.

There are a lot of media myths about ESA. Usually these are promoted by conservative "wise use" organizations whose real motive is to use public lands at bargain basement prices without restrictions.

The fact remains, ESA, is immensely popular across the country and is the law of the land. Which is precisely why the Bush administration is moving forward with protecting these species.

Regards,
Donald