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Letter: Senate should stop the Trump Extinction Plan

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2016 file photo, a bald eagle takes flight at the Museum of the Shenandaoh Valley in Winchester, Va. (Scott Mason/The Winchester Star via AP, File)

The Trump administration just finalized regulations to dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act -- our most effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction. Since President Nixon signed the law in 1973, hundreds of species have been saved from disappearing forever, including our national symbol – the bald eagle.

But the Trump Extinction Plan weakens endangered species protections by making it harder to protect species listed as threatened, delaying lifesaving action until a species' population is so small it may be impossible to save.

These news rules also exempt climate change from key parts of the law, making it more difficult to protect the polar bear and many other imperiled species that are impacted by the effects of climate change. Finally, the new rules make it easier for companies to build roads, pipelines, mines and other industrial projects in areas of critical habitat that are essential to imperiled species' survival.

The Trump Extinction Plan was drafted by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and current Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, both of whom are tied to industry lobbyists and plagued by ethics scandals. Please contact our senators and urge them to overturn the Trump Endangered Species rules.

Jamie Clyde, Salt Lake City

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