Citing a grizzly bear population that stands at just 1 percent of its former level and inadequate National Forest habitat protections that will likely exacerbate hurdles to recovery, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) expressed his opposition to the removal of the Yellowstone grizzly from the Endangered Species Act list.
In a letter to Interior Secretary Gale Norton last week, Rahall wrote, "The Endangered Species Act has saved the Yellowstone grizzly from extinction, and we should celebrate and build on that success, rather than turn back the clock. The bear may be out of the intensive care unit, but it is too early to send it home from the hospital without adequate precautions."
Rahall is the Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, which has legislative jurisdiction over the Endangered Species Act.
The conservation strategy for the grizzly bear in the greater Yellowstone relies on habitat standards for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the six affected National Forests (Beaverhead, Bridger-Teton, Custer, Gallatin, Shoshone, and Targhee National Forests). But there are no guarantees that the necessary standards, as proposed, will be included in the forest management plans, which themselves are not even binding, thanks to the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) regulations issued on January 5, 2005.
"Under the Bush Administration’s NFMA regulation rollback, forest plans are largely discretionary, making unenforceable the grizzly bear conservation strategy to be included in the forest plans," stated Rahall.
Rahall noted, "There are no assurances that changes will be made to the forest plans before delisting occurs. Upon delisting the fate of the grizzly bears on the national forests will lie with the Forest Service, leaving those who want to challenge management decisions affecting habitat little recourse."
In his letter, Rahall outlined six conditions that should be met before the grizzly is delisted.
![[New for the Democrats - Committee on Resources - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, Ranking Democrat - 1329 Longworth HOB - Washington, DC 20015]](news_banner.gif)
