The Endangered Species Act is under attack. New bills in Congress threaten to establish a tragic precedent that would undermine the Act's power to protect at-risk species. Not since the anti-environmental policies of the Bush administration have we seen such a sweeping threat to endangered species. The legislation proposed in the bills was designed to permanently strip protections from the wolves of the northern Rockies. But it could also pave the way for assaults on other "inconvenient species," from the humble delta smelt to the majestic polar bear. With a hostile Congress set to take office in January, there's a real risk of backsliding on environmental protections in the coming year. Oversight of environment-related House committees will transition to anti-environment Congress members—and they owe their backers a few favors. Your generous support will provide Earthjustice's legal and legislative experts with the resources necessary to mount an effective defense of strong environmental protections in 2011. There is a lot at stake. In addition to the looming threat to the wolves... - Department of the Interior officials have stated their intention to strip grizzly bears of their Endangered Species Act protections;
- A federal agency responsible for overseeing oil and gas exploration is considering approving Shell Oil's plans to drill in the Arctic this summer;
- The Environmental Protection Agency has delayed setting tougher rules on smog and toxic emissions in response to industry pressure;
- and The Bureau of Land Management has proposed a 1,000-acre timber sale in the heart of old-growth forest vital to the spotted owl.
We clearly have our work cut out for us in 2011. But with your generous year-end support in 2010, we will be in a position to meet these challenges head-on in the coming year. Thank you for all that you do. Sincerely,
Trip Van Noppen
President, Earthjustice
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