The committee led by #Trump’s #interior secretary voted Tuesday to exempt #oil & #gas companies from complying with the #EndangeredSpeciesAct when #drilling in the #GulfOfMexico, a move expected to threaten #RicesWhale & other #species with #extinction.

Meeting for the first time in more than 30 years, the group nicknamed for its ability to decide the fate of species, approved the exemption on [bullshit] “#NationalSecurity” grounds in a discussion that took about 15 minutes.

#law #MarineLife

“This is not just about gas prices. It’s about our ability to power our military & protect our nation,” #Hegseth told the committee. [what a load of crap]

“The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s busiest #oil route, & recent hostile action by the Iranian terror regime highlights yet again why robust domestic oil production is a national security imperative.” [which has nothing to do with the #EndangeredSpeciesAct]

#law #wildlife #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth

The #EndangeredSpeciesAct has NEVER been used to STOP #oil #drilling in the gulf, so doing away with protections will NOT meaningfully impact the amount of oil produced there, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director for the Center for Biological Diversity, an advocacy group.

“I don’t think anyone honestly thinks that there’s a legitimate #NationalSecurity issue here,” Hartl said.

#Trump #law #EnvironmentalLaw #wildlife #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth

The #Biden admin had sought to restrict #oil & #gas activity in the gulf by seeking to declare nearly 30k square miles as critical #habitat for the #RicesWhale species, at the urging of marine scientists. The 2023 proposal was never finalized.

The exemption will nevertheless have outsize impact on #EndangeredSpecies because #oil companies will not need to make efforts to limit their impacts on them.

#Trump #law #EnvironmentalLaw #conservation #wildlife #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange

Hartl said that boats would no longer be required to run at lower speeds to reduce the number of collisions with the #whales, which are only found in the #GulfOfMexico.

There are currently only about 51 #RicesWhales left, acc/to the Center for Biological Diversity. The population collapsed following the 2010 #DeepwaterHorizon explosion at a #BP operated #oil rig, which resulted in the largest-ever #marine #OilSpill.

#Trump #law #wildlife #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange

…The center said the decision will also hurt the populations of #SeaTurtles, #WhoopingCranes & other #endangered #wildlife. The advocacy group challenged the Tuesday meeting in court, but a judge ruled last week that the meeting could go forward.

Environmental advocates blasted the committee’s unanimous approval of the exemption.

#Trump #law #EnvironmentalLaw #science #conservation #habitats #ecosystems #whales #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #climate #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth

…ALL members of the committee are #Trump appointees, including #Interior Secretary #DougBurgum & #EPA Administrator #LeeZeldin.

The God Squad last met in 1992 to consider whether Oregon timber sales threatened the northern spotted owl, where exemptions were granted only after lengthy hearings. [this single meeting lasted all of 15 minutes]

#law #EnvironmentalLaw #science #conservation #habitats #ecosystems #wildlife #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #climate #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth