AG Kaul Joins Coalition in Support of Federal Efforts to Restore Endangered Species Act Protections for Habitat
December 1, 2021
MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul, as part of a multistate coalition, filed comments in support of the Biden Administration’s proposal to rescind two Trump-era rules that would drastically reduce the designation of critical habitat under the federal Endangered Species Act. In the comments, the coalition argues, as it has in ongoing litigation, that these rules, finalized in the last days of the Trump Administration, violate the Endangered Species Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act and should be rescinded.
“The Endangered Species Act was enacted decades ago as a bipartisan effort to save wildlife resources,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “The Trump administration rules that weaken the protection provided by that legislation should be withdrawn.”
In the final days of the Trump Administration, FWS finalized two rules that would drastically reduce the amount of habitat protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The first rule added a new, restrictive definition of “habitat” to regulations for making critical habitat designations, while the second established a new, unlawful process for excluding areas from critical habitat designations.
Attorney General Kaul joined a coalition in challenging these rules in court, and now urges the Biden Administration to finalize its rescission of the two rules without delay. Attorney General Kaul further urges the Biden Administration to work to address the significant threats posed by habitat destruction and degradation and climate change in order to fulfill the Endangered Species Act’s fundamental purposes of protecting imperiled species and supporting their full recovery.
In filing the comment letter, Attorney General Kaul joins the attorneys general of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the City of New York.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Wisconsin Department of Justice
Wisconsin DOJ Launches Missing Child Alert
Aug 8th, 2024 by Wisconsin Department of JusticeExpanding alerts for missing children
Wisconsin Department of Justice Working to Protect Fair Elections
Aug 6th, 2024 by Wisconsin Department of JusticeAG Kaul Issues Reminder: Intimidating Voters and Threatening Election Workers is Illegal