Articles

Idaho First District Congressman Raul Labrador today released a letter sent on June 27th to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Daniel Ashe detailing serious flaws Mr. Labrador and other Pacific Northwestern Members of Congress have uncovered regarding the proposed designation of critical habitat for caribou in northern Idaho.   The letter was cosigned by Representative Mike Simpson (ID), Chairman Doc Hastings (WA), and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA).

The USFWS has proposed a rule designating more than 375,000 acres of public lands in northern Idaho and Washington and 15,000 acres of private property as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The methodology errors were first presented to USFWS officials by Congressman Labrador's staff at a meeting in April in Bonners Ferry, ID.  

In the letter Congressman Labrador lays out in detail four particular areas where the agency has erred and over-reached. 

The four areas of concern raised by Congressman Labrador are:

·         The proposed rule is not based on the best available science as required by the ESA

·         The USFWS has not demonstrated that it is prudent to designate critical habitat

·         The proposed rule does not take into account the negative impact to rural economies

·         The USFWS has not provided adequate public review of the draft economic analysis

Congressman Labrador, in his letter, urges Secretary Salazar and Director Ashe to go back to the drawing board with this rule.

“This proposed rule is not based upon sound science, the designation is not prudent or justified and the impact on our rural communities would be much greater than has been suggested,” Mr. Labrador wrote.  He continued, “With high unemployment, we cannot afford to impose additional unreasonable regulations without the use of sound science and thorough impact studies.”  Congressman Labrador concluded his letter by asking Secretary Salazar and Director Ashe to grant 60 additional days for public comments and additional hearings through September 30, 2012.

(Copy of letter is attached)