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<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>A Move to Ease Pesticide Laws</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Jane Kay, 3/2/06</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Full article in San Francisco Chronicle, at: </FONT><A
href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/02/MNG0JHH6NH1.DTL"><FONT
size=2>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/02/MNG0JHH6NH1.DTL</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>A little-noticed section of a congressional bill to overhaul
the Endangered Species Act would give federal regulators a five-year pass from
seeking expert scientific advice from wildlife agencies on the harmful effects
of pesticides on rare animals and plants, a move environmentalists say would
further threaten hundreds of animals including several in the Bay Area.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency evaluates
insecticides and herbicides up for registration or, every 15 years, for
re-registration. Under the law as it is now, if it finds evidence that a
pesticide could affect animals and plants protected by the act, the agency must
consult with wildlife agencies before approving its use. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Environmental groups say it is crucial that the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have an
opportunity to present scientific studies showing effects of chemicals on
animals and plants because the groups have used the evidence in court to force
the EPA to limit the use of dozens of pesticides that could hurt salmon,
steelhead and the California red-legged frog. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>But under the bill by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, for five
years the agency would not have to seek the expertise of wildlife agency
scientists over how pesticides could affect the imperiled species. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The bill would eliminate key provisions of the nation's
toughest environmental law safeguarding the 1,272 listed species of plants,
birds, fish, amphibians, insects and mammals in the wild. The bill already has
passed the House and is expected to find support in the Republican-controlled
Senate. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>--------------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Endangered </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Lange's metalmark butterfly </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>listed as endangered in 1976. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Habitat: Contra Costa County. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The only remaining butterflies live in the Antioch Dunes
National Wildlife Refuge. Pesticides drifting onto the refuge harm them and the
insects that pollinate their food plant, the naked-stemmed
buckwheat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>--------------------------</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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<DIV><FONT
size=1>______________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate
Conservation</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Protecting wildlife through science-based advocacy,
</FONT><FONT size=1>education, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>and conservation projects since 1971. To join the Society,
make a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>contribution</FONT><FONT size=1>, </FONT><FONT size=1>or read
about our work, please visit </FONT><FONT size=1><A
href="http://www.xerces.org/">www.xerces.org</A>.</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Matthew Shepherd</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Director, Pollinator Conservation Program</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215,
USA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Tel: 503-232 6639 Fax: 503-233 6794</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:mdshepherd@xerces.org"><FONT
size=1>mdshepherd@xerces.org</FONT></A><FONT size=1> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT
size=1>______________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
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