The Shutdown: Consequences for Science and Ecology<\/a><\/strong> Federal Government Reopens, Funded Through Feb 15<\/a><\/strong> Congress<\/a><\/strong> Executive Branch<\/a><\/strong> Courts<\/a><\/strong> States<\/a><\/strong> International<\/a> Scientific Community<\/a><\/strong> Federal Register Opportunities<\/a><\/strong> ESA In the News<\/a> <\/a> Nine federal departments and related agencies, including Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, were shuttered for regular business during the partial shutdown, continuing only \u201cessential operations.\u201d<\/p>\n Impacts on science<\/u><\/p>\n The shutdown quickly took a toll, even in its first days, on science as across the country laboratories closed, field scientists were recalled, conferences were unattended and time-sensitive grant programs disrupted. \u201cNinety-five percent of the workers at NASA . . . are locked out of their offices and laboratories,\u201d said Paul Shearson, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, a union representing thousands of highly-skilled federal employees. Shearson later observed, \u201cReports to our union suggest that even if the shutdown ends this week, the damage to federal agencies and their work on behalf of the American people will not be quickly repaired.\u201d<\/p>\n Impacts on public lands<\/u><\/p>\n The administration, however, chose to keep many national parks and other federal lands open to the public during the shutdown. \u201cWe\u2019ve got the worst of all worlds right now,\u201d said former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in comments to The New York Times. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a dangerous situation, and a situation where our nation\u2019s treasures are put at risk. There is now a very small number of law enforcement who can patrol and stop poaching, looting and vandalism, as well as people not realizing the risk and potentially hurting themselves.\u201d Indeed, Yosemite National Park was described as a \u201cfree-for-all\u201d by Dakota Snider (@dakotasnider), a nearby resident and photographer. Joshua Tree National Park reported illegal off-road driving, damaging natural areas, and overflowing trashcans and toilets. Even some Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia), which can sometimes survive thousands of years, were damaged or destroyed and may take centuries to regrow.<\/p>\n Agency actions on oil and gas<\/u><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Interior updated its contingency plans in early January, expanding its definitions of essential personnel, allowing the\u00a0Bureau of Land Management<\/a>\u00a0(BLM), and\u00a0Bureau of Ocean Energy Management<\/a>\u00a0(BOEM) to continue work on oil and gas leasing and permitting on federal lands and off-shore areas.<\/p>\n On Jan. 8, following Interior\u2019s updated contingency plans,\u00a0BLM-Alaska\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0promptly announced public hearings in Alaska for early January, in the midst of the shutdown, on plans to update the Integrated Activity Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (IAP\/EIS) for BLM-managed lands within the\u00a0National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska<\/a>\u00a0(NPR-A). Initial notice of intent to prepare the IAP\/EIS was announced Nov. 21, in\u00a0Federal Register Document (FR Doc.) 2018-25336<\/a>. The comment period deadline is Feb. 15.<\/p>\n Plans for a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program in the\u00a0Arctic National Wildlife Refuge<\/a>\u00a0(ANWR) were announced by Interior just before the shutdown Dec. 20. Notice inviting public comment was published in the Federal Register Dec. 28 (FR Doc. 2018-28049<\/a>). Notice of scheduled public meetings in Washington, DC and various Alaska locations was also announced during the shutdown on\u00a0BLM-Alaska\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0Jan. 9.<\/p>\n Congressional and public response<\/u><\/p>\n Congressional response was swift. On Dec. 20, the same day the ANWR draft EIS was announced,\u00a07\u00a0House Republicans immediately sent a\u00a0letter to then Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke<\/a>\u00a0expressing concerns about allowing oil and gas activities in the \u201cpristine landscape\u201d originally set aside by President Eisenhower in 1960. Jan. 9, following the BLM-Alaska Facebook ANWR announcement, 5 Democratic senators sent a\u00a0letter to acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt<\/a>\u00a0urging the public comment be extended to 120 days, \u201cdue to the extreme sensitivity of the resources affected by leasing, the great complexity of the analysis, the overlapping public comment periods for other actions taking place in the Refuge and the continued government shutdown.\u201d Hours after the senatorial letter was sent, BLM announced it was postponing the public meetings.<\/p>\n BOEM<\/a>\u00a0announced resumption of work on the outer continental shelf five-year leasing plan immediately upon Interior\u2019s Jan. 8 updated contingency plan. Notably, that same day Interior replied to an E&E News email inquiry that BOEM was not currently working on the 5-year plan. Jan. 16, three leading House Democrats sent a\u00a0letter to Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt<\/a>\u00a0calling it \u201cfarcical and [making] it clear that the administration cares only about the impacts on its favorite industry.\u201d Fourteen Senate Democrats sent a similar\u00a0letter to Bernhardt Jan. 22<\/a>\u00a0saying, \u201cto continue these efforts even during [the shutdown] is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n An alliance of 86 national and international conservation and environmental public interest groups also blasted Interior in a\u00a0January 25 letter<\/a>\u00a0objecting to oil and gas and logging activities on public lands during the shutdown. The groups asked that agencies postpone, stop, cease and stay all activities which legally require environmental review and public comment. The letter detailed specific complaints about actions by BLM, BOEM and the Forest Service.<\/p>\n The groups, in their Jan. 25 letter, also objected to Interior\u2019s proposed revisions to the department\u2019s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations \u201cwhich would curtail public access to agency information of the management of federal public lands and waters,\u201d announced Dec. 28 (FR Doc. 2018-27561<\/a>) with a now closed 30-day public comment period. Interior, noting an \u201cexponential increase in [FOIA] requests and litigation\u201d from 2016 to 2018, justified the proposed changes, in part, to avoid \u201cunreasonably burdensome\u201d requests. Although the\u00a0Office of Information Policy<\/a>\u00a0at the Department of Justice provides government-wide guidance on FOIA, individual agencies set their own policies.<\/p>\n Of particular concern is a section of ANWR, known as the \u201c1002 Area<\/a>,\u201d totaling some 1.5-million acres of coastal plain, was identified by Congress for oil and gas exploration. The 1002 Area, however, also comprises critical habitat of particular ecological importance for many wildlife species, some threatened or endangered and some essential for Alaska Native\u2019s subsistence.<\/p>\n Exploration for oil and gas in the 1002 Area with sample drilling and seismic testing, as has been proposed, could irreparably damage the land and harm\u00a0wildlife. Even driving in 1002 seems to durably scar the fragile lands, as documented by Dr. Matt Nolan in his\u00a02018 aerial surveys of the area<\/a>\u00a0to develop 3-D interactive \u201cfodar\u201d topographical maps. It is likely that oil in the 1002 Area is spread out into many small accumulations, requiring a wide footprint to extract oil in the region.<\/p>\n The public comment period for the ANWR Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program draft EIS has now been extended to March 13, though it initially would have ended Feb. 11. BLM provides the draft EIS, supporting documents and comment forms online (DOI-BLM-AK-0000-2018-0002-EIS<\/a>).\u00a0Public meetings are scheduled<\/a>\u00a0for early February in Washington, DC and various locations in Alaska. BLM is expected to announce its record of decision this summer and immediately begin accepting lease bids. BLM anticipates offering \u201cnot fewer than 400,000 acres area-wide of high-potential lands for bid\u201d within the 1.6-million acre ANWR coastal plain. A legacy 2002\u00a0ESA\u2019s position statement on ANWR<\/a>\u00a0is available online.<\/p>\n Scientists are spearheading a \u201cscientists letter<\/a>\u201d over plans to drill\u00a0in\u00a0ANWR that will be submitted into the federal record. The organizers of the letter write, \u201cThis letter expresses opposition from scientists and resource managers to oil and gas activity in the Arctic Refuge and identifies flaws\u00a0in\u00a0the DEIS, including gaps in the scientific baseline, conflicts with other Refuge purposes, inadequate analysis of the impacts (including global\u00a0climate change), and failure to offer a reasonable range of alternatives.\u201d Scientists and resource managers holding advanced degrees (e.g., M.S. or Ph.D.) in biology, ecology, environmental and earth sciences and related fields are invited to sign this letter. The deadline to\u00a0sign the letter<\/a>\u00a0is Feb. 15.<\/p>\n <\/a> National Science Foundation (NSF)\u00a0Director France Cordova\u00a0warns that, given that the agency only has funding through Feb. 15, NSF will not be able to conduct \u201cbusiness as usual.\u201d During NSF\u2019s three weeks of funding, NSF is prioritizing processing its back-log of grants. The 100-plus panel reviews that\u00a0were canceled\u00a0during the shutdown will\u00a0be rescheduled. The responsible program officers will contact reviewers. The shutdown also delayed review of applications for NSF\u2019s Graduate Research Fellowship. NSF will have to work to ensure that the 13,000 applications\u00a0are reviewed\u00a0and decisions about awards can\u00a0made\u00a0before students must make commitments to graduate schools in April.<\/p>\n NSF has\u00a0pushed back<\/a>\u00a0several grant deadlines. For example, proposals for Navigating the New Arctic were originally due Feb. 14 \u2013 the new deadline is to be determined. The deadline for Frontier Research in the Earth Sciences\u00a0is also postponed. The BIO Directorate does not have grant deadlines, so the shutdown did not affect BIO proposal deadlines.<\/p>\n The impact on long-term data sets remains to be seen. At Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, ecologists will likely be able to collect key data for their iconic long-term study on predator-prey dynamics between wolves and moose. Other experiments may not be salvageable. An EPA experiment testing the impacts of changing ocean chemistry on invertebrates will likely\u00a0be shelved\u00a0because researchers were unable to collect data about the invertebrates\u2019 behaviors during the shutdown.<\/p>\n Former ESA President Jill Baron told Nature that she\u00a0has\u00a0noticed\u00a0decreased interest in funding from the U.S. Geological Survey\u2019s Powell Center. Scientists have told Baron, who is the co-director of the Powell Center, that the uncertainty associated with the federal government shutdown dissuaded them from applying.<\/p>\n House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowery (D-NY) relayed that she is \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d after a meeting between top House and Senate appropriators Jan. 30. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) said that most of the remaining spending bills \u2013 which include funding for NSF, the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and the EPA are \u201cpretty much settled on.\u201d Spending bills for these agencies will closely resemble House and Senate appropriations bills passed in 2018.<\/p>\n <\/a> Other freshmen Democrats on the science committee include Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL), Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA), Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT), Rep Kendra Horn (D-OK), and Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA). Casten has a master\u2019s degree in biochemical engineering and touted his background as a clean energy entrepreneur during his campaign. Wexton unseated former Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA).<\/p>\n Freshman Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) will also serve on the committee. Waltz\u2019s district is adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center.<\/p>\n House Natural Resources Committee:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Chairman Grijalva (D-AZ) announced that the committee will hold a hearing titled \u201cClimate Change: Impacts and the Need to Act<\/a>\u201d Feb. 6. This hearing will be the first of series of hearings focused on how climate change is impacting Americans. The first panel of the hearing will feature Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC) and Governor Charlie Baker (R-MA). The second panel will include activists from the Zero Hour Movement, the Hip Hop Caucus, UPROSE and Carbon Disclosure Projects and Kim Cobb, a climate scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n Grijalva also announced the committee\u2019s leadership:<\/p>\n Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC), a freshman Member of Congress who strongly opposes offshore oil and gas drilling, will be a member of the committee.<\/p>\n House Oversight and Government Reform Committee:<\/strong>\u00a0Freshman Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA) will chair the committee\u2019s Subcommittee on the Environment. Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA) will serve as the subcommittee\u2019s vice-chair. In a statement, Rouda said that he is looking \u201cconducting robust oversight of any attempts to undermine our environment and deny climate change.\u201d The committee may investigate the tenures of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Rouda unseated Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), who was a prominent climate skeptic.<\/p>\n House Energy and Commerce Committee:<\/strong>\u00a0The Environment and Climate Change Committee will hold its first of a planned series of hearings focused on climate change Feb. 5. The hearing is titled \u201cTime for Action: Addressing the Environmental and Economic Effects of Climate Change.<\/a>\u201d\u00a0This hearing will be the committee\u2019s first hearing focused on climate change since 2013.<\/p>\n Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee<\/strong>: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will serve as the ranking member of the Science, Oceans, Fisheries and Weather Subcommittee, which oversees NOAA and the National Science Foundation. Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) previously announced that Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) will serve the Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather subcommittee chair.<\/p>\n Senate Environment and Public Works Committee:<\/strong>\u00a0Freshman Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-SD) will chair the Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee. This committee has oversight over the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act, among other responsibilities. As a North Dakota\u2019s representative in the House of Representatives, Cramer co-sponsored a set of nine bills to amend the Endangered Species Act in 2018. Another freshman senator, Mike Braun (R-IN), will chair the subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) will continue as the chair of the Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee. In October 2018, this subcommittee held a hearing on the EPA\u2019s \u2018transparency in science\u2019 regulation and Rounds strongly supported the proposed regulation. (See ESA Policy News, Oct. 10, 2018<\/a>)<\/p>\n Shark Fin Bills<\/strong>: Lawmakers reintroduced three bills addressing the trade of shark fins and parts. All of these bills were introduced during the 115th Congress. The Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act (H.R. 737<\/a>), introduced by Del. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-Northern Mariana Islands) and co-sponsored by 50 other members of Congress, would outlaw the possession, sale and distribution of shark fins. Shark finning \u2013 which refers to cutting a shark\u2019s fins and then leaving the rest of the carcass in the ocean \u2013 is already illegal in the U.S. However, the trade of shark fins, including the fins of sharks where the entire animal was harvested is legal. The U.S. accounts for one to 3 percent of the global shark fin trade.<\/p>\n Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) and 13 members of Congress reintroduced the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act (H.R. 788<\/a>) which requires NOAA to certify that countries have similar standards for sustainable fisheries as the U.S. before they can export shark products to the U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, who is also a co-sponsor on Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act, introduced another bill, the Shark Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 614<\/a>) which would prohibit the sale of all shark parts in the U.S.<\/p>\n Carbon Fee Bill:<\/strong>\u00a0Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL) and five Democratic members of the Climate Solutions Caucus reintroduced the \u201cEnergy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act\u201d (H.R. 763<\/a>). This bill would impose a $15 per ton carbon fee on the oil, gas and coal industries. The bill would then redistribute the revenue from this fee to households. The fee would increase $10 a year until the country reduces its emissions by 90 percent of 2015 levels. Deutch, Rooney and former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) introduced similar legislation late in the 115th Congress. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced companion legislation in the Senate soon after.<\/p>\n Legislative updates:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> EPA<\/strong>: An analysis of EPA records by a former agency official\u00a0concludes<\/a>\u00a0that the dollar amount of civil penalties paid by polluters reached their lowest level since 1994 in fiscal year 2018,\u00a0during which polluters paid $72 million in fines. On average, polluters have paid $500 million in fines each year for the past 20 years.<\/p>\n EIA<\/strong>: New\u00a0projections<\/a>\u00a0from the Energy Information Administration show that the U.S. will become a net energy exporter by 2020 as a result of increases in oil and natural gas production.\u00a0\u00a0The report credits increasing energy efficiency for slower growth in domestic energy consumption.<\/p>\n USDA<\/strong>: Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue\u00a0announced<\/a>\u00a0the appointment of Scott Hutchins to serve as deputy undersecretary for research, education and economics (REE). Hutchins is Trump\u2019s nominee to serve as undersecretary for research, education and economics. He is an entomologist who most recently worked at Corteva Agriscience, the agricultural division of DowDuPont. This position oversees the USDA\u2019s research agencies, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The deputy undersecretary role does not require Senate confirmation. In the announcement, Perdue clarified that Hutchins will not be an acting undersecretary and will not assume the responsibilities expressly delegated to the Senate-confirmed undersecretary. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, who served as the acting undersecretary for REE until this announcement, will serve as the USDA\u2019s acting chief scientist and will report to Hutchins.<\/p>\n <\/a> Forests:<\/strong>\u00a0A U.S. District Court stopped a planned post-wildfire salvage logging project in Northern California, stating that the Klamath National Forest did not adequately analyze the environmental impacts of the project, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The judge agreed with environmental groups that the project would likely damage habitat for the federally threatened northern spotted owl.<\/p>\n <\/a> New Mexico:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)\u00a0committed<\/a>\u00a0her state to join the U.S. Climate Alliance. Lujan Grisham has also asked the state\u2019s environment secretary and energy, minerals and natural resources secretary to head a state climate change task force that will evaluate potential policies to reduce emissions.<\/p>\n Virginia:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0State officials\u00a0reached<\/a>\u00a0an agreement with Dominion Energy to clean up four leaking coal ash ponds. Some of the coal ash ponds date back to the 1930s and all of the ponds are unlined. Under the agreement, at least 25 percent of the coal ash will be recycled for use in building materials and the remaining percent will be sent to lined landfills.<\/p>\n Western States:<\/strong>\u00a0The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies approved a\u00a0Western Monarch Conservation Plan<\/a>\u00a0covering seven states. The plan outlines population and habitat goals for restoring monarch populations \u2013 including a goal to double the butterfly\u2019s population by 2029 and protecting 90 percent of the species\u2019 \u201cmost important overwintering areas.\u201d The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will announce whether it will list the monarch under the Endangered Species Act in June 2019.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> Title IX:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Over 70 scientific societies, including ESA, sent a\u00a0letter<\/a>\u00a0to the Department of Education urging the agency not to finalize the changes and stating that the proposed amendments \u201cdo not reflect the extant research and data\u201d and will likely harm the safety and security of individuals. These changes would change the definition of sexual harassment from \u201cunwelcome conduct of a sexual nature\u201d to \u201cunwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the [institution\u2019s] education program or activity.\u201d<\/p>\n NAS:\u00a0<\/strong>The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) has convened a\u00a0committee<\/a>\u00a0to examine strategies to understand and protect the bioeconomy. NAS defines the bioeconomy as research and innovation in the life sciences.<\/p>\n NAS will hold a\u00a0meeting<\/a>\u00a0on the contributions of biological collections and options for sustaining these collections Feb. 7-8.<\/p>\n <\/a> Opportunities for Public Comment and Nominations:<\/strong><\/p>\n Visit this page on ESA\u2019s blog for updates on opportunities from the Federal Register<\/a>,\u00a0including upcoming meetings and regulations open for public comment.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> ESA\u2019s policy activities work to infuse ecological knowledge into national policy decisions through activities such as policy statements, Capitol Hill briefings, Congressional Visits Days, and coalition involvement. Policy News Updates are bi-monthly summaries of major environmental and science policy news. They are produced by the Public Affairs Office of the Ecological Society of America.<\/p>\n Send questions or comments to\u00a0 Alison Mize, director of public affairs,\u00a0Alison@esa.org<\/a>\u00a0or Nicole Zimmerman, public affairs manager,\u00a0Nicole@esa.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAgency activity during the shutdown compromised on-going science and hampered public information and participation. Opportunity to sign scientists\u2019 letter about ANWR Draft Environmental Impact Statement.<\/p>\n
\nFederal scientists and collaborators resume work.<\/p>\n
\nHouse and Senate Committees announced new members, subcommittee leaders.<\/p>\n
\nFormer EPA official reports that EPA civil fines for polluters are at their lowest level in 20 years.<\/p>\n
\nCourt orders NOAA to update the science supporting catch limits for northern anchovies.<\/p>\n
\nNew Mexico and Illinois join the U.S. Climate Alliance.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Chinese scientists warn that the Belt and Road Initiative could accelerate the spread of invasive species.<\/p>\n
\nOver 70 societies, including ESA, sent a letter urging the Department of Education not to finalize proposed changes to the Title IX regulations.<\/p>\n
\nUpcoming meetings and other opportunities for public involvement.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>View an up-to-date list of ESA\u2019s media coverage.<\/p>\nThe Shutdown: Consequences for Science and Ecology<\/h2>\n
\nIn\u00a0what many called a \u201ctemper tantrum,\u201d on Dec. 22, 2018, President Trump vetoed a previously agreed bi-partisan budget agreement because it did not contain funds for his long-promised border wall. That initiated the longest-ever shutdown of federal agencies and the second of his two-year old administration. The partial shutdown ended 35 days later, Jan. 25, with President Trump signing a bi-partisan, three-week continuing resolution, ending Feb. 15, that does not include border wall funding. A team of seasoned House and Senate lawmakers are now attempting to craft a compromise agreement that will close the divide over border security though success remains in doubt while President Trump threatens another shutdown or unilateral executive action.<\/p>\nFederal Government Reopens, Funded through Feb. 15<\/h2>\n
\nFederal\u00a0employees returned to work Jan.\u00a028\u00a0after a shutdown closed most federal science agencies for 35 days. Federal scientists and their collaborators are resuming work, although the threat of another shutdown remains.<\/p>\nCongress<\/h2>\n
\nHouse Science Committee:<\/strong>\u00a0Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) announced the Democratic members and the leadership of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee in the 116th Congress. Freshman Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) will chair the Subcommittee on the Environment, which oversees EPA research, NOAA and earth science at NASA. Another freshman, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) will lead the Subcommittee on Research and Technology which \u2013 among other responsibilities \u2013 oversees the National Science Foundation and university research policy.<\/p>\n\n
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Executive Branch<\/h2>\n
\nEPA Science Advisory Board<\/strong>:\u00a0Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler\u00a0appointed<\/a>\u00a0eight new members to the EPA\u2019s Science Advisory Board (SAB). New members include the University of Alabama,\u00a0Huntsville atmospheric scientist John Christy, a prominent climate skeptic who has criticized NOAA and NASA climate model and the conclusions of International Panel on Climate Change reports.Wheeler also renewed the terms of eight current SAB members appointed during the Obama administration. The appointments are a departure from former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt\u2019s tenure \u2013 Pruitt did not renew the terms of any SAB members.<\/p>\nCourts<\/h2>\n
\nFisheries<\/strong>: A federal judge in California\u00a0ordered<\/a>\u00a0NOAA\u2019s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to revise its catch limit for northern anchovies. The ruling sided with environmental groups who said that that NMFS used outdated science to these set catch limits.<\/p>\nStates<\/h2>\n
\nIllinois<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0Gov. J.B. Pritzer (D)\u00a0signed<\/a>\u00a0an executive order directing the state of Illinois to join the U.S. Climate Alliance, a group of states that have committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Illinois is the 18th state to join the pact.<\/p>\nInternational<\/h2>\n
\nChina:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0study<\/a>\u00a0completed by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences warns that China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative, a massive project intended to link Asia with Africa and Europe through new land and maritime infrastructure, could accelerate the spread of invasive species. The analysis determines that countries included in the Belt and Road Initiative contain 27 out of 35 global biodiversity hotspots as well as 14 invasion hotspots.<\/p>\nScientific Community<\/h2>\n
\nUCS:<\/strong>\u00a0The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report, \u201cThe State of Science in the Trump Era<\/a>,\u201d which documents the Trump administration\u2019s attacks on science over the past two years and the administration\u2019s \u201cpatterns of undermining science.\u201d Some of the elements of this pattern include leaving key scientific positions vacant and requiring political review of scientific grants.<\/p>\nFederal Register Opportunities<\/h2>\n
\nPublic Meetings, many of which are live-streamed:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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ESA In the News<\/h2>\n
\nESA regularly issues press releases to the media about journal articles and other Society news. Press coverage is kept up-to-date on our \u201cIn the News\u201d page.\u00a0Check out news stories here.<\/a><\/p>\nESA Correspondence to Policymakers<\/h2>\n
\nView\u00a0letters and testimony from ESA\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n