House Natural Resources Committee Considers Bills to Boost Funding for Conservation, Create Wildlife Corridors<\/strong><\/a> Congress<\/strong><\/a> Executive Branch<\/strong><\/a> Courts<\/strong><\/a> States<\/strong><\/a> Scientific Community<\/strong><\/a> Opportunities to Get Involved<\/strong><\/a> ESA In the News<\/strong><\/a> <\/a> The Recovering America\u2019s Wildlife Act would provide an additional $1.4 billion in\u00a0combined, dedicated funding to state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies to implement state wildlife action plans and conserve at-risk species. The legislation is supported by the\u00a0Alliance for America\u2019s Fish and Wildlife<\/a>, which includes the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and a host of scientific and conservation groups and businesses. Before the subcommittee hearing, ESA joined Alliance members in sending a\u00a0letter of support<\/a>\u00a0for RAWA to the Subcommittee Chairman Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Ranking Member Tom McClintock (R-CA). Huffman supports both bills, but he noted that RAWA could go further in providing funding for threatened and endangered species recovery. Lead RAWA sponsor Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) originally introduced this bill in 2016 and she has since reintroduced similar legislation in 2017 and 2019.<\/p>\n The Wildlife Corridors Act gives authority to federal agencies to designate National Wildlife Corridors on federal lands to create a comprehensive corridor network. It also establishes a wildlife movement grant program to fund conservation efforts on state, tribal and private lands. Lead sponsor Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) has introduced similar legislation in 2016 and 2018 \u2013 this is the first time the bill has received a committee hearing.<\/p>\n National Wildlife Federal CEO Collin O\u2019Mara, Audubon Great Lakes Policy Director Marnie Urso and Director of the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife Gloria Tom all testified in support of both bills. O\u2019Mara and Urso both cited\u00a0a recent Science paper<\/a>\u00a0that found a nearly 30% decrease in the number of North American birds since 1970 and Huffman mentioned another\u00a0September 2019 Science article<\/a>\u00a0concluding that habitat connectivity enhances biodiversity.<\/p>\n Both bills have bipartisan support \u2013 RAWA has 144 co-sponsors, including 108 Democrats and 36 Republicans. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) is a lead sponsor for the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) has introduced a Senate version of the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (S. 1499<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/a> Aquaculture:<\/strong>\u00a0The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a\u00a0hearing<\/a>\u00a0to consider offshore aquaculture.<\/strong>\u00a0Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) has introduced and pushed for legislation to allow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to regulate aquaculture in federal waters. Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis Ben Halpern\u00a0testified<\/a>\u00a0that marine aquaculture has the potential to produce food without less environmental impacts than other modes of food production \u2013 particularly if aquaculture sites are strategically sited. Halpern provided a few science-based guidelines for minimizing the environmental impacts of aquaculture. Chairman of the Lummi Nation Jay Julius\u00a0shared<\/a>\u00a0his tribe\u2019s experience when thousands of non-native Atlantic salmon escaped from an aquaculture pen in northwest Washington state. The Lummi Nation declared a state of emergency and incurred significant expenses responding to the fish spill.<\/p>\n Scientific Integrity:<\/strong>\u00a0The House Science Committee advanced the Scientific Integrity Act (H.R. 1709<\/a>)<\/strong>\u00a0that codifies a 2010 memorandum on scientific integrity issued by former Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren. The legislation aims to stop agencies from delaying the release of scientific reports for political reasons. If passed, the bill would require agencies to train employees on scientific integrity and to report on their progress in implementing scientific integrity policies. The vast majority of House Democrats \u2013 218 members \u2013 are co-sponsors of the bill. Six Science Committee Republicans joined the committee\u2019s Democratic members voting in favor of the bill.<\/p>\n Legislative updates<\/strong><\/p>\n See ESA\u2019s\u00a0Legislative Tracker<\/a>\u00a0for more updates on legislation relevant to the ecological community.<\/p>\n <\/a> EPA<\/strong>:\u00a0Administrator Andrew Wheeler\u00a0appointed<\/a>\u00a0three new members of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and renewed the appointments of seven academic members for a second three-year term.<\/strong>\u00a0Breaking with a long-term SAB tradition in 2018, former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt refused to renew the terms of academic SAB members previously appointed during the Obama administration. In total, the SAB now has 44 members.<\/p>\n USFWS<\/strong>:\u00a0Federal officials\u00a0removed<\/a>\u00a0the Kirtland\u2019s warbler from the federal endangered species list following conservation actions that allowed the species population to rebound from an estimated 201 singing males in 1971 to 2,383 males in 2015.<\/strong>\u00a0The migratory warbler nests in young jack pine forests in northern Michigan and Wisconsin, spending its winters in the Bahamas. Since the bird was listed in 1967, federal and state agencies and nongovernmental organizations have engaged in extensive forest management activities to maintain areas of young jack pine forest and in efforts to reduce nest parasitism by cowbirds. The final rule goes into effect Nov. 8, 2019.<\/p>\n The Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released a\u00a0Candidate Notice of Review document<\/a>\u00a0for this first time since December 2016. This document provides a summary of what species the agency considers candidates for federal endangered species protections.<\/strong>\u00a0USFWS downgraded the listing priority for the Colorado delta clam and San Francisco bay delta population of longfin smelt and removed the Uvea parakeet from the list of candidate species. For the Colorado delta clam, USFWS cites evidence that the species is more widely distributed than previously thought. The agency determined that increased state-level conservation efforts for the longfin smelt, as well as increased water levels in California, merited a lower priority for protections for that fish species. In total, USFWS names 48 candidate species in the document, an increase in the number of candidate species since the last list in 2016. Any information regarding these species should be sent to the appropriate USFWS regional office or the Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species.<\/p>\n Forest Service:<\/strong>\u00a0The agency\u00a0published<\/a>\u00a0a\u00a0draft environmental impact statement<\/a>\u00a0(EIS) proposing to exempt the Tongass National Forest in Alaska from the 2001 Roadless Rule.<\/strong>\u00a0Nationally, the Roadless Rule prohibits road construction, road reconstruction and logging on 58.5 million acres of the National Forest System. The EIS analyzes several options for modifying protections for the 16.7 million-acre temperate rainforest and designates the option that fully exempts the Tongass from the rule as the agency\u2019s \u2018preferred alternative.\u2019\u00a0If finalized, this would remove the roadless designation from 9.2 million acres of land and open 165,000 acres of old-growth forest to logging.<\/strong>\u00a0Alaska\u2019s congressional delegation, including Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Alaskan governors have long pushed for this change.<\/p>\n The Forest Service will accept public comments on the draft EIS through Dec. 17, 2019. A\u00a0statement<\/a>\u00a0from the House Natural Resources Committee promises \u2018targeted oversight\u2019 of the proposal and notes that committee leaders are co-sponsors of Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)\u2019s Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R. 2491<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Agriculture,<\/a>\u00a0Natural Resources<\/a>), which would make the 2001 Roadless Rule into law.<\/p>\n NSF:<\/strong>\u00a0A BIO Advisory Committee report recommending a separate entity to facilitate community engagement in the National Ecological Observatory Network is now available\u00a0online.<\/a>\u00a0A subcommittee of five ecologists drafted the report. A May ESA\u00a0blog post<\/a>\u00a0summarized the report, as discussed during the May BIO AC meeting.<\/p>\n Pebble Mine:\u00a0Attorneys representing around a dozen environmental groups sued the EPA, challenging the agency\u2019s decision to withdraw a 2014 proposed determination<\/strong>\u00a0that would have effectively blocked the Pebble Mine project from moving forward. A July 2019 order from EPA Regional Administrator Chris Hadlick concluded that the science underlying the 2014 assessment is no longer up-to-date. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently working to finalize an environmental impact statement for the Pebble Mine project, a large open-pit copper and gold mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska \u2013 the site of world\u2019s most productive sockeye salmon fishery.<\/p>\n Sage Grouse:\u00a0A federal judge\u00a0temporarily blocked<\/a>\u00a0the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) 2019 land management plans for sage grouse in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and part of California<\/strong>\u00a0after environmental groups challenged the new plans in courts. Among other changes, the Trump administration\u2019s sage grouse plans mostly eliminate the \u201csage grouse focal areas\u201d designation, opening those areas to oil and gas drilling.\u00a0With this ruling, the BLM will be forced to adhere to the more restrictive 2015 sage grouse conservation plans.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/a> California Governor Gavin Newsom (D)\u00a0signed<\/a>\u00a0a law prohibiting state agencies from allowing pipelines or other oil and gas infrastructure to be built on state lands,<\/strong>\u00a0a move aimed at preventing new oil and gas drilling on federal public lands in the state.<\/p>\n Wyoming:<\/strong>\u00a0In a bid to prevent the spread of mountain goats in Grand Teton National Park, officials will begin removing the nonnative goats from the park. The goats carry pathogens that threaten the native bighorn sheep herd.<\/p>\n <\/a> These studies, which often have had serendipitous beginnings, demonstrate the tremendous human and economic benefits of federally funded basic scientific research. Awardees are honored each fall at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., where members of Congress from both parties speak to the importance of the award and of federal funding of scientific research.<\/p>\n NOAA Sea Grant:<\/strong>\u00a0Applications for the 2021 class of John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellows are now open through Feb. 21, 2020.<\/strong>\u00a0The program is open to graduate students interested in marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy. Fellows are placed in offices in the legislative branch or in federal agencies for a year. See the\u00a0Sea Grant website<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n NSF:<\/strong>\u00a0The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is looking for reviewers to evaluate fellowship applications for the 2020 year<\/strong>. The GRFP provides three years of funding for masters and Ph.D. students in STEM fields. Reviewers include faculty who work with graduate students and researchers working in NSF-supported fields. The time commitment for reviews includes an orientation webinar for reviews in November or December and virtual panel sessions to discuss applications in January. See the\u00a0GRFP website<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n SPECO:<\/strong>\u00a0A new report,\u00a0The Responsibility of Ecologists<\/a>, sums up the view of ecologists participating in a debate entitled \u201cHow is Ecology contributing to the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0held during the 15th European Ecological Federation Congress in Lisbon from July 29 \u2013 Aug. 2, 2019. ESA President Osvaldo Sala participated in the panel moderated by the report\u2019s author Jos\u00e9 V\u00edtor Malheiros.<\/p>\n ESA:<\/strong>\u00a0The authors of the latest Issues in Ecology, \u201cImpacts to Wildlife of Wind Energy Siting and Operation in the U.S.<\/a>,\u201d will hold a webinar Oct. 30.<\/strong>\u00a0This\u00a0webinar<\/a>\u00a0will provide an overview of key highlights from the report, discussing the benefits of wind energy, what we know about interactions between wind energy and wildlife, priorities for future research, and the value of robust science in wind-wildlife decision making.<\/p>\n Climate Adaption:<\/strong>\u00a0The Global Commission on Adaptation<\/strong>, which is co-chaired by former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Bill Gates and World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva,\u00a0released\u00a0a report<\/a>\u00a0concluding that investing $1.8 trillion globally in adaption in five areas from 2020 to 2030 could generate $7.1 trillion in total net benefits<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Biodiversity:<\/strong>\u00a0A major new\u00a0biodiversity study<\/a>, \u201cThe geography of biodiversity change in marine and terrestrial assemblages\u201d published in Science,<\/em>\u00a0reports findings about the geographic variation in biodiversity change.<\/strong>\u00a0Researchers found more biodiversity losses in the tropics with changes in marine ecosystems greater than changes to terrestrial ecosystems.<\/p>\n <\/a> The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis\u00a0is\u00a0<\/strong>seeking stakeholder input<\/a>\u00a0on how Congress and the U.S. government should respond to the climate crisis<\/strong>\u00a0and \u201clead an ambitious transition to clean energy and resilience that puts Americans to work, builds a just economy, unleashes American ingenuity and prepares communities for the impacts of climate change.\u201d\u00a0Questions from the committee ask about community climate resilience, forests, oceans and climate information needs. To inform the policy recommendations of the committee, provide responses to the questions by Nov. 22, 2019 by emailing\u00a0ClimateCrisisRFI@mail.house.gov<\/a><\/p>\n Public Meetings, many of which are live-streamed:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Opportunities for Public Comment and Nominations:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBill would provide $1.4 billion in dedicated funding.<\/p>\n
\nHouse Science Committee advances scientific integrity legislation.<\/p>\n
\nDraft Environmental Impact Statement exempts the Tongass National Forest from 2001 Roadless Rule.<\/p>\n
\nFederal judge blocks the implementation of 2019 sage grouse conservation plans.<\/p>\n
\nCalifornia bans the pesticide chlorpyifos.<\/p>\n
\nApplications for the 2021 class of Knauss Fellows are now open.<\/p>\n
\nFederal Register opportunities.<\/p>\n
\nView an up-to-date list of ESA\u2019s media coverage.<\/p>\nHouse Natural Resources Committee Considers Bills to Boost Funding for Conservation, Create Wildlife Corridors<\/h2>\n
\nThe House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife held a\u00a0legislative hearing<\/a>\u00a0for the Recovering America\u2019s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742<\/a>, RAWA) and the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (H.R. 2795<\/a>), which is a key step for both of these bills in advancing to the full committee and then the full House.<\/p>\nCongress<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nAgricultural Research:<\/strong>\u00a0Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the House version of the America Grows Act (H.R. 4714<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Agriculture,<\/a>\u00a0Budget<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0This bill would provide\u00a0a 5% annual increase for U.S. Department of Agriculture research programs,<\/strong>\u00a0including the National Institute for Food and Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Senate version (S. 2458<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Budget<\/a>) of this bill in September.<\/p>\n\n
Executive Branch<\/h2>\n
\nCabinet:<\/strong>\u00a0President Donald Trump\u00a0confirmed<\/a>\u00a0that Energy Secretary Rick Perry will resign his position and leave the Department of Energy (DOE) by the end of 2019.<\/strong>\u00a0In his over two and half years leading DOE, Perry oversaw a nearly 25% increase in the agency\u2019s budget, including record funding for the Office of Science. Trump also announced that he will nominate Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to replace Perry.<\/p>\nCourts<\/h2>\n
States<\/h2>\n
\nCalifornia:\u00a0<\/strong>The state government and pesticide manufacturer Corteva Agrisciences\u00a0reached<\/a>\u00a0an agreement to stop the sale and use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, which is linked to brain damage for children and is also toxic to birds, fish and bees.\u00a0Under the agreement, Corteva will stop selling the pesticide in Feb. 2020 and agricultural producers will be banned from owning or using chlorpyrifos starting Dec. 31, 2020<\/strong>. Hawaii was the first state to ban chlorpyrifos in 2018.<\/p>\nScientific Community<\/h2>\n
\nAwards<\/strong>:\u00a0Nominations for the Golden Goose Awards<\/a>\u00a0are open through Dec. 20, 2019.<\/strong>\u00a0The Golden Goose Award recognizes researchers whose federally funded research may have seemed obscure or sounded \u201cfunny\u201d but has led to major breakthroughs and resulted in significant societal impact.<\/p>\nOpportunities to Get Involved<\/h2>\n
\nThe Forest Service\u2019s Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program is looking for new Advisory Panel members, including individuals with expertise in ecological restoration, fire ecology, ecological adaption to climate change and fish and wildlife ecology.<\/strong>\u00a0This panel evaluates and provides recommendations on potential restoration programs to the Secretary of Agriculture. The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program funds and promotes collaborative, large scale ecosystem restoration on priority forest landscapes.\u00a0See the\u00a0Forest Service website<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Federal Register notice<\/a>; nominations must be received by Nov. 15, 2019.<\/p>\n\n
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