Obama reinstates species reviews

In a move that will subject a number of government projects to enhanced environmental and scientific scrutiny, President Obama is restoring a requirement that U.S. agencies consult with independent federal experts to determine whether their actions might harm threatened and endangered species.

The presidential memo issued March 3 will revive a decades-old practice under the Endangered Species Act that calls for agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on whether their projects could affect imperiled species. On Dec. 16, the Bush administration let agencies waive such reviews if they decided, on their own, that the actions would not harm vulnerable plants and animals.

Obama said he had instructed Interior and Commerce Department officials to review the Bush rules. In the meantime, his memo said, officials should “follow the prior longstanding consultation and concurrence practices” that call for independent reviews.

—The Associated Press