Kurt, et al
Certainly any comment - even those using canned language - is better than no
comment at all, but it would  be better if folks took a minute or two to
express their own thoughts.  The language doesn't have to be polished or
include every point.  It does have to be polite.  Individually drafted
comments have a much  higher impact than organized letter-writing
campaigns.  Organizations, academia, etc.  can submit the lengthy details.
Everyone...please take just a minute and write something heart-felt.  Two or
three lines will be sufficient.
best
maryanne dolan
chesapeake city, MD
maryanne.dolan at gmail.com

On Sun, Aug 17, 2008 at 2:14 PM, Kurt R. Schwarz <>wrote:

> For those who may have had difficulty using the Center for Biological
> Diversity's site, you can utilize the official government regulation site.
>  The site for the new rule on Interagency Cooperation under the ESA is at:
>
>
> http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=09000064806c5826
>
> Fill in the requested information, name, etc. then your comment.  The
> language suggested by the Center For Biological Diversity is below.  Note
> that your submission will be public, to include name.  It does not have to
> include address, e-mail, etc.
>
> I am writing to urge you to stop the changes to longstanding regulations
> implementing the Endangered Species Act you recently proposed. These changes
> would drastically weaken the interagency consultation provision of the
> Endangered Species Act -- widely considered the most important and effective
> provision of the Act -- and also undercut the Endangered Species Act's
> proper role in addressing the impacts of climate change on our nation's most
> imperiled wildlife.
>
> For 35 years the Endangered Species Act has protected imperiled species
> from the effects of potentially harmful federal projects. The strength of
> the Endangered Species Act has been the checks and balances created by
> interagency consultation between federal agencies that build roads, issue
> logging permits, and lease oil and gas rights among other projects, and the
> U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Services, whose
> Interagency consultation ensures that federal projects that may impact
> America's most imperiled wildlife are independently reviewed by federal
> wildlife experts and project modifications are made where necessary. In the
> overwhelming majority of consultations federal projects move forward with
> little or no significant changes.
>
> The regulations you recently proposed would eliminate interagency
> consultation on thousands of federal projects that pose a risk to endangered
> and threatened species each year. The changes will almost certainly result
> in detrimental impacts on endangered and imperiled species and a higher
> propensity to overlook opportunities to avoid such impacts.
>
> Notwithstanding the fact that these are the most significant changes to
> regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act in more than 20 years,
> you have provided the public just 30 days in which to submit comments, not
> the traditional 90, and prevented anyone from sending their comments by
> email.
>
> I request you set an additional 60 days to allow the public an opportunity
> to meaningfully comment on these proposed regulations.
>
> I also urge you to not to finalize these regulatory changes.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Kurt Schwarz
> Conservation Chair
> Howard County Bird Club
> goawaybird at comcast dot net
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: 
>  To: 
>  Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 12:41 PM
>  Subject: your message on Osprey
>
>
>  I cant seem to make that Salsa site work.   Send me Kempthorne's email
> address and I will send him a message.
>
>  Marjorie Rachlin
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>