Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Praises Revocation of Bush Rule Jeopardizing Endangered Species and Habitats

April 30, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today praised the Obama administration for revoking a Bush administration midnight regulation that would have eviscerate protections under the federal Endangered Species Act.

In a last-minute regulatory move, the Bush administration relieved all federally approved project developers of their responsibility to consider potential harm that their projects might pose to endangered species and habitats.

In January, Blumenthal joined a California lawsuit challenging this late-term move in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The rule was effective Dec. 16, 2008.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that their agencies have revoked this Bush rule.

"The Obama administration is rigorously restoring respect for the rule of law -- revoking a last-minute Bush regulation that unconscionably upended environmental and endangered species protections.

"This midnight Bush administration rule allows any project that requires federal approval -- roads, bridges and massive utility projects such as the doomed Broadwater liquefied natural gas facility -- to disregard dangers to sensitive species and habitats.

"Projects and progress can happen without environmental devastation. Today's announcement reflects a new administration and renewed respect for law and environment."