In what appears to be yet another triumph of industry over everything else, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service announced this week that it would temporarily revoke habitat protection for salmon and steelhead in 150 watersheds, river areas, bays, and estuaries in four western states. The changes, which are part of a series of recent moves that could weaken habitat and species protection for salmon and steelhead, come in response to two lawsuits filed by the National Association of Home Builders and other groups. The suit alleges that the habitat protections are “excessive, unduly vague, not justified as essential to conserve the listed species, and not based on a required analysis of economic impacts.” NMFS plans to review the economic impact of its habitat protection plan and revise accordingly.
