Committee on the Environment and Public Works

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water

Statement for the Record

Senator Bob Graham

May 9, 2001

Mr. Chairman.

The Endangered Species Act was historic when it was passed by a nearly unanimous Congress over 25 years ago. The Act remains important in our efforts to balance human activities with the needs of imperiled wildlife. While this law is certainly not without its share of controversy, I have witnessed success stories such as the recovery of the American Alligator, a keystone species in the Everglades and vital to the overall health of that ecosystem.

The State of Florida is home to some 111 threatened or endangered species. We can boast, rather unfortunately, that this number is third only to the states of Hawaii and California. Included in this list is the Florida Manatee, which I consider a poster child for the importance of the Endangered Species Act.

One of the strengths of the Endangered Species Act is that it allows citizens the opportunity to petition the Fish and Wildlife Service to list species that they have reason to believe are critically important. Citizens may also pursue legal recourse if they think that the Fish and Wildlife Service has not acted to protect these species.

I appreciate the fact that the Fish and Wildlife Service faces a severe listing and delisting backlog. An estimated $80-120 million is needed to eliminate this backlog. However, I do not think that effectively cutting citizens out the process by limiting the ability of the Fish and Wildlife Service to respond to court orders is the most appropriate way to address this problem.

Most of our environmental laws include a process for citizen enforcement and oversight. Such opportunities for citizen involvement are necessary to compensate for times when administrative agencies are unable to fully implement the law.

I hope that today=s hearing will present us with some ideas for solutions to eliminate the current backlog and address citizen and scientific concerns in a prudent manner.

I will submit my questions for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water

Talking Points

May 9, 2001

Mr. Chairman.

$ The Endangered Species Act was historic when it was passed by a nearly unanimous Congress over 25 years ago.

$ The Act remains important in our efforts to balance human activities with the needs of imperiled wildlife.

$ While this law is certainly not without its share of controversy, I have witnessed success stories such as the recovery of the American Alligator, a keystone species in the Everglades and vital to the overall health of that ecosystem.

$ The State of Florida is home to some 111 threatened or endangered species.

$ this number is third only to the states of Hawaii and California.

$ One of the strengths of the Endangered Species Act is that it allows citizens the opportunity to petition the Fish and Wildlife Service to list species that they have reason to believe are critically important.

$ Citizens may also pursue legal recourse if they think that the Fish and Wildlife Service has not acted to protect these species.

$ I appreciate the fact that the Fish and Wildlife Service faces a severe listing and delisting backlog.

$ estimated $80-120 million is needed to eliminate this backlog.

$ However, limiting the ability of the Fish and Wildlife Service to respond to court orders and effectively cutting citizens out of the process is not the most appropriate way to address this problem.

$ Most of our environmental laws include a process for citizen enforcement and oversight.

$ Such opportunities for citizen involvement are necessary to compensate for times when administrative agencies are unable to fully implement the law.

$ I hope that today=s hearing will present us with some ideas for solutions to eliminate the current backlog and address citizen and scientific concerns in a prudent manner.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.