GROUPS EYE FIRST-TIME DATA QUALITY LANGUAGE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES BILL

Conservative and environmental groups are closely watching a House bill that would amend the Endangered Species Act because it includes first-time language referencing the data quality act that would assure information disseminated by the government could be challenged in court, according to industry supporters of the language. Opponents of the data requirements, including environmental groups, say if the existing data quality law is incorporated into an organic, overriding environmental statute, it will also effectively limit federal agencies' ability to craft...