KEMPTHORNE DRAFTS NEW ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LEGISLATION

Senate Republicans are drafting an Endangered Species Act (ESA) reform bill that would dramatically increase the number of water projects EPA could undertake without interagency consultation. At press time, Senate Republican staffers were poised to circulate to Democrats draft ESA legislation that will likely reduce the number of instances in which federal officials -- including managers at EPA's Office of Water (OW) -- would have to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) about activities likely to affect...