Press Release

Departments of Commerce and Interior Propose Rule to Narrowly Change the Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez issued the following statement on a proposed rule by the Departments of Commerce and Interior to narrowly change the Endangered Species Act consultation process:

“As the President said in April, climate change is a serious issue that requires responsible international action, but the Endangered Species Act was not designed to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

“The proposed regulation provides much-needed guidance on this issue by clarifying the rules for federal consultations under the ESA. This regulation will allow NOAA Fisheries to focus its limited resources on the federal actions with the greatest impact on endangered species and their habitats.

“An additional benefit of this narrow change is a more predictable regulatory environment, which is essential for economic growth and job creation.

“This Administration is committed to addressing greenhouse gas emissions, and the President has outlined a framework for addressing climate change through an international agreement that involves all the major emitting countries.”