More distressing information on Ken Salazar, Obama’s pick for Interior Secretary, from the Western Watersheds Project:

While Colorado’s Attorney General, in 1999, Salazar threatened a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior if the Service listed the black-tailed prairie dog under the ESA. Rather than respecting the ESA’s requirement that listing decisions are to be based solely on science, Salazar and his co-authors complained about potential impacts “to [Colorado’s] citizens” of protecting the prairie dog from extinction. Earlier this month, even the Bush administration admitted that the black-tailed prairie dog might require ESA protection.

While Colorado’s U.S. Senator, Salazar continued to be very clear that he would not back ESA listings if they affect agribusiness. But many of the state’s vanishing species, including the black-tailed prairie dog, mountain plover, Gunnison’s prairie dog, lesser prairie-chicken, and others, are threatened by agribusiness. Nationally, agriculture is a leading threat to imperiled plants and animals. We fear that they would remain unprotected under an Interior Secretary Salazar, given his deference to agriculture and his lack of zeal on ESA enforcement.

If appointed as Interior Secretary, Salazar would be the final word on ESA listings. Approximately 300 species await listing as formal candidates or species proposed for listing. The Bush administration has slowed the listing program down to a glacial pace, with only 8 species listings per year. We are hoping the incoming Interior Secretary will tackle this backlog of endangered but as yet unprotected species by seriously ramping up the listing program. We are not confident that Salazar possesses the will for this important work.

1. 
   Rana Ravens 2009 01 14 at 12:23:31 pm

   Sigh.

   Is there any way to challenge his appointment?

2. 
   Rana Ravens 2009 01 14 at 12:36:55 pm

   I did leave the following message at change.gov, at least:

   Dear President-Elect Obama -

   I am deeply concerned about your choice of Kenneth Salazar for Secretary of the Interior.  Specifically, I am disturbed by support for increased mineral and grazing rights, and his lack of support for the Endangered Species Act.  Yes, domestic energy production is important, but not at the expense of our unique and irreplaceable ecosystems and wildlife.

   You may not be aware of this, as you are not from the Western part of the US, but there is a long tradition in this country of exploiting Western environments to the point of collapse because of the assumption that those environments are “barren” or “useless” or even “worthless.”  For those of us who love those places - the deserts and mountains and oceans - the truth is far different.

   Your appointee, Mr. Salazar, has predominantly sided with those who believe that the West is valuable only in as much as its resources can be exploited and as a dumping ground for projects and wastes not wanted elsewhere. 

   This is not an attitude that I like to see in an official whose job is representing all Americans’ interests and whose responsibility is to the long-term welfare of our environment and wildlife for future generations.

   I would like some public reassurance on your part that you will encourage Mr. Salazar to look beyond his narrow view of American environments as a mere collection of resources to be exploited and to view them instead as the valuable and unique treasures that they are.

   Thank you.

3. 
   Julie Zickefoose 2009 01 15 at 7:02:30 pm

   Holding head in hands, rocking side to side. Must we continue to exterminate inconvenient animals and birds? BARACK!!!

4. 
   Chris Clarke 2009 01 15 at 7:34:55 pm

   I know, Julie! I read that and had to go look at giant otters for a while.

5. 
   Chickadee 2009 01 20 at 10:39:34 am

   Oh no. No no no. I had hopes for the environment with Barak in office, but this is not good. I sincerely hope Salazar changes his views or can at least compromise.

   I am not from the west, but have frequently visited the west and have fallen in love with it to the point I am envious of the people who call the region home. For me, the west is my home away from home.

   You said it best. It is NOT a barren place, but filled with many ecosystems and beautiful animals.