Arizona Tribune - Trump seeks species protection rollbacks to promote US oil drilling

A directive signed late Monday by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum gives agencies 15 days to submit plans to unleash US energy, which critics say would weaken the Endangered Species Act and open up fragile landscapes from the Arctic to the Grand Canyon and even national monuments for exploitation.

"Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Department of the Interior," said Burgum, whose close ties to the fossil fuel industry drew sharp criticism from environmentalists during his confirmation hearings.

"We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America's full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America's natural resources and innovation."

The order aims to reverse bans on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore waters, restrictions imposed by former president Joe Biden.

It also seeks to rescind a rule that reinstated long-standing protections for birds against unintentional but preventable deaths caused by oil spills, mining pits, and building collisions.

Environmental groups warn the move would accelerate the decline of both animal and plant species.

"Even as imperiled species dwindle and vanish across America, this order will fan the flames of the extinction crisis," said Noah Greenwald of the Center for Biological Diversity.

The 1973 Endangered Species Act is credited with saving iconic species such as the gray wolf, bald eagle and grizzly bear.

But under Trump's first administration, key provisions were weakened -- allowing economic considerations to influence decisions on species protections. Biden later rolled back those changes, and now Trump is pushing to reinstate them.

Greenwald told AFP that species like the greater sage grouse, lesser prairie chicken, and sagebrush lizard -- whose habitats overlap with the Greater Permian Basin, the nation's top oil-producing field -- would be at heightened risk.

"Donald Trump made it clear on Day One what his priorities for public lands and waters would be, and these orders are the next step in his reckless 'drill, baby, drill' agenda," said Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program.

P.Hernandez--AT