Interior strips protections for northern spotted owl
By Benjamin J. Hulac, CQ-Roll Call
Published: January 13, 2021, 4:00pm
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The Interior Department will eliminate nearly 3.5 million acres of Cfucritical habitatCfu established for the owls from federal protection. (Dreamstime/TNS)
WASHINGTON — The Interior Department said it will eliminate from federal protection more than 3 million acres in California, Oregon and Washington vital to the northern spotted owl, a species considered endangered under federal law.
In a draft rule published Wednesday as much of the nation was glued to impeachment proceedings, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a division of Interior, said it was excluding about 3.5 million acres of “critical habitat” established for the owls. Environmental groups warned that the move could spell the extinction of the species and immediately threatened lawsuits to block the action.