FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Federal Report Finds Political Interference in Sage Grouse, Preble's Protection

Interior Department official violated federal regulations, railroaded staff scientists

A Bush administration appointee in the Interior Department interfered extensively in the scientific findings of Fish and Wildlife Service staff, investigators found in a report made public today. The findings in the report call into question recent decisions to deny protection to Gunnison sage grouse, white-tailed prairie dog, Gunnison’s prairie dog, and many other wildlife species.

A Bush administration appointee in the Interior Department interfered extensively in the scientific findings of Fish and Wildlife Service staff, investigators found in a report made public today.  The findings in the report call into question recent decisions to deny protection to Gunnison sage grouse, white-tailed prairie dog, Gunnison’s prairie dog, and many other wildlife species.

A report from the Office of the Inspector General released by the House Resources Committee documents interference with staff findings on at-risk wildlife species being considered for Endangered Species Act protection.  It also found inappropriate sharing of internal documents with industry representatives and private anti-conservation interests.  The report concludes that Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald violated federal regulations.  At least five species, including the Gunnison sage grouse, white-tailed prairie dog, and Gunnison’s prairie dog, may have been inappropriately denied protection due to MacDonald’s actions.  In addition, the report notes MacDonald’s attempts to manipulate scientific review for the endangered Preble’s meadow jumping mouse.

“It is deeply disappointing to learn that protections for so many critically imperiled native wildlife species have been prevented by the interference of a political appointee,” said Josh Pollock, Conservation Director at Center for Native Ecosystems.

“This is a betrayal of the public trust,” said Pollock.  “Clearly the Interior Department must be held accountable for this gross diversion of our most important wildlife protections.”

The Inspector General’s report finds that MacDonald has been “heavily involved with editing, commenting on, and reshaping the Endangered Species Program’s scientific reports from the field” despite the fact that she “has no formal educational background in natural sciences, such as biology.”

“The Fish and Wildlife Service needs to revisit all the decisions Julie MacDonald tampered with and correct the mistakes that she forced the Service to make,” said Erin Robertson, senior staff biologist at Center for Native Ecosystems.

Findings of the Inspector General’s Report

Among the scientific reports from the field that MacDonald reshaped were the initial findings on petitions to list several endangered species, as well as the Risk Analysis report for sage grouse and several critical habitat designation decisions.  In addition, MacDonald attempted to influence the choice of outside consultants hired to conduct a review of the scientific findings regarding the Preble's meadow jumping mouse, apparently to skew the results in favor of removing Endangered Species Act protection for the mouse.

The report noted that one former Fish and Wildlife Service employee observed that MacDonald “did not want to accept petitions to list species as endangered, and she did not want to designate critical habitats.  He said the overall effect was to minimize the Endangered Species Act as much as possible or ensnare it in court litigation, which happened often.”

The report cited several examples of MacDonald’s inappropriate questioning of science conducted or referenced by her staff.  Interviewed agency employees stated that “MacDonald would not accept the [field staff’s] scientific findings and would apply science from alternative outside sources… [and] would use information from these sources as ‘the best science’ and insist field employees revise their findings to fit what she wanted.”

“Sadly, this is yet one more example of political manipulation of science by the Bush administration,” said Robertson.  “Congress must protect the integrity of science-based decision making, especially when it comes to our most at-risk wildlife.”

Significantly, MacDonald indicated that the attempted political influence on scientific findings made by the Fish and Wildlife Service extended beyond simply her own prerogative.

“Julie MacDonald claims she was acting as part of the larger Interior Department political machine,” said Pollock.  “Congress needs to investigate how far this political corruption of the scientific process goes in the Interior Department.”

Representative Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV), as chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has said he would hold hearings to conduct “a sweeping review on whether politics is infiltrating decisions governing” endangered species.

The report found MacDonald had violated federal regulations regarding the Use of Nonpublic Information and the Appearance of Preferential Treatment.  Specifically, the report documented how MacDonald gave internal Fish and Wildlife Service documents to private sector sources ranging from industry representatives and anti-endangered species activist groups to friends and family.  In 2004, MacDonald sent a draft of internal guidance documents regarding critical habitat designation to the Pacific Legal Foundation, a group that regularly opposes endangered species protections and sues the Fish and Wildlife Service to reverse it habitat designations.  MacDonald sent an email with the document attached to a PLF attorney seeking his approval of the policy by asking “Does that work for you?”

In looking into allegations of MacDonald’s interference, the report noted numerous occasions when MacDonald ignored or bypassed the chain of command within the Fish and Wildlife Service in ways that intimidated or pressured the scientists on the field staff.  The report cites one employee who said MacDonald reached “’way down the line’ to have reports reflect what she wanted.”  The result, as another employee noted, was that she intimidated and bullied the field staff.

In fact, multiple employees noted MacDonald’s inappropriate and demeaning treatment of biologists and other professional staff at the Service.  One employee said that working with MacDonald “has been one of the most challenging times in [his] entire career.”  Others noted that MacDonald “intimidated” and “yelled at” agency staff and had been “abusive” of them.  One noted that MacDonald’s actions had demoralized the entire Fish and Wildlife Service program.

“The biologists who work to protect our natural heritage need to be able to make their determinations based on the best available science and not on browbeating and threats from above,” said Robertson.

Additional background, including documents illustrating Julie MacDonald’s manipulation of scientific findings for the white-tailed prairie dog and other species, can be found at http://www.nativeecosystems.org/newsroom/bush-administration-political-appointee-reverses-endangered-species-protections-for-nation-s-wildlife/

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