FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investigation into Politically Tainted Endangered Species Decisions Grows

Inspector General to question species decisions that Fish and Wildlife Service ignored

Based on a request from Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Interior Department’s Office of the Inspector General announced Friday a new investigation into more than a dozen endangered species decisions that were inappropriately influenced by former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald. The new investigation begins nine months after an earlier Inspector General’s report exposed MacDonald’s interference in numerous Fish and Wildlife Service decisions and led to her resignation and an ongoing scandal in the Interior Department.

Based on a request from Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Interior Department’s Office of the Inspector General announced Friday a new investigation into more than a dozen endangered species decisions that were inappropriately influenced by former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald.  The new investigation begins nine months after an earlier Inspector General’s report exposed MacDonald’s interference in numerous Fish and Wildlife Service decisions and led to her resignation and an ongoing scandal in the Interior Department.

In the Rocky Mountain region, the new investigation will specifically address the decisions to deny Endangered Species Act protections to the greater sage grouse, Gunnison sage grouse, and Gunnison’s prairie dog.  In each of these cases, Freedom of Information Act requests by local conservation groups revealed clear evidence of MacDonald’s involvement.  Despite this, none of these decisions ended up on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s July 20^th list of eight species decisions they agreed to reexamine in light of MacDonald’s involvement.  The Fish and Wildlife Service recently acknowledged the need to reverse seven of the eight decisions.

“The problem of political interference in endangered species protection is much larger than the Interior Department would like to admit,” said Josh Pollock, Conservation Director at Center for Native Ecosystems.  “The problem also goes way beyond Julie MacDonald’s actions, but this expanded probe is desperately needed for the many creatures she forced out into the cold.”

On the west coast, including Oregon where Senator Wyden resides, the investigation will include the northern spotted owl, Delta smelt, Sacramento splittail, California tiger salamander, and dozens of others.  All told, eighteen separate decisions affecting more than 30 species will be investigated.  The decisions range from denials of endangered species listing to elimination of protected habitat.  Under various laws including the Endangered Species Act, all such decisions are required to be based on the best available science.

“Listing decisions for both the greater sage-grouse and Gunnison sage-grouse were corrupted by political appointees in the Bush Administration,” said Mark Salvo, Director of the Sagebrush Sea Campaign. “Both species continue to decline and the Inspector General’s report cannot come soon enough for them.”  Last week the Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy listed Gunnison sage-grouse and greater sage-grouse on their “WatchList” for the most endangered and sensitive bird species in North America.

"A broader investigation of political interference is required to address the many species that the Fish and Wildlife Service is refusing to recognize as victims of Julie MacDonald," stated Dr. Nicole Rosmarino of Forest Guardians. "MacDonald's fingerprints on the negative decision for the highly imperiled Gunnison's prairie dog could not be clearer, yet the Service remains in denial," continued Rosmarino.

Senator Wyden’s request letter, dated November 30^th, called on Inspector General Earl E. Devaney to “look at how the Fish and Wildlife Service reached its decisions on actions for these species and whether there was any improper political influence in these decisions.”  Wyden went on to point out that “the eight species identified by the Fish and Wildlife Service may be just the tip of the iceberg.”

Wyden initially made his request that the Interior Department investigate the additional decisions in July, immediately after the Fish and Wildlife Service announced its intention to reexamine the eight decisions.  The Inspector General’s response last Friday to Senator Wyden’s request did not offer a timeline for completion of the investigation, but sources in Senator Wyden’s office believe the investigation will begin immediately.  The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is also currently investigating the Fish and Wildlife Service’s process for selecting the eight decisions they chose to review.  Senator Wyden emphasized that his request of the Office of the Inspector General was different from the GAO investigation.

The Inspector General’s original investigation into the political interference scandal still rocking the Interior Department focused on the personal conduct of Julie MacDonald.  The report made in March of 2007 concluded that MacDonald had violated federal regulations and bullied Fish and Wildlife Service scientists into changing their findings regarding the need to protect many endangered species.  The report touched off a series of Congressional hearings and inspired the Fish and Wildlife Service’s plans to reverse seven of the politically manipulated decisions.

Senator Wyden has been pursuing an adequate response from the Interior Department to the problem of political interference since the Inspector General’s first report on MacDonald in March.  For several months, he maintained a hold on the nomination of former Colorado State Parks director Lyle Laverty to a top Interior Department post.  Wyden maintained the hold while seeking “reassurance” from Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne that the culture within the department was changed enough to prevent the sort of political interference perpetrated by MacDonald from happening again.

“Senator Ron Wyden has been a champion for fair treatment of the many endangered species denied protection by Julie MacDonald,” said Pollock.  “His willingness to press the Interior Department for a full accounting for so many months has also kept the spotlight on the need for greater integrity in federal science.”

As conservationists and others continue to seek redress for the many species denied protection due to political interference like MacDonald’s, almost all of the decisions encompassed by the new investigation have found their way into the courts.  In the Rocky Mountain region, both species of sage grouse are awaiting the outcome of current litigation regarding their endangered species status.  In the case of the Gunnison’s prairie dog, the Fish and Wildlife Service recently agreed in a court settlement to issue a revised proposal regarding endangered species listing in February 2008.

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