The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry said House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) that would submit the endangered and threatened species designation and evaluation process to review by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission is a good-government bill that appropriately balances species management and protection with economic development though a more open and transparent process.

The proposed Endangered Species Coordination Act would make the Fish and Boat, and Game commission’s rulemakings for listing threatened and endangered species subject to the very same regulatory review process followed by other state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for its threatened and endangered species designations.

PA Chamber President Gene Barr said the negative attention the issue is receiving from environmental and other groups is the result of misinformation and lack of understanding about the intent, scope and purpose of the measure.

“The legislation promotes accountability, transparency and uniformity by requiring the Game, and Fish and Boat commissions to follow a procedure for species management and protection that every other state agency goes through in promulgating regulations,” he said. “The Independent Regulatory Review Commission affords all stakeholders, and the general public, an opportunity to weigh in on proposed regulations. It’s a fair and effective system. There is no reason to expect any different with regard to species management and protection, and claims to the contrary are unwarranted.

“One would think that that environmental groups such as PennFuture and The Sierra Club would want to ensure that regulations are considered in the light of day,” he added.

Barr stressed that the legislation wouldn’t diminish the agencies’ authority, and it won’t impact regulations related to hunting or fishing seasons or bag and creel limits, which was an initial concern to some sportsmen’s groups.

Bringing balance to the process is important for multiple industries and any Pennsylvania business seeking permits for development or redevelopment projects –i.e., bridge work, highway construction, hospital or housing development design – that must account for the impacts on threatened and endangered species and their critical habitats.

“As these industries, as well as the engineering, planning, surveying and environmental remediation firms that work with the regulated community can attest, the current process can often lead to unnecessary delays that ultimately increase the overall costs of these projects,” he said. “A better system will ensure appropriate protection for threatened and endangered species while creating a more conducive climate for economic development. That is why this issue is a priority for multiple industries in the Commonwealth, not just the extraction industries.

“Unlike some groups that believe economic considerations should have no bearing on species protection or habitat preservation, the regulated community and other supporters of the proposed Endangered Species Coordination Act believe that endangered species management and economic development can and should coexist—that there should be a balance between the two,” he stressed.

Barr said the legislation has already been well vetted in the legislature, with all parties having had the opportunity to testify before lawmakers.

“We urge the General Assembly to pass this measure and give business and industry the same input in the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission regulatory process as it is afforded with other state agencies.”

[Note: The bill generated significant opposition from sportsmens and environmental groups across the state during two joint public hearings held by the Game and Fisheries and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees.

[The Marcellus Shale Coalition, Associated Petroleum Industries and Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association all co-signed a letter in support of the bill, applauding its “consistency, transparency and accountability” in handling endangered species.]

NewsClips:

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11/11/2013