US endangered species could lose protection

Animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct in the US could lose the protection government experts who make sure that dams, highways and other projects don’t pose a threat to them, under regulations the Bush administration is set to put in place before President-elect Barack Obama can reverse them.

Animals and plants in danger of becoming extinct in the US could lose the protection of government experts who make sure that dams, highways and other projects don’t pose a threat to them, under regulations the Bush administration is set to put in place before President-elect Barack Obama can reverse them.

The rules eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorising or funding a project to determine for itself if it is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants.