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1 (July 16, 2002)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthabbfa0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21264 July 16, 2002 The Endangered Species Act and Sound Science Pamela Baldwin Legislative Attorney American Law Division M. Lynne Corn Specialist in Natural Resources Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The Endangered Species Act is a strong statute enacted to save and recover dwindling species. Decisions to list species are to rest only on the best available scientific data, and science plays a part in other important aspects of the Act. Yet many times the best available science may be sketchy. Recent situations involving economic and social conflicts over resources have resulted in a renewed focus on the use of science under the ESA and several proposals are before Congress. This report provides background on the issues and will be updated as circumstances warrant. The Endangered Species Act (ESA)l was enacted to conserve listed species - to bring them to the point where they do not need the special protections of the Act2 - and to protect the ecosystems of which dwindling species are a part.3 Dwindling species often reflect endangered resources or ecosystems. Recent situations4 in which there have been economic and social disruptions as a result of listings under the ESA have resulted in a renewed focus on the protective posture of the Act5 and on the use of science under it. All agree that ESA decisions should be based on sound science, but that phrase can mean different things to different people. 1 Pub. L. No. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. §§1531 et seq. 2 Section 3(3), 16 U.S.C. §1532. 3 Section 2(b), 16 U.S.C. §1531(b). 4 See, e.g. CRS Report RL31098, Klamath River Basin Issues: An Overview of Water Use Conflicts, which discusses the conflicts over water use in that area. 5 See Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, 437 U.S. 153 (1978). Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web

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