Dr. Peter O. Thomas, Chief of Management Authority
Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 700
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Fax: 703-358-2280
Dear Dr. Thomas:
I am writing today to voice my opposition to the administrations current efforts to rewrite importation policies in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the hundreds of endangered species around the world. The ESA should not be weakened in this manner, but rather, it should continue to be used to protect listed species within the United States and beyond our borders.
The proposed change would undermine the basic principles of the ESA by opening the doors to wider trade in foreign endangered species and would not be in the best interest of the long-term survival of these species. The administrations desired change in policy would mark a dramatic reinterpretation of the ESA that would have far-reaching consequences for the already vulnerable populations of foreign endangered species.
The ESA reflects Americas strong commitment to protecting endangered species wherever they are found. The Fish and Wildlife Service should respect that commitment, and maintain a permit policy that prohibits the importation of foreign endangered wildlife except in cases where the import serves a legitimate scientific need or contributes in a direct, substantial and verifiable way to the long-term survival of the species. Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME