I applaud this idea. The environmental groups have for years used the endangered species act to stop road construction, construction of electrical generation dams, oil exploration, oil drilling, mining, logging, The list goes on. Let the experts in the field make the decisions as to whether the project adversely affects the wildlife, and as to whether an endangered species is truly affected. Look at the Polar Bears, there is more Polar Bears currently is existence than ever before since they started counting them. Yet environmental groups are using the endangered Species act to stop oil drilling on the North Slope and off shore. One of the largest predators on Dall Sheep is the Bald Eagle. There is no shortage of Bald Eagles here, we have them everywhere. I can show you seven nest within five miles of my house. I can take you out and show you 15 to 20 any afternoon. Yet since they are endangered in the lower 48 therefore on the Endangered Species List we are not allowed to control them.
As a hunter I feel we need to let the people that are experts in the field make the decisions, not politicians who vote on emotions, or how they feel their constituents might feel on an issue they or their constitutes have no knowledge, just emotion about. As a member of the Game Board advisory Commitee, I have seen first hand how stupid some of these laws are, and how they tie the hands of too many people trying to get things done for the betterment of the country or wildlife.
BTW: Many people visiting Alaska ask why we have no roads going to anywhere in the state? We would like to have roads to the towns and villages of Alaska, but due to laws such as the Endangered Species act, we can not build any roads up here. It might (and I stress the might) hurt some little bird that no one has ever heard of before.
