The predicament of Alaskan Sea Otters brings to light another set of tactics used by the Bush Administration to ignore the threats to our country's natural heritage.
The story begins with efforts by the Center Biological Diversity (CBD) to get the Administration to respond to warnings voiced by government scientists that the Alaskan population of Sea Otters is facing an unprecedented decline in numbers.
Responding to what government scientists have called "the most widespread and precipitous population decline in recorded history," the Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal administrative petition to protect the sea otters in October 2000 under the Endangered Species Act, America's safety net for endangered fish, wildlife, and plants.
However, one month later the Bush Administration came into power and has refused to process the petition according to the law ever since. Finally in 2004, and only after the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the Administration, a proposed rule to protect the sea otters was published and distributed for public review.
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