More Transparency Needed in ESA

With your Land and livestock Report, I’m Susan Allen. Representative Dan Newhouse a Republican from Washington State is calling for more data transparency in the Endangered Species Act. We recently caught up with Representative Newhouse and he expressed the importance of allowing the state to review the data especially when it comes to reintroducing the grizzly into the high cascades

NEWHOUSE: We have as you know, a couple different things going on in North Central Washington certainly with the wolves also grizzly bears. Determinations have been made preliminary to reintroduce the grizzly to the cascades. We’d would like to see the data and information used to make that determination.

I believe the last reported sighting of a grizzly in the Grizzly in the North Cascades was about 21 years ago.

NEWHOUSE: Yes, I think 96 was the last sighting. Is it truly to join an existing population? Maybe there is something we have not been made aware of?

Regarding the ESA he has another idea that might help in transparency.

NEWHOUSE: Also requiring that the agency makes the information that they use available to state, local and tribal governments as well.

It also ensures on-the-ground data is factored into listing decisions.