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EXCLUSIVE: Scientists at Interior Depart spent several years-& thousands of hours-studying impact 3 pesticides have on endangered species. Their conclusion: more than 1,200 at jeopardy. Then release of their report was blocked, in part by David Bernhardt. nytimes.com/2019/03/26/us/…
Here is the key slide--which Interior's Fish & Wildlife accidentally released via a FOIA request--that summarizes the findings that Interior has now deep sixed. There are a total of 1,663 endangered species in the United States. This from briefing to Interior political appointees
The staff from Interior who had worked on this report--they knew they were going to run into opposition from the pesticide industry. But they plowed ahead. Here is an ONCE-SECRET INTERIOR DOCUMENT, predicting push back.
The staff had worked literally thousands of hours--for years. Four biologists. Four toxicologists at Fish & Wildlife HQ, and staff from dozens of Fish & Wildlife field offices nationwide. A MASSIVE collaborative effort. Staff celebrated as they wrapped up their work. SEE THIS
There was at least one MAJOR problem with all this work. The pesticide industry wanted it KILLED. They turned to Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke and others at Interior, the records show
That is when David Bernhardt stepped in, then serving as deputy Interior Secretary, in October 2017. Here is the first email of several from Bernhardt
Here are some of the slides from the briefing Bernhardt was given by the agency staff. Short summary: hundreds of animals and plants in jeopardy.
Bernhardt then helped craft language for letter to EPA saying that Interior's Fish and Wildlife was changing its plans. It would not release the draft report. It instead was going to change how it assessed the threat--in a way that reflected the industry's desires.
The pesticide manufacturers--and their lawyer who had asked for the Interior assessment to be SET ASIDE--were notified in a letter. It had been set aside. It would be largely redone. And not released now until APRIL 2020. Last year of Trump's term.
Here is a collection of all the documents in one place. A lot of effort pulling these together. And realize more than you probably want to read. But this is an important public record. Wanted it all out there. documentcloud.org/documents/5778…
Here again is the story. A look at how the pesticide industry intervend with Interior and sought--successfully--to sidetrack/delay a massive federal effort to evaluate harm to endangered species caused by its products With an assist by David Bernhardt, nytimes.com/2019/03/26/us/…
BREAKING: House Dems send letter to Acting Sec. Bernhardt asking him to immediately release staff assessments of pesticide threat to more than 1,000 endangered species, citing today's NYT story. (That was fast)
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