House approves major overhaul of Endangered Species Act

The House yesterday approved a top-to-bottom overhaul of the landmark 1973 Endangered Species Act, perhaps the nation's most powerful environmental law.

By a vote of 229-193, lawmakers passed legislation that could greatly expand private-property rights under the environmental law that is credited with helping keep the bald eagle from extinction, but that has led to battles over species such as the spotted owl, the snail darter and the red-legged frog.

The White House supports the legislation, although it wants some changes. The Senate has not taken up companion legislation and is unlikely to accept such drastic revisions in the law, so compromises are likely if the bill is ever to become law.

In addition, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., head of the panel that oversees the law, has expressed concerns about the House bill...

...The bill that passed would require the government to compensate property owners if steps needed to protect species thwarted development plans. It also would make political appointees responsible for some scientific determinations and would stop the government from designating areas as "critical habitat."

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