Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley has filed a lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries services. The lawsuit is against the Obama-era regulation that will give the federal government the power to assign entire land as critical home of endangered species.
Since Missouri river is the home of an endangered species pallid sturgeon, it will be part of the new law. The pallid sturgeon was declared an endangered species in 1990. Since then, the Fish and Wildlife Service has made projects to protect and restore its habitat. It has been destroyed by numerous man-made wastes and other dangerous stuff that is going to the river, KBIA reported. "We're bringing suit against an Obama-era regulation that gives the federal government the power to designate whole swathes of land as critical habitat," Attorney General Josh Hawley said.
According to News Leader, the complaint stated that rules are very unlawful. They are just another way to enlarge the control of the federal government to the lands and waters of the country. It also tramples the right of the people as landowners and stewards of natural resources. If continued, the government might declare many lands and waters as "critical habitat" just for them to have it or use it for their own good, the complaint also stated.
Even though there are no endangered species in the said land or water it might be declared as critical by the government, the complaint continued. The rule that the complaint is referring to is the Critical Habitat Rule of the Endangered Species Act, or ESA. Before, it only stated to protect the land or water where an endangered species is living. Federal agencies will stop whatever their doing that is harming the said habitat.
With the new law that was passed this February, it changed that. Many anti-Trump and animal rights activists plus lawyers are afraid the government might take advantage of it.
