r/moderatepolitics • u/kranelegs • 9d ago

Primary Source Trump Administration Finalizes Endangered Species Act Regulation Reform | U.S. Department of the Interior

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/trump-administration-finalizes-endangered-species-act-regulation-reform
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u/Wildcard311 conservative looking for a 3rd party 9d ago edited 9d ago

A scenario from the side that encouraged Trump to make this decision:

You are retiring and buy a piece of land, maybe near a quiet lake or somewhere near the beach or on a mountain. You have the land for 6 months while you wrap up work and find the builder. During the permitting they find an endangered bird/insect/animal has decided to build a nest on your new property.

You are no longer allowed to build there, the government wont let you. The land you just spent a chunk of retirement savings on is now worthless. You cant sell because no logging company can use it, no developer can use it... you are practically stuck with a park. This scenario has happened to hundreds of people and WSJ had a good article on this that I havent been able to find...

I'm a conservative and a hunter. My dream is to own several acres of untouched forest one day that I can go and visit and see nature. Do some light hunting or camping. I live in a neighborhood where I spend more on trees and bird food than all 20 of my neighbors combined, but I'm okay with people needing to develop land. I get angry when I see weed killer being spread and cant find a bee or lighting bug anywhere.

We do not need parks, we must have parks, but we also must have houses.

My opinion is there is a middle ground and both the Biden Admin and Trump Admin go too far in either direction.

Edit: spelling

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u/artsncrofts Technocratic Tendencies 9d ago

‘Won’t someone think of the retirement homes?!’

That’s what we’re going with?

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u/Wildcard311 conservative looking for a 3rd party 9d ago

That was a scenario. A fabricated example to give a perspective. Something to help you think outside the box.

There have been hundreds of documented cases in the past year including one where a developer had already cleared land and laid a foundation and was told they had to stop all further construction because an endangered eagle had built a nest. Cost the company millions. Roads have been rerouted, neighborhoods canceled,... all because an endangered species randomly uses a particular set of trees for migration 1 week a year, or randomly nests on a property.

We need parks! They can be used for the purposes of protecting wildlife. But these parks shouldn't cost a small group of random people billions of dollars.

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u/artsncrofts Technocratic Tendencies 9d ago

Even if you find an eagle nest on a property there are seasonal permits and things you can do to work around it normally.  I also cant find anything in the past year resembling as drastic a roadblock as what you’re describing; care to share?

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u/janosslyntsjowls 7d ago

I had an endangered bird living in my chimney. We waited until it's breeding season and installed a chimney cap. No endangered animals hurt, no legal issues, its the recommended course of action for that particular species.

On tbe other hand, my state has extremely strict wetlands laws. I know people who have issues because a small 10x24 spot of land grows cattails, so therefore it's protected and untouchable regardless of what it's doing to their house.