Conservation group asks Salazar to lift rules to protect endangered species

Conservationists have asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to lift two rules they say weaken the Endangered Species Act, including one that affects protected polar bears. The Center for Biological Diversity on Wednesday delivered 50,000 petitions to Salazar, requesting he rescind rules put in place by the Bush administration. On March 10, Congress gave Salazar the power to rescind the rules during the following 60 days or until May 9. More than 40 congressional members on Monday urged Salazar and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to rescind the rules. Under the Bush rules, federal agencies determine for themselves whether their actions might harm endangered species rather than seek independent review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Services. Federal projects also are exempt from considering the impact of their greenhouse gas emissions on threatened or endangered species like the polar bear...The Oregonian