Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Are endangered species endangering property rights?

Such stories have circulated through legislative meetings in recent days to support bills that sponsors hope will reduce endangered species’ alleged impact on land use, reflecting the long-simmering friction between Utah’s rural communities and federal wildlife management. "This is an absolute takings, no question," Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, told a House committee Friday. His HCR7, advanced by the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality Committee, asks the feds to not designate any private land in San Juan County as sage grouse habitat. Conservationists argue the federal Endangered Species Act is flexible enough to balance property rights with species recovery when landowners and local officials work within the law’s framework. Utah lawmakers are also discussing Noel’s HB112, which would require county assessors to take into account the presence of federally protected plants and animals when evaluating a land’s taxable value. Noel says property owners are entitled to some relief when endangered or threatened animals such as the Utah prairie dog rears its head in an alfalfa field, proposed subdivision or golf course. "It’s your worst nightmare to have one of these show up on your property," Noel told colleagues in a recent committee hearing. Under HB112, which is awaiting action on the House floor, that relief could come in the form of a reduced evaluation, thus lowering the tax burden...more

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

All efforts by the government to limit your use of your private land is a violation of our property rights. The only was to stop this is to destroy the Endangered Species Act once and for all! Lets make those who propose such Acts and Endangered Species in the next election. In the mean time contact your congressman and tell them to stop the cash flow to the EPA,USFWS and any other property rights violators. Come on America Wake Up!