AIBS Webinar to Explore Effects of Trump Administration Changes to Endangered Species Act
More than 450 scientists from around the world recently released findings showing that up to one million species may become threatened with extinction. At a time when scientists are calling for strengthened biodiversity protections, the United States is undoing provisions of the Endangered Species Act.
On August 27, 2019, the Trump Administration published three final regulatory rollbacks that drastically weaken the Endangered Species Act. The Act has successfully protected the bald eagle, American alligator, Pacific salmon, humpback whale, brown pelican, as well as many other species and their habitats-from mountain tops...
Source: Public Policy Reports - September 16, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Trump Administration Repeals 2015 WOTUS Rule
On September 12, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. That rule defined the wetlands and waterways that are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a new rule throwing out the prior definition of the regulation and bringing protection standards from 1986 back into effect. The 2015 rule had been blocked in 27 states and was in effect in 22 others. The repeal places all 50 states back under 1986 regulations. “Thanks to the leadership of the EPA we can move forward with a water rule that protects...
Source: Public Policy Reports - September 16, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
OSTP Seeks Public Input on U.S. Bioeconomy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is requesting public input on the U.S. Bioeconomy, defined as the infrastructure, innovation, products, technology, and data derived from biologically-related processes and science that drive economic growth, promote health, and increase public benefit.
According to the notice, public input will inform “notable gaps, vulnerabilities, and areas to promote and protect in the U.S. Bioeconomy that may benefit from Federal government attention.”
Comments will be accepted until October 22, 2019. More information about the Request for Information is av...
Source: Public Policy Reports - September 16, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
NSB Calls for Growing the Skilled Technical Workforce
The National science Board (NSB) — the governing body for the National Science Foundation (NSF) — has released a new report titled, “The Skilled Technical Workforce: Crafting America’s Science and Engineering Enterprise.” The report highlights contributions of the skilled technical workforce (STW) and calls for action to grow this segment of the U.S. science and engineering (S&E) workforce.
The NSB report draws attention to the workforce of 17 million people who use S&E skills in their job but do not have a bachelor’s degree. “These individuals bring critical thinking, des...
Source: Public Policy Reports - September 16, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
Organizations Urge Federal Agencies to Balance Security Considerations with Impacts on Scientific Collaborations
In a September 4, 2019 letter, sixty science, engineering, and international education organizations, including the American Institute of Biological Sciences, have urged the heads of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to consider a wide range of stakeholder perspectives as the agencies work together to address issues of foreign influence on U.S. research.
The letter reads, “While we must be vigilant to safeguard research, we must also ensure...
Source: Public Policy Reports - September 16, 2019 Category: Biology Authors: AIBS Source Type: news
