2019 Endangered Species Act Regulatory Revisions
The U.S. Department of the Interior and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently finalized comprehensive changes in how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is implemented. These changes address the species listing process, critical habitat designations, protections for threatened species, and the §7 consultation process. On August 23, 2019, the Environmental Law Institute hosted an expert panel that highlighted reactions to the changes and explored how they will be implemented, whom they will affect, their impact on state and local agencies, and how they will impact species conservation. This Dialogue is a transcript of the discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.