Endangered Species Review

More than 250 imperiled species, including plants, sea life, and mammals, will be reviewed by the Obama Administration to see if they need greater protection. Some species currently on the backlog have been waiting for review since the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973. The decisions, which would be completed by September 2016, would settle a litigation dispute between the government and WildEarth Guardians. The nonprofit has repeatedly filed lawsuits against the Interior Department in order to extend threatened-species protection, which the Interior Department believes distract from research and restoration work.