Bill Description:
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce to post online the “best scientific and commercial data” underlying each proposed and final determination regarding the potential listing of a species.[teaserbreak]
Background:
S. 292 ignores the lack of agency resources to create such an online system involving massive amounts of data. Further, it fails to account for real-world issues surrounding data sharing and thus would likely do more harm than good. S. 292 ignores situations in which public disclosure of data could further imperil the species at issue–by facilitating poaching, for example. It could also undermine scientists’ work by requiring the release of some data before researchers have had their studies peer reviewed and published. Such a requirement would likely result in fewer scientists being willing to participate in the process of evaluating species’ status. All told, this bill will only create bureaucratic hurdles that would likely delay the process of protecting species and distract from legitimate conservation efforts.
Take Action:
Contact your U.S. senators and urge them to oppose this legislation!
Read the full text and follow its progress here.