California AttorneyGeneral Rob Bonta co-led a coalition of 16 attorneys general insending a comment letter to the Trump Administration opposing a proposed ruleby the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine FisheriesService (collectively, the Services) to rescind the regulatory definitions of“harm” under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This change, iffinalized, would significantly weaken the law’s ability to protect imperiledwildlife, especially from threats to the habitat upon which these speciesdepend for their survival and recovery. This would include destroying breedingand feeding grounds, polluting or draining critical water sources, or degradinghabitat, even if those actions lead to the death or injury of protectedESA-listed species. “California is home to more than 300 species listed asthreatened or endangered under the federal ESA, whose survival depends on thecontinued protection provided by the ESA. Not only would the proposed rule putour ecosystems in critical danger, but the Trump Administration would be makingthis change illegally. My fellow attorneys general and I will continue todefend laws that protect endangered and threatened species and the preservationof biodiversity. Both humanity and the species with whom we share this planetdepend on it.” – AG Bonta