This has already been posted, but I think it bears repeating. The FWS has filed a final rule with the OMB that will severely limit our ability to sell and keep 9 species of constrictors. It will place these snakes on the list of injurious species to wildlife under the Lacey act. Although many members here may not currently keep these large constrictors, this is only the first step to limiting our ability to keep any snakes. And the keeping of corn snakes is already limited in some states here in the US.
I work in Regulatory Affairs for a major chemical company. I have seen regulatory bodies, like the EPA and NTP (National Toxicology Program) routinely ignore good science and instead list certain chemicals as toxic (which ultimately leads to a complete ban), based on nothing more than their own agendas. They typically ignore demands that they even follow their own procedures. Industry unfortunately doesn't have a good track record for making them follow their own rules, and consider the science out there. There is a very good chance the FWS will be successful here.
We need to step up to the plate and fight this. USARK is doing a fantastic job in lobbying lawmakers, but they need our assistance. It takes money to to do this, so I encourage everyone here to join USARK and donate money. I just finished donating $50 to them. If everyone could donate even $5, it would make a huge impact in this fight.
I am not associated with USARK, BTW, but they're the only ones right now who are fighting for us. Please don't be complacent and sit by and watch this unfold.
Here's the e-mail from them:
US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has filed a final rule with the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB). This filing has no material changes from the proposed rule that would add 9 constricting snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. This would make import or interstate transport of the 9 constrictors a felony with heavy fines and potential jail time. This is the final stage of the rule making process. OMB's role is to review the proposed rule to ensure that the costs to businesses do not outweigh the purported benefits. In spite of USARK's information to the contrary, and the Small Business Administration's findings that FWS did not do its due diligence in determining economic impact, we remain unsure of OMB's position. As many as a million American citizens could be negatively impacted if this rule is enacted. It would create a whole new class of criminal out of law abiding citizens engaged in what is now a perfectly legal trade.
There is also likely to be an oversight hearing at the US House Natural Resources Committee because of the potential to destroy a viable $1.4 billion cottage industry; and the flagrant disregard by FWS for mandated process and procedure under the Administrative Procedures Act and Information Quality Act. USARK has uncovered evidence that appears to point to an intentional effort to manufacture science to support a policy directive based on staff preference at FWS. This preference by FWS could mean the loss of thousands of jobs and the destruction of viable sector of our nations economy in a time of hardship.
Members of the Reptile Nation should prepare themselves for the “Big Fight”. This process should take about 45 days to unfold. USARK calls upon the OMB, the US House of Representatives and the US Senate to look closely at how FWS has circumvented due process to create policy based on staff preference. USARK believes that these actions by a government agency, upon close examination, will be found to be arbitrary, capricious and unlawful.
USARK needs the Reptile Nation to pull together as never before. This is our chance to overcome unfair regulation. Please stay tuned to USARK alerts and forward this communique to you circle of influence.
Please click the Donate button at the top of the page and help protect your ability to trade reptiles.
Questions:
Andrew Wyatt
[email protected]
I work in Regulatory Affairs for a major chemical company. I have seen regulatory bodies, like the EPA and NTP (National Toxicology Program) routinely ignore good science and instead list certain chemicals as toxic (which ultimately leads to a complete ban), based on nothing more than their own agendas. They typically ignore demands that they even follow their own procedures. Industry unfortunately doesn't have a good track record for making them follow their own rules, and consider the science out there. There is a very good chance the FWS will be successful here.
We need to step up to the plate and fight this. USARK is doing a fantastic job in lobbying lawmakers, but they need our assistance. It takes money to to do this, so I encourage everyone here to join USARK and donate money. I just finished donating $50 to them. If everyone could donate even $5, it would make a huge impact in this fight.
I am not associated with USARK, BTW, but they're the only ones right now who are fighting for us. Please don't be complacent and sit by and watch this unfold.
Here's the e-mail from them:
US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has filed a final rule with the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB). This filing has no material changes from the proposed rule that would add 9 constricting snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. This would make import or interstate transport of the 9 constrictors a felony with heavy fines and potential jail time. This is the final stage of the rule making process. OMB's role is to review the proposed rule to ensure that the costs to businesses do not outweigh the purported benefits. In spite of USARK's information to the contrary, and the Small Business Administration's findings that FWS did not do its due diligence in determining economic impact, we remain unsure of OMB's position. As many as a million American citizens could be negatively impacted if this rule is enacted. It would create a whole new class of criminal out of law abiding citizens engaged in what is now a perfectly legal trade.
There is also likely to be an oversight hearing at the US House Natural Resources Committee because of the potential to destroy a viable $1.4 billion cottage industry; and the flagrant disregard by FWS for mandated process and procedure under the Administrative Procedures Act and Information Quality Act. USARK has uncovered evidence that appears to point to an intentional effort to manufacture science to support a policy directive based on staff preference at FWS. This preference by FWS could mean the loss of thousands of jobs and the destruction of viable sector of our nations economy in a time of hardship.
Members of the Reptile Nation should prepare themselves for the “Big Fight”. This process should take about 45 days to unfold. USARK calls upon the OMB, the US House of Representatives and the US Senate to look closely at how FWS has circumvented due process to create policy based on staff preference. USARK believes that these actions by a government agency, upon close examination, will be found to be arbitrary, capricious and unlawful.
USARK needs the Reptile Nation to pull together as never before. This is our chance to overcome unfair regulation. Please stay tuned to USARK alerts and forward this communique to you circle of influence.
Please click the Donate button at the top of the page and help protect your ability to trade reptiles.
Questions:
Andrew Wyatt
[email protected]
Last edited by a moderator:
