Public Comments

 

Public Comments


Public commenting occurs pursuant to statutes mandating citizen participation in agency action. These laws allow public involvement in the rule making process, and therefore the regulation of many activities involving animals. This participation gives a voice to diverse opinions and assures that all affected interests are considered during agency decision making. Public commenting is important to our nation because administrative agencies are largely insolated form public accountability through normal democratic channels.  Public commenting is important for you—-the law student—-because it provides a good writing sample for employers, counts towards your pro bono hours for the semester, and allows you to voice your opinions in a forum where the government is forced to listen!  Interested in working on a comment?  Visit our Pro Bono page to see current commenting opportunities!

SALDF members regularly submit public comments on state and federal administrative agency actions that affect animals.  Here are some of the past comments we have submitted:     

California Tiger Salamander Critical Habitat Designation

Feb. 17, 2011 - Comment submitted to Fish and Wildlife Service to designate critical habitat for the California tiger salamander.  Written by Meera Gajjar.
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Great Lakes Gray Wolf Delisting Petition

Nov. 15, 2010 - Comment submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opposing the 90-day finding on petitions to delist the Gray Wolf in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the Western Great Lakes.  Written by Meera Gajjar, Dianne Lamberty, June Lee, and Sarah Perelstein. 
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Oregon Wolf Conservation & Management Plan Evaluation

Sept. 30, 2010 - Comment submitted to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the 2010 evaluation of the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, in support of increased wolf protection.  Contributed to by Donna Dicks, JennyRae Foreman, Meera Gajjar, Brian Gullen, and Sarah Perelstein. 
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Washington State Gray Wolf Management Plan

May 15, 2010 - Comment to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife supporting the purposed plan in part and suggesting changes to be considered by the agency prior to finalizing the state’s management strategy. By Stefan Heller, Mark Jordan, and Kimberlee Petrie.
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Petition to Revoke Tolerances for Pesticides

Nov. 2, 2009 - Comment to the Office of Pesticide Programs on the petition from the American Bird Conservancy to revoke the import tolerances of 13 pesticides in accordance with the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Written by Jesse Buss, Jennifer Loda, and Lindsay Tallon.
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Designation of Critical Habitat for the California Tiger Salamander

Oct. 19, 2009 - Comment to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regarding its proposal to designate critical habitat for the Sonoma County distinct population segment of the California tiger salamander under the Endangered Species Act.  Written by Jennifer Loda.
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Oregon Confined Animal Feeding Operation NPDES General Permit

Oct. 5, 2009 - Comment to the Oregon Department of Agriculture regarding the permit renewal of Confined Animal Feeding Operations in Portland area.  Written by Stefan Heller, Keith Mosman, Richard Myer, Walter Fonseca, and Annmarie Robustelli.
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California Sea Lion Lethal Removal

Feb. 15, 2008 - Comment to the Protected Resources Division in relation to the several northwestern states’ request for authorization to lethally remove California Sea Lions below the Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River.  Written by Megan Lemire.
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Animal Welfare Act Emergency Planning

Dec. 20, 2008 - Comment on the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service’s proposal to require facilities subject to the Animal Welfare Act to plan for animal care during disasters and emergencies.  By Claire Tonry and Natalie Calta.
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Delisting Northern Rockies Mountain Gray Wolf

Nov. 24, 2008 - Comment to the US Fish & Wildlife Service opposing the proposal to designate the Northern Rocky Mountain population of Gray Wolf as a distinct population segment, and remove this distinct population segment from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.  Contributed to by Megan Lemire and Jeff Maslow.
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Oregon’s Factory Farm Clean Water Act Permit

Oct. 27, 2008 - Comment to the Oregon Department of Agriculture in regards to its proposed water pollution permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).  Written by Claire Tonry.
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Endangered Species Act

Oct. 5, 2008 - Comment to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regarding its proposed rule to adjust interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act.  Written by Stefan Heller, Jessica Morgan, and Rita Yonkers.
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North Atlantic Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Plan

Sept. 29, 2008 - Comment to the Coast Guard and National Marine Fisheries Service detailing how to improve its plan to reduce the amount of ships that strike critically endangered Right Whales.  Submitted in part by Claire Tonry and Matthew Abts.
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