Politicians Ask NOAA to Suspend Whale Rule
Four U.S. representatives signed a letter requesting the agency to suspend further action on its rule intended to protect right whales.
In a letter from U.S. Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), four members of the House of Representatives asked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to suspend further action on changes to the proposed North Atlantic right whale vessel speed rule.
“The proposed rule is significantly flawed because the technical analysis makes assumptions known to be inaccurate, which may derive from NOAA Fisheries’ decision to proceed without input from impacted stakeholders. This also calls into question the extent to which the proposed rule would even provide [North Atlantic right whales] with the protection needed.”
The letter was signed by Sattler Peltola, Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.). The letter also suggests that the rule could cause economic harm along much of the East Coast if public access is effectively eliminated for extended periods.