Topic: Endangered species rulings under review

[Orstio]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070721/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/endangered_species

WASHINGTON - The Rocky Mountain jumping mouse can jump a little freer. The head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it may yet get to keep its federal protection.
 
H. Dale Hall, the agency's director, on Friday ordered a review of eight endangered species decisions in which former deputy assistant secretary Julie MacDonald was involved. As a result, the fate of the rare mouse, a Western bird known as the "mosquito king" and other threatened creatures will be reconsidered after alleged meddling by MacDonald.

In her post, MacDonald oversaw Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service. In March, the Interior Department's inspector general rebuked MacDonald for pressuring scientists to alter their findings about endangered species and leaking information about them to industry officials. In May, she resigned.