Utah Republican U.S. Senators Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch introduced a bill this week that would remove Endangered Species Act protections from species that are found exclusively within the borders of one state.
The move comes on the heels of a contentious legal fight over the Utah prairie dog that’s making its way toward the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Native Species Protection Act would allow states to manage those species found within their borders.
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It proposes that those species should not be considered interstate commerce and therefore not subject to regulation under the ESA. The proposal will likely face opposition from Democrats and environmental groups.