State Developers Feel Pinch of Habitat Law

While federal biologists say the new designations are virtually meaningless and aredone only to satisfy court orders, some environmentalists assert theywill have a profound effect on housing construction by preventing sprawlinto these areas. The Center for Biological Diversity, [http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/] has actively sued nine times in the last two years to ensure habitat designated under the Endangered Species Act is protected, and environmentalists are confident that such lawsuits will add more meaning to "critical habitat" designations.

Thanks to California 2000 Project