NAHB Reacts to the Delisting of the Bald Eagle

RISMEDIA, July 2, 2007–Jerry Howard, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Home Builders, issued the following statement today in reaction to the delisting of the bald eagle:

The National Association of Home Builders celebrates the success of the bald eagle as this majestic bird is officially removed from the federal list of endangered species.

The recovery is due to countless individual actions taken to protect and restore eagles. Home builders have been instrumental in helping the population of this species grow.

For example, home builders throughout the United States have created hundreds of scientifically rigorous Habitat Conservation Plans under the federal Endangered Species Act, leaving undeveloped buffers around hundreds of nesting sites, minimizing harm to species and mitigating the effects of construction, all while continuing to provide needed housing for Americans.

The bald eagle will continue to be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Act as well as state conservation laws that watch over our national symbol. NAHB will continue to work closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure clarity and consistency in the federal rule and its application so both builders and regulators understand how it works and how to enforce it and bald eagles can continue to thrive.

For more information, visit www.nahb.org.