Nick Mott

A little later, the act goes even farther. Section 9 outlaws taking endangered species. That means any kind of killing, but also herding, chasing, shooting, harassing, and trapping. It even applies to herding habitat. It was a far-reaching law in other ways, too. It said any citizen could petition the government to list species and sue over enforcing the act.

A little later, the act goes even farther. Section 9 outlaws taking endangered species. That means any kind of killing, but also herding, chasing, shooting, harassing, and trapping. It even applies to herding habitat. It was a far-reaching law in other ways, too. It said any citizen could petition the government to list species and sue over enforcing the act.

A little later, the act goes even farther. Section 9 outlaws taking endangered species. That means any kind of killing, but also herding, chasing, shooting, harassing, and trapping. It even applies to herding habitat. It was a far-reaching law in other ways, too. It said any citizen could petition the government to list species and sue over enforcing the act.

Listing decisions, it said, must take into account only the best available science, not the economic costs and benefits of protecting species. And just three days before the page turned from 1973 to 1974, Richard Nixon quietly signed the Endangered Species Act into law. The American public and media mostly didn't take notice. It got just one sentence in the New York Times.

Listing decisions, it said, must take into account only the best available science, not the economic costs and benefits of protecting species. And just three days before the page turned from 1973 to 1974, Richard Nixon quietly signed the Endangered Species Act into law. The American public and media mostly didn't take notice. It got just one sentence in the New York Times.

Listing decisions, it said, must take into account only the best available science, not the economic costs and benefits of protecting species. And just three days before the page turned from 1973 to 1974, Richard Nixon quietly signed the Endangered Species Act into law. The American public and media mostly didn't take notice. It got just one sentence in the New York Times.

And even lined up with that armada of laws, many lawyers and historians and activists I've spoken with call the Endangered Species Act the strongest environmental law in the world. Today, it protects more than 2,000 species. At the time I'm recording this, there are 18 protected species here in Montana. And there are threatened and endangered species in every state. Texas has 111.

And even lined up with that armada of laws, many lawyers and historians and activists I've spoken with call the Endangered Species Act the strongest environmental law in the world. Today, it protects more than 2,000 species. At the time I'm recording this, there are 18 protected species here in Montana. And there are threatened and endangered species in every state. Texas has 111.

And even lined up with that armada of laws, many lawyers and historians and activists I've spoken with call the Endangered Species Act the strongest environmental law in the world. Today, it protects more than 2,000 species. At the time I'm recording this, there are 18 protected species here in Montana. And there are threatened and endangered species in every state. Texas has 111.

California has nearly 300. Hawaii, nearly 500.

California has nearly 300. Hawaii, nearly 500.

California has nearly 300. Hawaii, nearly 500.

Species do die off naturally. History is punctuated by mass extinctions. Often, catastrophic natural disasters are the culprit. An asteroid hitting Earth, say, or a massive volcanic eruption. But today, scientists estimate species are going extinct as much as 100 times faster than what would occur naturally. Some call this a sixth mass extinction.

Species do die off naturally. History is punctuated by mass extinctions. Often, catastrophic natural disasters are the culprit. An asteroid hitting Earth, say, or a massive volcanic eruption. But today, scientists estimate species are going extinct as much as 100 times faster than what would occur naturally. Some call this a sixth mass extinction.

Species do die off naturally. History is punctuated by mass extinctions. Often, catastrophic natural disasters are the culprit. An asteroid hitting Earth, say, or a massive volcanic eruption. But today, scientists estimate species are going extinct as much as 100 times faster than what would occur naturally. Some call this a sixth mass extinction.

And as we collectively spewed greenhouse gases into the air and paved and plowed over vital habitat, this one's driven by us, humans. In short, the engine pushing those die-offs is on overdrive, and we're at the helm.

And as we collectively spewed greenhouse gases into the air and paved and plowed over vital habitat, this one's driven by us, humans. In short, the engine pushing those die-offs is on overdrive, and we're at the helm.

And as we collectively spewed greenhouse gases into the air and paved and plowed over vital habitat, this one's driven by us, humans. In short, the engine pushing those die-offs is on overdrive, and we're at the helm.

At the time, you're saying builders and developers and oil and gas drillers and just all these interests had no idea what it would mean for what they do. Is that right?

At the time, you're saying builders and developers and oil and gas drillers and just all these interests had no idea what it would mean for what they do. Is that right?