Lawsuit in Florida Targets Flood Insurance As Danger to Sea Turtles
The National Wildife Federation claims in a lawsuit that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood insurance program is hurting sea turtles by spurring coastal development.
The lawsuit filed in Miami federal court claims FEMA is violating the Endangered Species Act by failing to consult with wildlife officials about impact on sea turtles. The lawsuit asks a judge to force FEMA to take these steps.
Development along beaches harms the habitat crucial to threatened or endangered loggerhead, green, hawksbill, leatherback and Kemp’s ridley turtles. The lawsuit claims flood insurance encourages this development.
FEMA says it works to ensure all its programs comply with environmental and preservation laws.
A similar suit was filed by an environmental group in Arizona in 2009 to protect endangered species.