Sally Stefferud, a biologist who retired in 2002 after 20 years with the agency, said Wednesday she was not surprised by the survey results, saying she had been ordered to change a finding on a biological opinion."Political pressures influence the outcome of almost all the cases," she said. "As a scientist, I would probably say you really can't trust the science coming out of the agency."
I notice, though, that the LATimes article fails to mention that Sally Stefferud helped prepare the study. sfgate.com includes that important detail.
Sally Stefferud, a scientist who worked for 20 years at the agency before retiring three years ago, said that in the past political pressure affected only a few high-profile decisions but that now it is affecting almost all agency actions on endangered species.Stefferud, who helped prepare the study, noted that field scientists in the Southwest region who study the impact of grazing on federal lands are now accompanied by the grazing permit holders, who she said are unlikely to show researchers any potential harm to endangered species.
"The data can become very easily distorted," Stefferud said.
The Rancher's Revenge When environmentalists attacked, rancher Jim Chilton used the best ammunition he could find -- and it came from his enemy By Sarah Fenske