>> Conservationists say a proposed rule change could fundamentally up and protections for endangered species that have been in place for the past 50 years.

The proposed change by the Trump administration hinges on a single word harm.

Our Patty Wetland joins us now to explain the proposal and what it could mean for Illinois.

Patty, tell us what the administration is proposing and how would it change projections, right?

So the Endangered Species Act is roughly 50 ish years old at this point.

And it has kind of a laundry list of things that people which includes corporations can't do actions you can take against an endangered species.

And those include things like kill hunt, harass trap, capture and one of the things you can't do is harm.

And for the past 30, 40 ish years harm has been interpreted.

Do include you cannot modify their habitat.

You can't destroy their habitat.

You can degrade their habitat.

>> The Trump administration wants to rescind the inclusion of habitat modification as part of harm.

So that harm has to more intentional.

You know, injury.

And so that would remove a species habitat protection.

So somewhat I talked to said, you know, you can't club a but you could, you know, draining the scene that poison the water poison the ocean cut down the spotted owls trees.

>> So so that's what they're proposing.

If the rule change does go into effect, how could things play out here in Illinois?

>> Well, so Illinois is one state, not every state has this has its own Endangered Species Act and the to kind of work in tandem.

And they're very similar.

But they do differ in some Ways.

And Illinois Act does specify habitat.

So it.

If there was a ruling that came through, even if the federal government said inaction was OK, it's still would have to be reviewed by Illinois, which could then perhaps deny a development permit.

So a lot of people think that because Illinois's law seems perhaps at this point stronger than the federal rule, that there might not be a lot >> changer or harm to come to endangered species in Illinois.

But Illinois has some gaps in its last specifically as it relates to plants where there aren't a whole lot of protections and either the federal or the state level for plants.

And so folks and who deal with endangered species are like it's good to start talking about this now, even if if we think that Illinois will protect, it's endangered species, we need to start talking about it.

Looking at where there might be gaps in the state law that you might need to compensate for something in the federal law.

I'm sure you'll you'll keep us posted on how this out.

Yeah, at Lee, thank you so much.