Environmentalists fight move to reduce beetle’s protections

— An environmental group said Tuesday that it plans to sue the U.S. government over a decision to reclassify a large scavenging beetle as threatened instead of endangered. “Far from having recovered, this striking orange-and-black beetle is facing dire threats from climate change and habitat destruction,” said attorney Kristine Akland with the center. Fish and Wildlife Services spokeswoman Lesli Gray said the agency “used the best available science in its decision to downlist the American burying beetle.” She declined to comment about the threatened lawsuit because officials haven’t had a chance to review it. The Fish and Wildlife Services said last week that Keystone XL wouldn’t have a significant impact on the beetle’s population, so the project received a permit to move forward with work where the beetle lives in Nebraska and South Dakota. TC Energy spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said the company is “committed to taking detailed steps throughout the construction and operation of the pipeline to minimize and mitigate any impact on the American burying beetle.”