After more than three decades of life with the Endangered Species Act, there is a growing indication that one of the world's most significant environmental laws is about to undergo its first major overhaul.

In early autumn, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a bill by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Stockton, the House Resources Committee chairman, that would make several major changes to the landmark 1973 federal law.

Then Dec. 15, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced similarly sweeping legislation that will frame debate on the issue in the Senate in 2006.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., chairman of the Senate Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, also is expected to introduce by March a proposal to rewrite the oft-criticized law, although in a manner more palatable to the environmental community.

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