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Republican lawmakers are working to roll back the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, which has helped save endangered species like whales from extinction.

The GOP bill, backed by fishing and maritime industries, would lower population goals and ease rules defining harm to marine mammals.

Conservation groups strongly oppose the changes, warning they threaten North Atlantic right whales, which number fewer than 400, and other endangered species.

BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine — Republican lawmakers are targeting one of the country’s longest-standing pieces of environmental legislation, credited with helping save rare whales from extinction.

GOP leaders believe they now have the political

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