Groups Hammer Out Deal over Endangered Species in Santa Cruz County, Calif.

Byline: Paul Rogers

Aug. 30--In a major truce in America's endangered species battles, the Bush administration agreed Wednesday to speed protections for 29 struggling plant and animal species -- including an imperiled insect that has threatened to derail housing developments in Santa Cruz County.

Under the deal, three environmental groups agreed not sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to try and force the species onto the federal endangered species list.

Instead, the Fish and Wildlife Service promised to make decisions -- most over the next six months -- about whether the 29 species warrant listing and protections. Some of the species in question …