Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. K. Michael Conaway made the following comment regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcement to extend the final determination of whether to provide protection under the Endangered Species Act for the dunes sagebrush lizard.
“I am pleased that US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to delay their final determination regarding the dunes sagebrush lizard for another six months; however, it is imperative with this extension that we do not sit on our heels.
After almost a year of effort spent compiling overwhelming evidence to prove the lizard is not endangered, we have just six more short months to convince the Service that listing the lizard is not warranted.
It is was the quick action and hard work of many individuals and organizations to prepare enough information to refute the Service’s assumptions and secure this extension. In the coming months, I look forward continuing to work alongside local producers, ranchers, and landowners to make the final case against a needless listing that would devastate oil and gas production and the West Texas economy.”
