Landowners, oil companies, and ranchers in Texas express dissatisfaction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species. They argue that they have already complied with conservation requirements through the Texas Conservation Plan (TCP), which they believe is more effective than the federal Endangered Species Act. The American Conservation Foundation reports that less than 20% of the lizard's allowed habitat acres have been disturbed by TCP participants [e3aaf5d1].
The listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species has faced opposition from various organizations, including the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, and the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association. Critics argue that the listing is an attempt by the Biden Administration to hinder oil and gas operations in the Permian Basin. Congressman August Pfluger has introduced a congressional review to nullify the listing, while Senator John Cornyn and American Petroleum Association President Scott Lauermann express concerns about the impact on Texas jobs and energy security. The Permian Basin Petroleum Association predicts a decrease in drilling and job losses as a result of the listing [e3aaf5d1].
In response to the controversy, Arkansas Congressman Bruce Westerman calls for common sense in the implementation of the Endangered Species Act [e3aaf5d1].