Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (March 17, 2015) – Today, Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and nine U.S. Senators  in writing a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS). The letter requested a delay of the northern long eared bat (NLEB) listing determination that the FWS is compelled to make by April 2, 2015 under a multi-species settlement agreement between the FWS and the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians.

“Earlier this month, numerous members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives wrote to you regarding the upcoming listing determination for the northern long eared bat (NLEB), the related 4(d) proposal, and broader efforts to address white nose syndrome (WNS),” wrote the Representatives and Senators. “As we have not received your responses by close of business on March 13, we ask that you both extend the comment period for the proposed 4(d) rule and delay the listing determination for the NLEB by at least 60 days.”

The letter also encouraged fighting WNS, a disease which has caused a drop of NLEB population, without placing the burden on American families.

“Again, we urge you to protect the NLEB from population loss associated with WNS, without unduly burdening impacted communities and Citizens by driving up costs for farmers, foresters, and families who ultimately will have to bear the burden of any unnecessarily onerous rules, as it is clear that human activities are not a reasonable basis for adding the NLEB to the Endangered and Threatened Species List.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of Environment and Public Works, Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Tom Cotton (R-AR), David Vitter (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID), James E. Risch (R-ID), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

For the full letter, please click here.

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