Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (February 28, 2013) – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Director Dan Ashe sent a letter yesterday to a group of 15 Western Members of Congress who previously expressed concern with the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In the letter, Director Ashe stated that the public comment period would be re-opened to allow affected communities more time to comment on the widely supported conservation plan proposed by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). Western Members of Congress released the following statements in response to the letter:

“The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) took a step in the right direction on the lesser prairie chicken list, but unfortunately, they didn’t go far enough.  Allowing stakeholders to comment on the range-wide conservation plan is critical, and I’m glad Director Ashe recognized this.  But I let him know that I was disappointed that he didn’t choose to extend the final deadline for making a decision on whether or not to list the species.  That creates a shortened review period that doesn't account for the complexity of this proposal.  And it means the Service is still following arbitrary deadlines based on litigation, rather than examining what makes the most sense for local conservation efforts.  There’s still a lot of work to be done on this, and I’ll keep pushing for a transparent process that respects landowners’ rights.” – Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)

“Considering the sweeping impact that listing the prairie chicken would have on agricultural and energy-producing areas in five states, it only makes sense that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service would allow affected communities more time for public input before final decisions are made.  What is concerning, however, is that Service’s response today does nothing to address the underlying and continual problem of closed-door deals with litigious environmental groups that arbitrarily set deadlines for ESA-listings.  These secretive settlements don’t allow full consideration of sound science and data, analyses of the economic impacts or whether a listing of this kind is even warranted to begin with.” – House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA)

"I appreciate the comments of Director Ashe, in particular his willingness to engage all stakeholders in these discussions. Farmers and ranchers have a particular vested interest in ensuring the land they depend on is preserved in the best ways possible and I appreciate Fish and Wildlife Service's willingness to hear from them. It is my hope that the information gained from these ongoing discussions and the upcoming meeting with Director Ashe mitigates the need for a listing of the lesser prairie chicken."– House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK)

“I am pleased that Director Ashe will be re-opening  the comment period on the lesser prairie chicken to allow feedback on the conservation plan proposed by WAFWA. Listing the prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act would have a drastic effect on Southern New Mexico, but with sound solutions that engage local voices, we can protect both the species and our jobs without the need for a listing.”– Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce

“Texas farmers and landowners are rightly concerned about the proposed rule’s impact on their land and their livelihoods. I believe there are no better stewards of our nation’s natural resources than those who work and depend on the land. I appreciate the Fish and Wildlife Service’s recognition that it must work with farmers and landowners, and I look forward to hearing the responses gathered when the comment period is reopened.”–Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX)

“We appreciate the response from Director Ashe, and his promise to re-open the LPC comment period. I am confident that the regional plan, if fairly reviewed, will be sufficient to avoid listing of the LPC so as to protect the rights of individual landowners and states.”– Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-KS)

“Although the response from Director Ashe offers a glimmer of good sense, there is still a long way to go to prevent the FWS from listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPC).  Landowners and producers have shown their willingness to voluntarily protect the LPC as stewards of the land.  We need to continue our pressure from the federal, state, and local level to show that a listing of the LPC is unnecessary.”– Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-TX)

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken can be found in  grasslands in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Despite having faced one of the worst droughts on record in recent years, the prairie chicken population is on the rise or holding steady in many parts of the country, suggesting the success of current agreements and calling into question the need for federal regulation.

For more information about the Congressional Western Caucus, please visitwww.westerncaucus.pearce.house.gov.