WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) joined Members of the Congressional Western Caucus to praise the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision not to list the dunes sage brush lizard under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“I am extremely pleased that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the historic voluntary conservation agreements in Texas and New Mexico were sufficient to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard,” Neugebauer said.

The Service chose not to list the lizard after Texas and New Mexico led voluntary conservation efforts to protect the species. The Texas conservation plan was developed by a coalition led by the Comptroller of Public Accounts, and included input from state, federal, and private stakeholders from oil and gas, natural resources, and agricultural industries.

“Listing the species for protection under the Endangered Species Act would have had unprecedented effects on energy producers, farmers, and ranchers,” Neugebauer said.  “It could have devastated our local economy by severely limiting energy production and agricultural activities.  This decision shows how voluntary conservation can produce beneficial results for everyone.”

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