Unfortunately, per PR from the Texas Comptroller, Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife have lost in federal district court the lawsuit they filed last year trying to reverse U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, reject Combs' management plan for the dunes sagebrush lizard, and force Fish and Wildlife to reconsider its 2012 decision not to consider Endangered Species Act listing for the lizard.
Combs sweet-talked FWS into seeing things her way because West Texas oil and gas folks were shitting bricks over the idea of having to spend money to do more to protect the lizard's habitat. The link has all the details. She had help from FWS' boss at that time, then-Interior Secretary Ken (Kenny Boy) Salazar, who had never met an oilman he didn't like. And, this is in spite of the fact that an ESA listing probably wouldn't have affected the O&G folks that much.
I certainly hope the environmental agencies appeal.
Because, if this stands, the likes of Combs will try it with other endangered animals, like the lesser prairie chicken.
Given her general favoritism toward Big Oil, this is no surprise, though.
No comments:
Post a Comment