Petroplex News

May 31, 2024

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger has introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) aimed at nullifying the Biden Administration’s U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service final rule that lists the dunes sagebrush lizard as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing is seen as a significant threat to energy production in the Permian Basin.

Rep. Pfluger has been actively working to shield the Permian Basin from what he describes as government overreach. Last year, he introduced the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act to prevent this specific ESA designation.

“Listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species is another effort by the Biden Administration to shut down drilling in the Permian Basin,” Rep. Pfluger stated. “My Congressional Review Act nullifies President Biden's attempt to use a lizard as a weapon against the oil & gas industry. I will not allow the President to take control of private property and kill energy jobs in the Permian Basin.”

Ben Shepperd, President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA), expressed support for Pfluger’s CRA: “The Service’s arbitrary decision is not supported by available science and flies in the face of state-sponsored conservation efforts... Congressman Pfluger is choosing to support proven, effective conservation efforts already in place instead of paperwork protections that would come with the Service’s listing.”

Dan Naatz, COO & Executive Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), echoed similar concerns: “This listing is an assault on oil and natural gas industry employees who live and work in both Texas and New Mexico... IPAA believes that the decision to list [the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard] is unwarranted and thanks Congressman Pfluger for all his efforts to stop this misguided listing decision.”

Tim Tarpley, President of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, also criticized the listing: “The Administration's decision... jeopardizes over 88,000 direct jobs and approximately half a million indirect jobs in the Permian Basin... The potential job losses threaten economic stability, undermine American energy security, and hinder national economic growth.”

According to background information provided with Rep. Pfluger's announcement, substantial conservation efforts have been made through state and private initiatives. By December 31, 2022, over four million acres had been enrolled in Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA) and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA) across New Mexico alone.