Randy Neugebauer, Other Members of U.S. Congress Request Extension for Public Input on Lesser Prairie Chicken

Nine members of the U.S. Congress have requested more time for public input on listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a “threatened species” under the Endangered Species Act.

The Congress members joined District 19 U.S. Representative Randy Neugebauer on a letter to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, requesting a six-month extension to the final deadline.

Listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken as threatened could have sizable consequences for landowners in the five states included in the bird’s habitat. Those states are Texas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

The group has requested that the final listing deadline be extended from September 20^th, 2013 to June 11^th, 2014.

Neugebauer weighed in, saying “Given the scientific discrepancies that have been uncovered, it’s clear that we shouldn’t rush this process and ignore critical information. Voluntary conservation efforts by West Texans and our neighbors have been shown to work.”

"Let’s give them a chance to implement these solutions before we impose strict regulations,” Neugebauer continued.

The Endangered Species Act specifically allows the Fish and Wildlife Service to extend the deadline when the status of the species is in dispute.