Pfluger Fights Biden's Lizard Listing to Save Permian Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) has introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify the Biden Administration’s U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service final rule listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

This listing poses a significant threat to energy production in the Permian Basin, according to Pfluger.

Rep. Pfluger has been actively working to protect 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 the designation of the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered under the ESA.

"Listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species is another effort by the Biden Administration to shut down drilling in the Permian Basin," Pfluger said. "My Congressional Review Act nullifies President Biden's attempt to use a lizard as a weapon against the oil and 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 the available science and flies in the face of the state-sponsored conservation efforts,” Shepperd said. He highlighted the conservation work already in place, involving the enrollment of hundreds of thousands of acres and millions of dollars committed in Texas and New Mexico.

Dan Naatz, COO & Executive Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, criticized the listing decision, stating it undermines the efforts and livelihoods of oil and gas industry workers in the Permian Basin.

“It appears that the Fish and Wildlife Service made no attempt to consider the large amount of conservation work already done to protect the species,” Naatz said.

Tim Tarpley, President of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, described the listing as a politically motivated attack on the oil and gas industry.

“This designation jeopardizes over 88,000 direct jobs and approximately half a million indirect jobs in the Permian Basin, crucial to the oil and gas sector,” Tarpley said. "The potential job losses threaten the economic stability of countless families, undermine American energy security, and hinder the nation's economic growth. The men and women of the Energy Workforce sincerely appreciate Rep. Pfluger’s introduction of a CRA to overturn this reckless decision and protect American energy security.”

As of December 31, 2022, conservation efforts in New Mexico have seen the enrollment of over 4 million acres in Candidate Conservation Agreements by the ranching and oil and gas industries to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard.

These efforts have resulted in a net acreage conservation gain for the species' habitat and significant financial contributions supporting reclamation and conservation programs. All while still affording for the development of natural resources and human existence in the region.

The text of the legislation is available here.