Deadline to Comment Looms on Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing

Statement

With the deadline to comment on the proposed listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken looming this Friday, January 10th, Representative Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) released the following statement:

"In recent years, Kansas farmers, ranchers and other property owners have been severely impacted by rules and regulations emanating from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Whether it is the Topeka shiner or the black-footed ferret, property rights and rural prosperity have been diminished by USFWS actions. This latest proposal moves us one step closer to a listing of the LPC under the ESA.

Kansans and others impacted in the entire region have only until this Friday, January 10th to submit their comments on the proposed LPC listing. As I have argued numerous times -- and just spoke of in a House Natural Resources Committee hearing last month -- local property owners are the best conservationists for protection of our wildlife resources. Instead of federal action, state and local authorities should cooperate with local farmers, ranchers and other ownership interests in a manner that considers both the needs of the species and the economic future of rural America."

Those interested in submitting comments regarding the listing of the LPC can do so at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-R2-ES-2012-0071-0488. Click on the "Comment Now" link at the top right. The current deadline for submitting comments is 1/10/14 and a final decision regarding the LPC listing will likely be issued by 3/30/14.

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