Speakers question science behind lizard concerns (Dunes Sagebrush Lizard)

Midland Reporter-Telegram ^ | 27 April 2011 | Mella McEwan

[Army Air Corps]

A respectful crowd of Permian Basin residents gathered at Midland Center on Wednesday to speak at a public hearing about the listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species.

The listing possibly could shut down oil and gas, grazing and farming operations in Andrews, Crane, Gaines, Ward and Winkler counties in West Texas and Chaves, Eddy, Lea and Roosevelt counties in New Mexico.

The hearing was conducted by officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, overseen by Jeff Humphrey, public outreach specialist with the service out of Arizona.

Wally Murphy, New Mexico state field supervisor, told the audience that the lizard, which lives in a narrow band of shinnery oak dunes that stretches primarily from New Mexico into parts of Texas, had been considered a candidate for listing in 2001 and cited threats from habitat fragmentation, pollution, predation and climate change. If listed, he said, operations would be prohibited that could interrupt its breeding, eating or sheltering in habitat areas where the lizard is found.

[CedarDave]

This would pimp his favorite project—green mini-cars that are absolutely useless out here.

Don't forget his plan to build [empty] high-speed trains everywhere to nowhere.

[WFTR]

I am a reptile enthusiast, and those of us who keep reptiles as pets are well aware of the false science that USFWS is using to attack anyone who isn't an environmental or animal rights extremist. Those of us in the pet reptile hobby have seen USFWS attack our hobby on the basis of bad science. I appreciate lizards and believe in preserving them as much as reasonably possible, but I'm certain that this whole issue is bogus.

We are calling on the House Natural Resources Committee to exercise oversight on USFWS. We are asking them to stop using bad science to issue politically-motivated rulings. I urge everyone to contact their members of the House and ask that the House Natural Resources Committee exercise its oversight authority over USFWS for the use of false information on all kinds of issues. Speaking to members of the committee is particularly important. The members are

Doc Hastings, WA-04 Chairman
Don Young, AK-at large
John Duncan, TN-02
Louie Gohmert, TX-01
Rob Bishop, UT-01
Doug Lamborn, CO-05
Robert Wittman, VA-01
Paul Broun, GA-10
John Fleming, LA-04
Mike Coffman, CO-06
Tom McClintock, CA-04
Glenn Thompson, PA-5
Jeff Denham, CA-19
Dan Benishek, MI-01
David Rivera, FL-25
Jeff Duncan, SC-03
Scott Tipton, CO-03
Paul Gosar, AZ-01
Raúl Labrador, ID-01
Kristi Noem, SD-at large
Steve Southerland, FL-02
Bill Flores, TX-17
Andy Harris, MD-01
Jeff Landry, LA-03
Chuck Fleischmann, TN-03
Jon Runyan, NJ-03
Bill Johnson, OH-06

Edward Markey, MA-07 Ranking Minority Member
Dale Kildee, MI-05
Peter DeFazio, OR-04
Eni Faleomavaega, AS-at-large
Frank Pallone, Jr. NJ-06
Grace Napolitano, CA-38
Rush Holt, NJ-12
Raúl Grijalva, AZ-07
Madeleine Bordallo, GU-at-large
Jim Costa, CA-20
Dan Boren, OK-02
Gregorio Sablan, MP-at-large
Martin Heinrich, NM-01
Ben Luján, NM-03
John Sarbanes, MD-03
Betty Sutton, OH-13
Niki Tsongas, MA-05
Pedro Pierluisi, PR-at-large
John Garamendi, CA-10
Colleen Hanabusa, HI-01

The subcommittee that has the most direct authority over USFWS is the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs. Contacting these members of Congress is particularly important. They are:

John Fleming, LA-04 Chairman
Don Young, AK-at large
Robert Wittman, VA-01
Jeff Duncan, SC-03
Steve Southerland, FL-02
Bill Flores, TX-17
Andy Harris, MD-01
Jeff Landry, LA-03
Jon Runyan, NJ-03
Doc Hastings, WA-04 (ex-officio)

Gregorio Sablan, NMI-at-large Ranking Minority Member
Eni Faleomavaega, AS-at-large
Frank Pallone, Jr. NJ-06
Madeleine Bordallo, GU-at-large
Pedro Pierluisi, PR-at-large
Colleen Hanabusa, HI-01
Edward Markey, MA-07 (ex-officio)

I believe that Don Young and Robert Wittman will be strong allies in this battle. Don Young is very familiar with the ugly tactics of the extremists. Madeleine Bordallo is likely to be very bad news.

I have a pet lizard, and I think reptiles are neat animals and cool pets. However, I don't believe in destroying two or three industries on false "science" for the fun of the extremists.

The fact that the USFWS worked with New Mexico but is attacking Texas is another example of the Obama administration punishing states that voted against him in 2008. He's doing the same thing in suing Boeing for building a major plant in South Carolina. Ken Salazar, the Interior Secretary, once said that he'd be happy with $10 a gallon gasoline. Attacking the Permian Basin is another way to reach that goal. (USFWS is under the Interior Department.)

Again, we need to have the House Natural Resources Committee exercise oversight of the USFWS to stop the use of false information pretending to be science in making decisions. We need this oversight in the case of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizards and we need this oversight on a constrictor ban that USFWS is trying to pass.

One advantage of conservatives uniting with the reptile pet hobby on this issue is the possibility of swinging up to half a million votes in 2012. About a million or so voters could be hurt by the constrictor ban. A little over half of these supported Obama. I told everyone who would listen (and some who tried to refuse) that Obama would be a danger to our hobby, but about half still supported him. The current danger to our hobby could scare some of them into abandoning him next time. In swing states, those votes could be important. Some are stupid enough to continue supporting him, but many are learning.

[Arrowhead1952]

Hey LUV.

Q. POtuS is so worried about that Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, why hasn't he done anything about the W Texas wildfires? HUH?

A. POtuS hates Texas.

[Arrowhead1952]

I’ll give you a threat to that lizard!

Hear they taste like chicken if fried just right.

Hey, they also make a great catfish bait! Just like the Barton Springs Salamander in Barton Creek in Austin.

[luvie]

Indeed the fake president does hate Texas as well as the other 56 states!

The feeling is mutual, I’m sure!

[Arrowhead1952]

I think we should leave Austin and queen shiela jackson lee’s district in the union and let the rest of Texas secede.

[Army Air Corps]

Thank you for that information! I am passing it along.

[antisocial]

Seems these lizards are pretty from all over the west.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagebrush_lizard

[JimRed]

Where have these critters been all along? I think that the Sierra Club and other assorted whackos are planting them anywhere they can get to.

[luvie]

Getting rid of that harridan would be a very good thing for Austin, I’m thinkin’!

[steelyourfaith]

From the link: "Wally Murphy, New Mexico state field supervisor, told the audience that the lizard, which lives in a narrow band of shinnery oak dunes that stretches primarily from New Mexico into parts of Texas, had been considered a candidate for listing in 2001 and cited threats from ... climate change."

As if.

Thanx for the ping AAC !

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !