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Small School District Fights To Keep CSCOPE 6/18/13
Industry Works to Avoid Listing of Prairie Grouse 2/10/13
Associated Press
February 10, 2013
LUBBOCK - The population of the lesser prairie chicken is in
decline and federal wildlife officials have proposed listing the small grouse as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The proposed listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stems from a
shrinking of the bird's habitat across its range in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado,
Kansas and Oklahoma. The listing could halt or alter operations for wind energy
and oil and gas production as their activities would be subject increased
federal regulation.
Industry officials hope to stave off the listing through habitat
conservation, similar to how a lizard in New Mexico was kept from being listed
as endangered.
The third of four public hearings is scheduled Monday night in Lubbock. One
in Roswell, N.M. is set for Tuesday.