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New Security Systems For ECISD
Texas Senators Seek Delay in Decision on Grouse 2/21/13
Associated Press
2/21/13
DALLAS - U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are asking federal wildlife officials to delay a decision on whether to enact
protections for the lesser prairie chicken.
Cornyn and Cruz were joined by other Republican senators Thursday in urging
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to wait at least six months before deciding
whether to list the prairie grouse as threatened under the Endangered Species
Act.
They say adopting federal protections will impair oil and gas development,
agriculture and other sectors that drive Southwestern economies. They also want
to extend a comment period allowing the agency to receive further feedback.
Experts say the population of the lesser prairie chicken has declined in
part due to expansion of farms, ranches and energy industry operations across
the Southwest and other states.