The House of Representatives approved legislation on Tuesday that would make the process for listing endangered species more transparent and make the government more accountable.
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), a member of the Endangered Species Act Congressional Working Group, applauded House passage of the 21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act, according to a press release.
“Landowners, businesses and families in West Texas and the big country have seen firsthand the sweeping negative consequences of an endangered species listing,” Neugebauer said. “While our neighbors are forced to navigate through increased compliance costs and frivolous lawsuits, these listings are decided by bureaucrats in Washington, often without making sure the scientific data used to support the decision is accurate and transparent.”
The State, Tribal and Local Species Transparency and Recovery Act, which was introduced by Neugebauer, was rolled into the House-approved measure.
“My bill fixes this Washington-knows-best approach and empowers state and local experts who have a much better understanding of West Texas and the big country,” Neugebauer said. “This is a first step towards putting Texans back in charge of conservation efforts in their own backyard and working to recover species instead of just adding them to a list.”
Under the bill, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FSW) would be required to give states 90 days advance notice before a proposed endangered species listing. Local authorities would then have an opportunity to develop a state protective action plan to protect the species before it’s listed as endangered, and the FWS would have 45 days to approve or deny the plan.