(Texas Scorecard) – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced legislation to reverse the United States Fish and Wildlife Service rule listing the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
The measure argues that the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) classification would undermine oil and gas production in the Permian Basin. As of Thursday, the legislation awaits further action by the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
With the DSL classification seen as a move that would curb production and development in the oil and gas industry and increase energy costs for American consumers, Cruz said, “The Biden administration has used the federal government to suppress American energy production at the exact time when the country and indeed the world needs access to affordable American energy.”
With over 7000 oil and gas fields, West Texas produces the most oil in the nation.
“This disastrous rule threatens American jobs and undermines the production of energy in the Permian Basin,” said Cruz.
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-11), who previously introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, said that designating “the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species is another effort by the Biden Administration to shut down drilling in the Permian Basin.”
Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Sen. Cruz in introducing the legislation, which has the backing of industry organizations such as the U.S. Oil & Gas Association (USOGA), Heritage Action, and the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC).
Proponents of listing the native West Texas and eastern New Mexico lizard under the Endangered Species Act claim that populations have declined due to fossil fuel production.
However, according to the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Fish and Wildlife Service used outdated information when determining whether the DSL risked extinction.
The Railroad Commission also says the Fish and Wildlife Service ignored the significant DSL conservation efforts launched by the oil and gas industry to protect the lizards and their habitat.
“By ignoring the existing conservation plans made by state and industry leaders to protect potential Dunes Sagebrush Lizard habitat, the administration makes it clear that this is nothing more than a political game,” said Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.
Commissioner Wayne Christian said the DSL designation was not about saving lizards but “shutting down U.S. oil and gas production to win political brownie points, which will only increase inflation and jeopardize billions of lives globally.”
In 2023, when the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed classifying the DSL as an endangered species, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham opposed the measure, describing it as a political move that would severely impact the Texas economy.