Attorney General Gentner Drummond today is celebrating a significant win for Oklahoma’s agricultural and energy sectors, as a federal court has vacated the Biden-Harris administration’s rule that listed the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species.
A U.S. District judge yesterday ruled in favor of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed “foundational error” when it declared the bird endangered in 2022. The court’s order eliminates burdensome federal restrictions that threatened Oklahoma’s economy.
“This is a tremendous victory for Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and energy producers,” Drummond said. “We told the Biden administration its rule was outrageous and illegal federal overreach. This court decision affirms we were right. Oklahoma’s cattle grazing, energy production and rural economy are no longer under siege by this unlawful regulation.”
The Fish and Wildlife Service admitted to the court that it failed to provide adequate justification for treating the lesser prairie chicken as comprising two distinct population segments that warrant endangered species protection.
The ruling immediately removes the rule’s federal restrictions on livestock grazing, energy pipeline development, oil drilling, wind farms and road construction across Western Oklahoma.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Texas by Drummond, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in March 2023.
Ag Groups Reaction To News:
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association:
OCA is very pleased with the U.S. District Court’s decision to vacate the Biden Administration’s rule designating the lesser prairie chicken as endangered. That rule was out of sync with science and failed to adequately justify the listing. OCA is very appreciate of Attorney General Drummond leading the lawsuit filed in 2023 against the US Fish and Wildlife Service that led to this positive outcome. Now cattle ranchers can go about their business of raising great beef without the threat of losing their grazing lands to the federal government.
American Farmers And Ranchers
“AFR is pleased to hear the good news that AG Drummond was successful in the state’s pursuit of delisting the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species. This ruling will remove burdensome LPC regulations that negatively impact our rural communities. It’s a vindicating win for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers, who have long known that volunteer-based conservation can and does work.”
