Skip to Content

Press Release

ESA Failures Shine Bright as Special Interests Trump Species Protection in Wildflower Debacle

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 28, 2016 | Committee Press Office (202-225-2761)

Earlier this week, a U.S. District Court vacated a decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to not list two desert wildflowers as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ruling further delays implementation of an existing conservation agreement between the FWS, Utah, Colorado and stakeholder groups.  House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement:

“When national special interests trump locally-driven, federally-supported and science-based conservation, species lose and communities get hurt. This ruling delays restoration efforts by communities who have a vested stake in protecting these wildflowers without unduly burdening economic livelihoods. These efforts are now held hostage by the inflexible demands of a radical faction of environmental extremists. Until we reform the Endangered Species Act, recovery efforts at any level will remain subject to the approval of powerful, deep-pocketed environmental litigants who make a living off exploiting loopholes in this antiquated statute.”