The Biden Administration is listing the lesser prairie chicken onto the Endangered Species Act list. That could lead to major issues in Oklahoma for farming, ranching and energy producers. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, along with the attorneys general in Kansas and Texas, have filed a federal lawsuit against posting the bird on the endangered species list.
The rule places restrictions on Oklahoma ranchers who graze their livestock. It also adds more restrictions and regulations to the development of energy pipelines, oil drilling, wind farms, and roads.
Drummond calls it federal overreach.
“I will not allow the Biden administration to punish Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and energy producers with this blatant overreach of the federal government,” Drummond said. “This rule truly presents an existential threat for cattle grazing, energy production and other vital aspects of Western Oklahoma’s economy.”
Drummond is using money for the case from the funds appropriated by the Legislature to defend Oklahoma’s sovereignty and fight federal overreach.
“The State of Oklahoma has a constitutional right to defend its sovereignty against unwarranted federal overreach, and I am proud to lead that fight,” he said. “I am thankful to the legislative leaders who have appropriated funds to the Attorney General’s office to fight back against an intrusive federal bureaucracy that seeks to subjugate Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and energy producers.”
