Lesser Prairie Chicken Takes Centerstage

The office of U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Gary Sherrer, will hold forums in Woodward and Edmond with newly confirmed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe concerning the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered or threatened species. Agreement from Ashe to hold the meetings was secured by Inhofe in May.

Senator Inhofe: “I am pleased that FWS Director Dan Ashe has accepted my request to visit Oklahoma to discuss the impacts of the potential listing of the lesser prairie chicken, and I look forward to welcoming him to Woodward and Edmond. This decision could have especially negative consequences for jobs and economic development in our state and Oklahomans will benefit from the chance to express their concerns. Instead of going through with an ESA listing, I hope that we can come to an agreement that will implement a public-private partnership, which will help us make progress on protecting the species while ensuring that economic growth is sustained.”

The Woodward event will be held at the High Plains Technology Center at 5 p.m. September 7th. The Edmond event will be held at the UCO Nigh University Center at 9 a.m. September 8th.

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