S 171119th CongressIn Committee

A bill to remove the lesser prairie-chicken from the lists of threatened species and endangered species published pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, to amend that Act to exclude the lesser prairie-chicken from the authority of that Act, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Jan 21, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would remove the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) from all lists of threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and would amend the ESA to bar any future determination that the LPC is endangered or threatened. In effect, it would take federal protection and oversight away from the LPC and its distinct population segments, meaning the species would no longer be regulated under ESA programs (such as habitat protection, critical habitat designations, or federal agency consultation requirements). The bill is introduced in the Senate and would need passage by both houses and signature by the President to become law.

Key Points

1Delisting: The LPC and each distinct population segment would be removed from the ESA lists of threatened and endangered species.
2Legislative change to ESA: Section 4(a) would be amended to include a new paragraph (4) stating that the Secretary may not make a determination under that subsection that the LPC is endangered or threatened.
3Scope: Applies to all population segments of the LPC, not just a portion of its range.
4Federal protections removed: By delisting and prohibiting future ESA determinations, federal protections (e.g., ESA-driven habitat protections, critical habitat designations, and Section 7 consultations) would no longer apply to the LPC.
5Status and process: The bill is introduced in the Senate (January 21, 2025) and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works; it would require passage by both the Senate and the House and presidential approval to become law.

Impact Areas

Primary affected group/area: The lesser prairie-chicken and its habitat across the southern Great Plains (states including Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, including all DPSs of the species).Secondary affected groups/areas:- Federal agencies (notably the Department of the Interior and agencies implementing ESA-related actions) and their decision-making processes related to land use, habitat, and species protections.- State wildlife agencies and resource-management bodies in LPC ranges, which would assume primary responsibility for conservation and any habitat rules in the absence of ESA protections.- Industries and landowners in LPC habitat areas (ranching, oil and gas, agricultural operations, energy development, and infrastructure projects) that could face fewer federal constraints or review requirements tied to LPC habitat.- Conservation groups and environmental advocates who have supported LPC protections; they may challenge delisting or pursue state-level conservation approaches.Additional impacts:- Legal and regulatory uncertainty during any transition period as responsibilities shift from federal to state/local management.- Potential changes to funding streams and conservation programs that previously supported LPC protections (including federal grants tied to ESA protections).- Broader policy implications for the treatment of other species already under ESA protection or those proposed for listing, and potential precedent-setting effects on wildlife conservation practices.

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