Texas Regulators Seek Lawsuit Against Federal Endangered Listing of Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, Citing Energy Production Concerns.

Texas oil and gas regulators have asked the state’s attorney general to file a lawsuit against a federal decision to list the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered, which critics argue will hinder energy production. The state Railroad Commission, which regulates Texas’ oil industry, voted unanimously to challenge the listing under the Endangered Species Act. The commission argues that the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision was politically motivated and that the listing affects the Permian Basin, the most prolific oil region in the U.S. with output across Texas and New Mexico accounting for nearly half of domestic oil production.