Commonsense Wins the Race: AZ Economy Spared from Unnecessary Tortoise Listing

Statement

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Sonoran desert tortoise will be removed from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) candidate list:

"Today's decision is good for Arizona's economy, good for the future education needs of our children and good for the Sonoran desert tortoise. Unfortunately, we aren't out of the woods yet, as this finding will likely be challenged by extremist environmental groups whose real intentions are to stifle development. For far too long, unnecessary and misguided species listings, not based on science, have resulted in endless new regulations that harm our economic prosperity. These bureaucratic decisions, often in response to frivolous lawsuits filed by extremist self-interest groups, have caused considerable damage to education, grazing, agriculture, energy and housing interests as well as exacerbated wildfire mitigation challenges.

"Local conservation efforts continue to yield positive results for threatened species, like the Sonoran desert tortoise, and incentivize local property owners, ranchers and developers to work with federal and state wildlife management agencies. I applaud and congratulate the State of Arizona for the role it played in ensuring today's outcome. Congress must continue to make progress to ensure that local conservation efforts which invest significant resources to preserve species are rewarded. Furthermore, it is far past time for Congress put an end to the never-ending cycle of baseless lawsuits pushed by far-left environmental groups which allow attorneys to get rich and cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year."

The Game and Fish Commission Chairman Kurt Davis stated "The FWS decision not to list the Sonoran desert tortoise is a prime example of the Department's critical role in being the most trusted, respected and credible source for wildlife conservation and information. This model must be followed during the Services consideration to list any future species."

"The data that today led to the US Fish and Wildlife Service determination to not list the Sonoran desert tortoise came from our Arizona Game and Fish Department. With more than 800 species in Arizona, the most of any non-coastal state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been the boots on the ground for decades to collect the best data while managing the states' species. This is proof that people living in the state and are impacted the most have the best data and solutions."

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