(Oklahoma) Committee Votes to Protect Wind, Oil and Gas Industries
Legislation which would ensure endangered species such as the lesser prairie chicken will not unnecessarily limit the energy or agricultural abilities of the state passed a House committee unanamously this week.
House Bill 2607, by State Rep. Gus Blackwell, would prohibit the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation from entering into or approving a conservation easement or setback of any kind regarding wildlife which is more restrictive than federal guidelines.
“The energy industry is vital to Oklahoma and species like the lesser prairie chicken can hamper our economy, if their presence results in overly restrictive rules regulating where we can place agricultural or energy structures,” said Blackwell, a Republican who represents the Oklahoma Panhandle area. “Originally, the bill had also contained a provision to prohibit exhibiting endangered species like the lesser prairie chicken for a profit. I had included this provision because the same environmentalists who are advocating listing the species as endangered would then be able to profit from its listing. However, the provision would have adversely affected other legitimate business owners, which is why it was amended.”
Currently, state wildlife rules and guidelines provide for a five-mile setback, while federal guidelines provide only for a half mile.
http://www.okhouse.gov/okhousemedia/News_Story.aspx?NewsID=4295
