Lee joins Utah legislators, requests extended comment period on Tiger Beetle conservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Utah Sen. Mike Lee has joined Rep. Rob Bishop and Rep. Jason Chaffetz in asking Daniel Ashe, director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a 90-day extension to the comment period for the Proposed Rule on Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Threatened Status and Designation of Critical Habitat for the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle.

In a letter written to Ashe Nov. 2, the legislators identified the complexity of the proposed designation of critical habitat, the requirement that comments be highly technical in nature and the need for the Service to make cited sources available to the public as reasons for the proposed extension.

On Nov. 23, the Service made the cited sources available to the public, leaving only ten days for the public to make informed comments on this proposal before the comment period closes on Monday.

“An initial review of the proposal to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle as a threatened species and the designation of critical habitat indicates that this listing could essentially shut down one of Utah’s popular state parks,” Lee said. “Because this listing could shut down the Coral Pink Sand Dunes for recreational use, a thorough analysis of whether this species truly warrants the powerful protections of the Endangered Species Act is necessary. I am hopeful that the Fish and Wildlife Service will provide a 90-day extension to the comment period to give the public the time it needs to evaluate this proposal.”

For more information on the proposal and other endangered species, visit the Environmental Conservation Online System.

Submitted by: The Office of Sen. Mike Lee

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

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