Changes to Endangered Species Act Sought

Electric cooperatives’ costly struggles to comply with the Endangered Species Act are cited in a new report by a congressional working group that concludes the law is ripe for improvement. Hastings and Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., chaired the 13-member, all Republican, Endangered Species Act Congressional Working Group that released its report Feb. 4 after an eight-month study. The working group cited real-life adversities endured by Garkane Energy in its recommendations for empowering landowners affected by ESA decisions and for greater transparency. Carl Albrecht, CEO of the co-op in Loa, Utah, testified before Hastings’ committee in December on how compliance to protect prairie dogs and sage grouse delayed construction of a power line and racked up costs. Private landowners, however, can obtain permits to kill prairie dogs on their land and sage grouse are hunted and killed by sportsmen. The line was ultimately built after seven years and a cost of $2 million. The 64-page report also calls for better prioritization when it comes to the recovery or delisting of species and for the need to reduce litigation while reforming the settlement process...more

And those are just the kinds of costs that don't show up in gov't figures.