To Whom It May Concern: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Exploration and Production Council, American Gas Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, American Petroleum Institute, American Farm Bureau Federation, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, National Association of Manufacturers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Mining Association, the National Sand, Stone & Gravel Association, and Public Lands Council (the Associations) appreciate the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (the Service’s) proposed rule, “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Endangered Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat.” [1] The proposed rule would change the status of the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) from threatened to endangered and eliminate the Section 4(d) rule for the species.
The Associations represent a broad range of business interests within the 37-state range of the species who work to be good stewards of the environment, are concerned about the impact of white-nose syndrome on the NLEB and have engaged in NLEB conservation efforts. The Associations support the Endangered Species Act’s (ESA) purpose of protecting species threatened with extinction and recognize the need for science-based, data-driven actions that conserve those species and the habitat on which they depend. [1]