Species Fact Sheet
Species Type
Reptile
Status
Proposal to List this Species Withdrawn
Special Report
A Case Study of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard and the West Texas Oil and Gas Industry
Important Updates
- June 19, 2012 – FWS Publishes Federal Register Notice Withdrawing the Proposed Rule to List the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
- June 13, 2012 – Texas Comptroller Conservation Plan Keeps Dunes Sagebrush Lizard off Endangered List
- June 13, 2012 – Landmark Conservation Agreements Keep Dunes Sagebrush Lizard off the Endangered Species List
- June 13, 2012 – U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Will Not List Dunes Sagebrush Lizard as Endangered
- Feb. 23, 2012 - Service Signs Conservation Agreement with Texas Comptroller and Reopens Public Comment Period for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
- Feb. 17, 2012 – Comptroller Susan Combs Succeeds in Protecting Texas Economy with Texas Conservation Plan
- Feb. 17, 2012 – Texas Oil and Gas Association Announces Approval of Texas Conservation Plan for Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
- Dec. 5, 2011 – FWS Publishes Federal Register Notice Announcing 6-Month Extension of Final Determination for the Proposed Listing
- Dec. 2, 2011 - Comptroller Combs Lauds 6-Month Extension on Proposed Listing
- Dec. 2, 2011 - Statement from Senator Kel Seliger on the Six-Month Extension
- Dec. 1, 2011 – FWS announces 6-Month Extension of the final determination for the proposed listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard
- Draft Texas Conservation Plan (TCP) Notice of Availability
- Nov. 30, 2011 – Letter from Senators Cornyn and Inhofe to DOI requesting delay in listing decision
- Nov. 28, 2011 – Bi-partisan letter from Congressional leaders opposing the proposed listing submitted to Department of Interior
Proposed Listing Information
- Withdrawal of Proposed Rule and Associated Documents
- PECE Analysis Documents
- Petition to List the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) - WildEarth Guardians (April 9, 2008)
Potential Range
Texas Counties1
- Andrews
- Cochran
- Crane
- Gaines
- Ward
- Winkler
- Yoakum
New Mexico Counties:
- Chaves
- Roosevelt
- Lea
- Eddy
Key Economic Sectors
- Agriculture
- Energy Development - Oil and Gas
Economic Impact
- The oil and gas and agricultural sectors of the Permian Basin are vital to our state’s economy.
- Energy and agriculture industries are responsible for more than 30 percent of jobs and income in the Permian Basin area, where the DSL is found.2
- According to Railroad Commission of Texas data for calendar year 2011, the Permian Basin produced 67 percent of Texas' statewide total crude oil production or approximately 430 million barrels. It accounts for 14 percent of the total annual U.S. oil production or approximately 2 billion barrels.
On the Map
This map shows the FWS estimated potential range in Texas for the DSL. It does not necessarily reflect what is being considered under the TCP for the DSL nor does it reflect the areas that may require incidental take coverage if the DSL is listed. Get more information about the Texas Conservation Plan.
Texas Conservation Plan for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
The Texas Conservation Plan (TCP) was approved by FWS on Feb. 17, 2012. The plan was developed to provide a safety net for private landowners and property owners who may be impacted if the DSL is listed. Learn more about the TCP.
Recent Research
Additional Studies
Public Comments on Proposed Listing:
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Texas Department of Agriculture
See the Proposed Rule and Associated Documents for additional comments.
Learn More about This Species
1 This potential range is based on information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and does not necessarily reflect what is being considered under the Texas Conservation Plan for the dunes sagebrush lizard nor does it reflect the areas that may require incidental take coverage if the DSL is listed. For more information on the areas that may be directly impacted please visit the TCP webpage.
2 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts calculations and Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. (EMSI) Complete Employment - 1st Quarter 2011.