Key facts
- US Fish and Wildlife Service revoked endangered species listing for dunes sagebrush lizard.
- Action resolves lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
- Lizard is found in the Permian Basin, a major oil-producing region.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has revoked the endangered species listing for the dunes sagebrush lizard, a reptile found in the Permian Basin. This decision comes as part of a settlement to resolve a lawsuit initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The agency acknowledged that it made a 'serious and fundamental' error in its initial assessment of the lizard's status. The re-evaluation process will now commence within two years, potentially impacting conservation efforts and energy development in the region.