In a recent move that's stirring up controversy, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has signaled his preparedness to launch a legal challenge against the Biden Administration's decision to list the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered. The critter, which calls the oil-rich grounds of the Permian Basin home, is at the center of a clash between federal environmental regulations and state-led economic interests.

According to a statement from Paxton's office, the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are accused to have not solely relied on the "best available data" when making their decision, as required under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Instead, Paxton argues that the Services decided to, instead, depend on "flawed assumptions" about oil and gas development and "unfounded speculation" about climate impacts. Furthermore, Paxton maintains that pre-existing conservation agreements established by Texas landowners already sufficiently protect the lizard—and Texas’s economic interests.

These agreements are designed to balance environmental stewardship with property rights and the economic drive behind the Permian Basin's oil and gas operations. Paxton believes the Biden Administration's ruling sideswipes these local efforts, potentially threatening Texas' autonomy, the property rights of its citizens, and the state's economy. In what is framing to be a classic battle of federal oversight versus state sovereignty, Paxton's missive warns that legal action is imminent if the Administration doesn't backtrack on the listing within 60 days.

"The Biden Administration has sought countless ways to weaponize federal power to harm Texas's oil and gas industries," Paxton said. "My office is prepared to take action to protect the Texas economy, preserve Texans' private property rights, and maintain our State-guided conservation efforts that protect our environment."