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News from
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449
Chip Weiskotten, 202-226-8553
HERSETH
SANDLIN: NEW TOOLS NEEDED TO MANAGE GROWTH OF PRAIRIE DOGS
Increased
Poisoning Should Be Used to Prevent Negative
Economic Impact for Ranchers
June 7,
2007, Washington, D.C. – U.S.
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin today expressed support for expanded
tools, including increased use of poisoning, to manage the rapid expansion
of prairie dog colonies on federal lands that is threatening the economic
livelihoods of South Dakota ranchers.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin
said, “Rapidly expanding prairie dog colonies have posed a serious and
growing threat, not only to ranchers who have grazing permits on federal
land, including the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, but to surrounding
private landowners as well. Unfortunately, the years-long drought South
Dakota has suffered has only made the problem worse, as the prairie
dog population has thrived. In particular, this growth poses a real
threat to the economic viability of ranchers in the region around the
Conata Basin.”
Rep. Herseth Sandlin
continued, “To help improve the situation, I strongly support authorizing
the use of new tools to manage their growth, including increased use
of poisoning. We simply must do more to prevent a potentially devastating
economic impact on agriculture in western South Dakota.”
Earlier this week,
the U.S. Forest Service released a draft environmental impact statement
outlining a range of possible options to manage the rapid expansion
of prairie dog colonies on federal lands. The Forest Service laid out
five separate proposals, ranging from adhering to the status quo to
authorizing varying amounts of increased poisoning on public land. The
draft statement issued by the forest service is now followed by a 45
day comment period, when the general public will be encouraged to register
their opinions on the proposals.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin
said, “I encourage all South Dakotans to make their voices heard on
this issue, and be assured that I will as well. Unfortunately, the fact
that this problem has been allowed to get to this point is another example
of a national policy that has unintended consequences in rural America.
While I recognize the need for a responsible policy regarding endangered
species such as the black-footed ferret, I simply do not understand
how we could get to a point where those interests take complete precedence
over the needs of ranchers who have lived off the land for generations
and who depend upon the beef cattle industry for their livelihoods.
It is representative of either a lack of understanding or a lack of
appreciation for our rural way of life.”
In 2004, Rep. Herseth
Sandlin joined with others in a successful effort to keep the black-tailed
prairie dog off of the endangered species list. She wrote to U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Director Steven A. Williams as well as Secretary
of the Interior Gail Norton requesting that prairie dogs be removed
from the candidate list. Subsequently, in August, 2004, the prairie
dog was removed thanks in part to these efforts.
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Congresswoman
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats
committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is
co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the
profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three
committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’
Affairs and Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was
appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and
Global Warming.
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