Written By : Dave Blount

Obama et al. have used the spill by his crony capitalist bankrollers at BP as a pretext to shut down oil drilling in the gulf, and the exhaust fumes from an icebreaker to choke off Alaska, but how to justify suppressing land drilling in the desert wastes of West Texas? Here’s how:

A three-inch lizard that thrives in desert conditions could shut down oil and gas operations in portions of Southeast New Mexico and in West Texas, including the state’s top two oil producing counties.

Called the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, it is being considered for inclusion on the federal Endangered Species listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. …

“We are very concerned about the Fish and Wildlife Service listing,” said Ben Shepperd, president of the [Permian Basin Petroleum Association], noting the service also has proposed listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken next year. “The wolf at the door is the lizard; we’re concerned listing it would shut down drilling activity for a minimum of two years and as many as five years while the service determines what habitat is needed for the lizard. That means no drilling, no seismic surveys, no roads built, no electric lines.”

As an added bonus, pretending that lizards are “endangered” would also cripple local agriculture:

Not only would the move impact oil and gas operations but agriculture, Shepperd noted, shutting down agricultural activities like grazing and farming — “anything that disturbs the habitat.”

As our liberal rulers continue to drive gas and food prices toward the stratosphere, at least we can take solace that lizards will supposedly benefit.

On a tip from AC. Hat tip: Hot Air. Cross-posted at Moonbattery.

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