The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) submitted joint comments on March 17th, 2015 regarding the proposed 4 (d) rule for the northern-long-eared bat (NLEB). IPAA and API believe, as stated in their previous comments, that a listing is not necessary and will have little impact on the future of the NLEB. These comments on the 4(d) rule, that FWS has proposed to adopt if it ultimately determines that the NLEB should be listed as threatened, urge FWS to expand the exceptions to the prohibition against incidental take of the NLEB to include oil and gas activities conducted in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Read the full comments HERE.
