The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee will hold a full Committee field hearing in Harrisburg on September 8 on “The Northern Long Eared Bat: The Federal Endangered Species Act and the Impacts of a Listing on Pennsylvania and 37 Other States.” 

The hearing will examine questions regarding bat data and non-human-caused disease, as well as the likely negative impacts that a federal endangered listing for this particular species would have on important activities such as farming and forestry.

The Northern Long Eared Bat is one of hundreds of species included in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2011 settlements with two groups that requires listing decisions by 2016. A final decision for the Northern Long Eared Bat could be made within the next several months.

Witnesses at the hearing will testify about the economic impacts of the endangered listing on Pennsylvania citizens and how the actions regulated under the proposed designation would fail to mitigate problems causing the decline of the species.

“This hearing is part of the House Natural Resources Committee’s effort to improve and update the Endangered Species Act. I want to thank Chairman Doc Hastings for initiating this timely hearing on the proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the Northern Long Eared Bat as endangered, which will have sweeping effects on a range of economic sectors in 38 states including Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05).

“I support the Endangered Species Act’s goal to preserve and protect domestic species. The proposal to list the Northern Long-Eared Bat on the ESA is another example of government rushing forward with a regulation that would have significant and far-reaching impacts on the economy, in this case, home building, farming, manufacturing, and even land management for ecological purposes. This hearing is an important opportunity to hear from local stakeholders on the negative effects that this potential listing would have on local communities and the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should fully evaluate the ramifications of this proposal to find a solution that protects the bat while allowing activities that minimally affect it to continue," said Rep. Scott Perry (PA-04).

The hearing will be held in Hearing Room 1, North Office Building, Harrisburg starting at 10:00.

9/1/2014