ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest and most active business organizations in Central Texas, today hosted a Power Lunch program in which U.S. Rep. John Carter and Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson outlined the unsound scientific rationale for an Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing of salamanders in Texas.

Despite the dubious rationale, the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service (FWS) is expected to publish a proposal to list four salamander species tomorrow, in the August 22 Federal Register. That will trigger a 60 day comment period and a 12 month period for the Agency to finalize a determination.

The Round Rock Chamber encourages business leaders to attend a FWS hearing slated for Sept. 5 at the Wingate by Wyndham in Round Rock, 1209 N. IH 35 North in Round Rock. There will be an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. and a public hearing at 7:00 p.m.

“Business and civic leaders of all political stripes are deeply concerned about the devastating impact that a listing would have on economic growth and development in Central Texas,” said Round Rock Chamber President CEO Doug Kurkul. “Moreover, the more this matter is studied by genetic experts, the more doubt is cast on any rationale for a listing.”

Under the fundamentally flawed Endangered Species Act law, the FWS is barred from considering economic factors in their decision. Only scientific considerations may be weighed. The law also imposes strict time limits on the agency that are insufficient for it to carefully evaluate the overwhelming volume of listing requests it receives.

A strong turnout of business leaders and other citizens from around Central Texas at the Sept. 5 hearing will demonstrate to the agency the community’s strong concerns about both the economic impact and the unsound science surrounding the proposed listing. A second hearing will be held on Sept. 6 at 2405 Robert Dedman Drive in Austin.

Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. John Carter on July 26 introduced legislation that would attempt to head off a premature listing. There is also interest in reforming the ESA in 2013 to make the procedures for evaluating and listing endangered species more rational, thorough and scientifically sound. Earlier this year, the Round Rock Chamber Board of Directors approved a resolution calling for no listing absent compelling scientific evidence and for reform of the ESA.

Additional information on the unsound science surrounding this listing is available at www.TexasSalamander.com.  Photographs of Rep. Carter and Commissioner Patterson appearing at the Power Lunch are available upon request. More information about the Round Rock Chamber can be found at www.RoundRockChamber.org.