Groups May Sue Feds Over Lynx Listing

Ten conservation groups have filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its failure to meet a Jan. 8 deadline to list the lynx for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The notice, sent to the agency Monday, means the groups can file a lawsuit after 60 days, if a decision is still not made by that time.

Kemper McMaster, field supervisor for the agency’s Montana field office, said the agency hoped to publish its decision as soon as possible.

Opponents of listing the lynx cite the potential for disruption of logging, road building and other forest uses.

Fish and Wildlife proposed last year to list the lynx as threatened as part of a settlement with 15 environmental organizations, closing a series of lawsuits dating to 1991.

A final decision was delayed for a year to gather more information.

“It took two court rulings to get the listing proposed, and now even the recent six-month extension is not sufficient?” asked David Gaillard of Predator Conservation Alliance, one of the groups that signed the notice.