MI SR0179

Opposes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to add the northern long-eared bat to the federal list of endangered and threatened species, with a final listing decision planned for April 2015.

States that mandatory protective measures modeled on current voluntary interim measures would be overly restrictive and could shut down timber harvesting during summer, devastating Michigan forest product communities.

Criticizes the FWS for failing to engage state natural resource agencies and the forest products industry in developing management measures before proposing endangered species protections.

Calls for any protective measures to be based on sound scientific data, citing scientific uncertainty about northern long-eared bat populations and how white-nose syndrome affects them.

Requests the FWS delay its listing decision to allow Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin natural resource departments to complete local studies and partner with the forest products industry on solutions.