Kansas & The Lesser Prairie Chicken

(AP) – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is criticizing the federal government’s decision to place the lesser prairie chicken on a list of threatened species.

Brownback on Thursday called the decision an overreach. He said in a statement that he’s concerned that the decision will hurt the Kansas economy.

Brownback said his administration is looking at possible responses. Spokeswoman Sara Belfry said a lawsuit is among the options under consideration.

The decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could affect oil and gas drilling, wind farms and other activities in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico.

The Kansas Senate last month approved a bill declaring that Kansas has sole control over managing the state’s prairie chicken population and its habitat. The measure is pending in the House.