The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that the Endangered Species Act listing of the greater sage grouse is not warranted at this time. According to experts, the decision only lasts for a period of 5 years and allows the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to move forward with new heavy-handed restrictions on millions of acres of public land across the West.
The Department of the Interior finalized nearly a hundred land use plans imposing sage grouse-based restrictions across the sage grouse’s 11 state range.
“Through hard work, diligence, and common sense, grassroots conservation has prevented a greater sage grouse listing for the time being,” said Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis. “But we aren’t out of the woods yet. No listing does not mean no federal regulation and the sage grouse regulations finalized this week sweep across western communities and economies. My home State of Wyoming’s core area strategy represents unprecedented collaboration among communities, industries, and all levels of government. Wyoming is doing its part. Now the federal government needs to do its part to implement the core area strategy faithfully. I am disappointed that Secretary Jewell has failed to make this kind of progress range wide, where unnecessary, onerous restrictions will hurt communities while threats like invasive species and wildfire will continue to hurt the sage grouse. Much work remains to ensure sage grouse conservation across the west is focused on what’s best for the species and for people, and not simply grabbing more land.”
After an analysis of scientific information the FWS determined the bird does not face the risk of extinction now or in the foreseeable future and therefore does not need protection under the ESA.
Secretary Jewell made the announcement Tuesday on Twitter with a video.
Jewell made the announcement at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge today alongside Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Bonnie, FWS Director Dan Ashe, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Tidwell, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller, and U.S. Geological Survey Acting Director Suzette Kimball.