Grouse

Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon has issued an executive order (EO) on the greater sage grouse, reupping the state’s efforts to marry conservation objectives and economic activity including energy development.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has finalized Obama-era revisions to conserving greater sage grouse habitat in seven western states, in effect easing restrictions for oil and natural gas leasing.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has issued an executive order on his waning days in office clarifying the state’s authority in protecting sage grouse habitat.

The Trump administration has withdrawn nearly 150,000 acres in northwestern Colorado from a December oil and natural gas lease sale, after top Colorado officials expressed concerns it could impact greater sage grouse habitat.

In another push to revise Obama administration environmental policies, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on Friday issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and amended land management plans covering sage grouse habitat in five western states including the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain regions.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet have asked the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reduce the size and scope of an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for December in the southwest corner of the state that includes greater sage grouse habitat.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comment about a proposal to reduce restrictions on oil and natural gas leasing in several western states with greater sage grouse habitat.

Rejecting the state-federal collaboration on greater sage grouse protections hammered out by the Obama administration in 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is taking comments in an effort to emphasize state concerns.

The House Committee on Natural Resources is to hear from western state officials on Wednesday in an oversight hearing regarding management solutions for the greater sage grouse.