Wildlife

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is partnering with Questar Corp. to perform research on greater sage grouse habitat in northwest Colorado and south-central Wyoming. The research is intended to identify ways to minimize energy development impacts on grouse habitat, which has been in decline for years. The bird, whose habitat stretches across the western states, is being considered for listing as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, which also would impact energy development across the West (see Daily GPI, Dec. 6, 2007). The partnership will build on research conducted since 2005 by DOW and the University of Idaho. Salt Lake City-based Questar, which focuses its gas exploration efforts in the Rocky Mountains, will fund the partnership for an undisclosed amount.

In a collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), NiSource Inc. is working on a blanket federal permit that would allow it to operate and maintain its nationwide natural gas pipeline system and bypass case-by-case reviews that fall under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In a collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), NiSource Inc. is seeking a blanket federal permit that would allow it to operate and maintain its nationwide natural gas pipeline system and bypass case-by-case reviews that fall under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The engineering and project management company AMEC plc said it has been selected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) of a 17-state, multi-species habitat conservation plan proposed by NiSource. The EIS will be “of unprecedented magnitude in the natural gas industry,” AMEC said. NiSource proposed the habitat conservation plan for its 17,000-mile network of natural gas pipelines, storage fields, compressor stations and appurtenant facilities stretching from Louisiana to Maine. AMEC’s scope of work will include the scheduling and facilitation of stakeholder consultation and public comment meetings, database management, geographical information system services, establishment of the administrative record, creation and production of all EIS documents and overall support to the FWS, including the evaluation of mitigation and conservation measures to enhance and protect species populations and their habitats.

The Senate subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection last Wednesday held the first in what promises to be a whirlwind series of hearings on the America’s Climate Security Act.

The Senate subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection on Wednesday held the first in what promises to be a whirlwind series of hearings on the America’s Climate Security Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must reconsider the pygmy rabbit for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, an Idaho judge has ruled. If the rascally little rabbit is listed, it could spell “twubble” for oil and gas companies that operate in the West.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must reconsider the pygmy rabbit for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, an Idaho judge has ruled. If the rascally little rabbit is listed, it could spell “twubble” for oil and gas companies that operate in the West.

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) has introduced new legislation that would open up a portion of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling and would use the leasing revenue and the federal share of royalties from the ANWR production — estimated at $40 billion — to fund a number of renewable energy programs.