Issues Northern California Judge reverses FWS decision on grouse listing. This week, U.S. District Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero of San Francisco restored protections for the bi-state sage grouse in California and Nevada. The judge had previously ruled federal wildlife [...]
Issues While ESA reform is considered, cost for maintaining the program cannot be forgotten. The Department of the Interior recently proposed targeted changes to the rules implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). While examining and modernizing parts of [...]
Issues Texas revamps conservation plans for dunes sagebrush lizard. This week, the Texas comptroller’s office announced it was seeking federal approval to reform a state conservation program to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard in the Permian Basin. The Texas Conservation Plan, developed [...]
Issues Sage-Grouse debate sparked over Nevada land leases. Late last week, a U.S. Forest Service document revealed a plan to open over 50,000 acres of Nevada’s Ruby Mountains to leasing. Obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, the document [...]
Issues Wyoming monitor reports high-risk of West Nile virus. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is requesting that Wyoming residents report sightings of dead sage-grouse so they can be tested for West Nile virus. West Nile virus is transmitted [...]
Issues BLM issues new policy eliminating compensatory mitigation. Earlier this week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a memo outlining a plan to end the policy of compensatory mitigation. Under the new policy set out by BLM, energy companies, [...]
Issues Trump Admin rolls out new ESA proposal. On Thursday, the Trump Administration announced plans to revamp sections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in a joint venture with the Interior and Commerce departments. The proposal would make it easier [...]
Issues Draft legislation released to strengthen the ESA. Last week, Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso (R) released a critically needed draft bill that would modernize and strengthen the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Speaking to The [...]