Issues
ESA Bills Debated in the House. This week, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative hearing on several pieces of proposed legislation aimed at updating and improving the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to Natural Recourses Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, “these bills would instill greater transparency, more accurate economic analyses, counting of species, adding sunshine to ESA ‘sue and settle’ policies, and greater deference to states that are already conserving species.”
The hearing also included testimony from various stakeholders impacted by the ESA, including Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach. Veach noted that federal regulations have made the American farmer and rancher “the species most threatened here.” Representatives from Texas also shared their opinions on the ESA and its current operation. Todd Staples, Texas Agriculture Commissioner, emphasized the importance of regional conservation efforts stating, “local, state and regional officials are better equipped and should be given the opportunity to coordinate species management efforts with stakeholders.”
Tom Ray of the Texas Water Conservation Association was also critical of how certain listing decisions have come about. He stated, “by engaging in closed door agreements with environmental groups the Fish and Wildlife Service ceded its own species priority setting process to outside parties agreeing to take their marching orders from work plans created by environmental groups which were then, in turn, approved by a Federal Judge.”
For a recorded video of the hearing visit the House Committee’s webpage HERE.
Northern Long Eared Bat Oversight Hearing Held. On September 8th, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing on the Northern Long Eared Bat. The hearing focused on questions surrounding the bat’s population and the disease impacting the species, the white-nose syndrome. As Congressman Glenn Thompson (PA-O5) described:
“No one can deny the challenge facing the Northern Long-Eared Bat due to White Nose Syndrome and there is consensus that we must learn more about the disease and improve partnerships at all levels to slow its spread. However, it is imperative that we get the science right and strategically address the root cause of the apparent population losses, rather than restrict large areas of the economy and activities that have no bearing on slowing or reversing the disease.”
Witnesses at the meeting also reiterated Congressman Thompson’s message. Martin Melville, owner of Melville Forestry Services in Centre Hall, Pa. stated that “the only real threat to the species is clearly a wildlife disease, not habitat modification or loss.” Jim Brubaker, a Pennsylvania Farm Bureau board member, also noted that the proposal to list the Northern Long-Eared Bat “is flawed from both a scientific and common sense perspective.”
Lou D’Amico, President of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association, also highlighted the impact such a listing could have on energy development in the state. From his remarks:
“PIOGA suggests that if any final rule resulting in the listing of the species is adopted, it may not lawfully restrict activities, such as oil and gas development, that have no casual connection to White Nose Syndrome or otherwise threaten of endanger the Northern Long-Eared Bat.”
The proposed listing of the bat is part of a 2011 mega-settlement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians.
Sage Grouse Meeting in Colorado. This morning, September 12th, the Department of the Interior held its Denver area Sage Grouse meeting at the Colorado State Office in Lakewood. According to Sarah Greenberger, a counselor to the Interior Secretary present at the meeting, the department and state officials have reached a “critical juncture in our planning process” and the department is “optimistic” over the state-wide effort to protect the Greater sage grouse.
From her remarks in E&E News:
“We can get to a place with our partners — oil and gas companies, mining companies, private land owners, cattlemen, state — that we put in place some smart conservation practices, that we’re putting economic development and activity in places that make sense, that we’re preserving the Western way of life that goes along with this landscape. That we have a proper balance, an appropriate balance between open space and development. We think the opportunity really to do that is right now.”
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Jim Lyons also emphasized the number of entities involved in ensuring the conservation of the grouse, noting that “the only way we’re going to achieve our goal of protecting the sage grouse and avoiding a listing is through this kind of collaborative effort.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to determine whether to list the bird under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by September 2015.
Montana Governor Restricts Drilling in Sage Grouse Habitat. This week, Montana Governor Steve Bullock ordered restrictions on oil drilling in parts of the state to address the declining Sage Grouse population. Similar to Wyoming’s Sage Grouse conservation plan, the Governor’s plan is an effort to forestall a federal listing of the bird. According to the Associated Press:
“The order establishes no-occupancy zones to protect the birds that extend six-tenths of a mile in all directions around active sage grouse breeding grounds. Roads could not be built in those areas, and oil exploration would be allowed only on a seasonal basis when the breeding grounds are not active.”
The Montana Petroleum Association urged the state to adopt a smaller no-occupancy zone, yet expressed confidence producers would still be able to continue operations in the state. According to Montana Petroleum Association executive director Dave Galt, “It’s going to impact everyone. But we believe, based on the experience in Wyoming, that we can still operate under these conditions.”
Janet Ellis, a member of bird conservation group Montana Audubon as well as the Governor’s advisory council, expressed support for Governor’s new plan, stating “The ultimate goal is to maintain our sage grouse populations in the state of Montana. This program allows us to do that.”
In the News
Lynx protections expanded in northern New Mexico, but habitat protections denied. Associated Press. U.S. wildlife officials are expanding protections for Canada lynx to include animals in northern New Mexico, while again denying critical habitat designations for the elusive wild cats in the Southern Rockies. Note: The Taos News, The Guardian, and NBC News also report.
Sage grouse working group gives $100000 to local projects. Casper Star-Tribune. The South Central Sage-Grouse Local Working Group gave $100,000 to local projects recently. Recipients include: $42,000 to the University of Wyoming for response of greater sage-grouse to treatments in Wyoming big sagebrush; $25,000 to WEST Inc. for 7-Mile Hill wind energy research; $20,000 to Utah State University for Raven research in Wyoming; and $13,000 to the Bureau of Land Management for Ferris Mountain and Bradley Peak conifer removal projects.
Colorado’s federal lands become a flashpoint in first governor’s race debate. Denver Post. Hickenlooper was chairman of the Western Governors’ Association last year. As an example, the incumbent talked about how he and Republican Gov. Matt Mead of Wyoming worked together to show how their states are protecting sage grouse habitat to fend off tougher federal regulations. “Rather than getting in a picked fight with Washington, let’s show them, clearly, how we’re doing this,” he said, spurring applause. Beauprez responded toughly, “If this was private land and the federal government was the tenant, we’d cancel their lease.”
Congress urged to bring common sense to Endangered Species Act. Pork Network News. The Arkansas Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation today called for clear, cost-benefit analyses from regulatory agencies that enforce the Endangered Species Act. Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach said the often oppressive cost of ESA enforcement on the private sector gets ignored.
California communities still thirsting for drought help from Congress. Star-Telegram. Jim Costa (D-CA) presented the local drought resolutions during a hearing that on its surface was about six different bills centering on the Endangered Species Act. He authored one of the bills, designed to boost water exports to San Joaquin Valley farms.
Cooperative management can protect wolverines. Idaho Mountain Express. The states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have noted the recent criticisms about U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Aug. 12 decision to not list wolverines in the western United States as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
US to Spend $328 Million on Conservation Easements. Associated Press. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $328 million in funding Monday to protect and restore farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the country. They also seek to provide and protect habitat for several endangered and at-risk species including sage grouse, bog turtles, Florida panthers, Louisiana black bear and whooping cranes.
Rehab efforts planned for burned sage-grouse land. Reno Gazette-Journal. It could take a few years to rehabilitate the habitat of sage grouse after wildfires in eastern Oregon this summer, say officials of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Plans for the work on two fire areas totaling more than 650 square miles in Malheur and Harney counties are being developed.
Coalition To Sue Over Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery. KRWG News. With only 83 individuals and five breeding pairs in the wild, Mexican gray wolves remain at serious risk of extinction. Recovery planning and implementation, legally required under the Endangered Species Act, are necessary to ensure the lobos’ survival.
