Issues

IPAA sets the record straight on the Gunnison sage grouse. Last week, the New York Times ran an Op-Ed in support of listing the Gunnison sage grouse under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The piece was critical of local and private efforts to protect the bird, and urged a federal listing as the most appropriate form of protection.  In response, the Independent Petroleum Association of America’s (IPAA) President, Barry Russell, and the ESA Watch team wrote a letter to the New York Times, highlighting the work already being done on a state and private levels. as well as the negative impact a federal listing would have on energy development in the region. As IPAA’s Barry Russell states:

“Energy producers — from wind to natural gas — and local landowners are already working with state agencies to provide protection of the bird, while also providing domestic energy and hundreds of jobs. Placing the grouse on the endangered species list will not only undermine these efforts but will also halt energy development in the proposed region — a devastating, job-crushing, unintended consequence.”

Read IPAA’s full letter HERE and the corresponding opinion piece HERE.

Sally Jewell Responds to Question for the Record on Endangered Species Act. This week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee confirmed Department of the Interior nominee Sally Jewell. Attached are responses Ms. Jewell submitted to  the Senate ENR Committee on questions related to the ESA.

AFBF speaks out against prairie chicken listing. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has spoken out against a federal listing of the lesser prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  In comments submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), AFBF noted how the public and private sector — including the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Working Group, farmers and ranchers, oil and gas companies, environmental organizations and conservation groups – are already working together to protect the species. The group also notes that, if listed, the decision could impact thousands of farmers and ranchers across the habitat region. Read more from bureau HERE.

Colorado works to keep sage grouse off federal listing. Colorado counties in the Gunnison sage grouse’s habitat region are working together to keep the bird under state protection. Montrose County commissioners are meeting with Gunnison, Delta, San Miguel, Mesa, Saguache and Dolores counties in Colorado and San Juan County, Utah to work together and implement a plan that would preclude the need for a federal ESA listing. View a map of the bird’s proposed habitat HERE.

In the News

Republicans Challenge Endangered Sage Grouse Listing Efforts. Colorado Observer. Key House Republicans are challenging the Interior Department’s process to list the sage grouse as an endangered species, an action that would have devastating effects in Colorado blocking millions of acres of land from oil, gas and other development.

Cornyn introduces amendment regarding funding for certain U.S. Fish and Wildlife listing activities. Odessa American. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn introduced an amendment today to reduce funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing activities for species in two recent settlements with environmental groups, including the Central Texas Salamanders and Lesser Prairie-Chicken, according to a release from Cornyn’s office.

ESA is no March Madness game. Western Farm Press. ESA is one of this nation’s most controversial laws. Compliance is often onerous and costly. It is used to protect 2,050 species. Approximately 1,430 are found in some part of the U.S. or its waters, including the 90 marine species NOAA fisheries oversees.

Thornberry: USFWS Director commits to reopening prairie chicken commenting. Pampa News. Anybody wishing to write the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on whether the lesser prairie chicken should be listed as a threatened species can expect an additional 45 days to make comments.

NV county hopes plan prevents sage grouse listing. Associated Press. Officials in a rural northeastern Nevada county have approved a pilot project designed to keep sage grouse off the endangered species list by killing ravens with poisoned eggs and by reducing wildfire threats through livestock grazing.

Neugebauer updates constituents on Lesser Prairie Chicken efforts. The Hereford Brand (sub req’d). Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) joined other members of Congress yesterday to speak with Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe about the proposal to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. Listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken as “threatened” would place significant restrictions on activities on both public and private land.

Counties consider joint effort on Gunnison sage-grouse. Montrose Daily Press. Montrose and other area counties are banding together to help preserve the Gunnison sage-grouse in hopes that their cooperative effort will lead the federal government to decline listing the bird as an endangered species.

State briefs: Judge declines to lift ban on water permits. Fort Worth Star Telegram. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was denied his request for an emergency stay of a federal court order temporarily barring water permits for a river system supplying Central Texas cities, power generators and petrochemical plants to ensure that enough water reaches the last migratory flock of endangered whooping cranes.

Garfield County sets parameters for sage-grouse protection. Glenwood Springs Post Independent. Though the science behind it is admittedly a work in progress, Garfield County commissioners on Monday signed off on a plan that suggests a 93 percent reduction in what’s considered suitable habitat for the greater sage-grouse in the county, compared to the area being evaluated by federal land managers.