Issues

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IPAA and others comment on proposed Gunnison sage-grouse listing. This week, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), along with the Western Energy Alliance, Public Lands Advocacy (PLA), and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA), sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Gunnsion sage-grouse. The comments highlight issues with the Service’s proposed critical habitat designation for the sage‐grouse as well as the endangered status of the species.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) also submitted comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in favor of state and local efforts to conserve the grouse. The Colorado Park and Wildlife Department also weighed in, submitting comments to the Service regarding the proposed listing, noting concerns regarding the science used to support the listing proposal as well as discussion of the effective and robust state regulations already in place to protect the species.

Document Dive: IPAA’s comments regarding the proposed critical habitat designation for the sage‐grouse can be found HERE and regarding the proposed endangered status HERE. API’s comments regarding the proposed critical habitat designation for the sage‐grouse can be found HERE and regarding the proposed endangered status of the sage‐grouse HERE. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s comments can be found HERE. You can see all documents posted ESAWatch.org under regulation news.

Counties work together to avoid federal listing. Leaders of 11 counties in Colorado and Utah are working together to avoid a proposed federal endangered listing for the Gunnison sage-grouse. The counties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by which they agree to coordinate conservation efforts and commit to developing specific strategies each county could implement to protect both the bird and its habitat region. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet (D) praised the agreement as an important example of how his state is able to protect the sage-grouse while also providing for its citizens. The Senator stated:

“This agreement reinforces local efforts and cooperation to determine the best solution for Coloradans who live and work in the region. These counties are committed to protecting the sage-grouse and its habitat in a way that allows the region’s economy to thrive. We’ll continue to work with them to ensure the Fish and Wildlife Service understands their commitment to pursuing an effective locally-based solution.”

Read more of Senator Bennet’s comments regarding the counties’ efforts HERE. Read the MOU document HERE.

In the News

Two Commission letters on sage grouse. San Juan Record. Attorney Sean Welch’s letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service comments on the lack of an economic analysis and a National Environment Policy Act document. He states that U.S. Fish and Wildlife did not properly designate the proposed area in San Juan County. The area proposed as protected habitat includes an airport, crop land and dwellings. Welch said that the benefits to the sage grouse are outweighed by the detrimental impact on more than 400 land owners. His letter includes photos of the area.

Colo., Utah counties vow cooperation in bid to avoid grouse listing. E&E News (sub req’d). The leaders of 11 counties in southwest Colorado and eastern Utah have formally pledged to work together to protect the Gunnison sage grouse, which the Obama administration has proposed listing as an endangered species. Ten Colorado counties along with San Juan County, Utah, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreeing to coordinate conservation efforts and committing to develop specific strategies that each county could implement to protect the bird and its dwindling habitat.

ESA limits may erode. Capital Press, Editorial. Ranchers are rightfully concerned over the Obama administration’s reinterpretation of language in the Endangered Species Act. If the policy proposals are approved, federal agencies will employ a more expansive understanding of the ESA’s scope, subjecting more land — both public and private, to restrictions. That could have a big impact on ranchers who depend on public grazing allotments, or own property that is potential habitat for an endangered species.

Senator lauds counties’ sage-grouse agreement. Montrose Daily Press. The Gunnison sage-grouse has been proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Montrose County commissioners have said the listing is not justified and that, coupled with an accompanying critical habitat designation, it could ruin the local economy.

Colorado, Utah Counties Sign Gunnison Sage-Grouse Memorandum of Understanding. Political News. “This agreement reinforces local efforts and cooperation to determine the best solution for Coloradans who live and work in the region,” Bennet said. “These counties are committed to protecting the sage grouse and it’s habitat in a way that allows the region’s economy to thrive. We’ll continue to work with them to ensure the Fish and Wildlife Service understands their commitment to pursuing an effective locally-based solution.”

People’s needs outweigh grouse’s, commissioners say. Montrose Daily Press. Designating the Gunnison sage-grouse as an endangered species is unnecessary and will adversely affect the local economy, Montrose County commissioners said in formal comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

White: Ruling puts birds ahead of people. Austin American-Statesman, Texas Public Policy Foundation. As Texas continues to endure widespread drought, a new man-made water shortage is percolating through the federal courts. An unusually, if not uniquely aggressive court ruling under the Endangered Species Act now collides with a vital state authority and the Fifth, 10th and 11th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. This decision elevates the needs of the Whooping Cranes above all Texans need for water.

10 counties unite to protect Gunnison sage-grouse. Colorado Springs and Pueblo News. Mesa County this week signed the memorandum of understanding on Gunnison sage-grouse conservation efforts that includes nine Colorado counties and San Juan County, Utah. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Saturday reports, that the counties are sharing data, strategies, plans and tools to foster a “rangewide persepctive” to protect the bird.

Development in Wyo.’s Red Desert meets few obstacles. E&E News (sub req’d). Environmental groups still oppose industrialization of the Red Desert and even brought a lawsuit against a uranium project that sits near where the CDC effort would take place. The suit claimed that the development’s roads jeopardized key sage grouse breeding grounds.