By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — The Biden administration announced Tuesday it will consider a ban on new mining on large expanses of public lands in Western states to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. The Interior Department review comes in response to a federal court order and is expected to […]
sage grouse
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Trump administration plans would ease protections for sage grouse in West
By Nicholas K. Geranios, The Associated Press SPOKANE, Wash. — The Trump administration announced plans Thursday that ease protections for sage grouse in the West, prompting an outcry by critics who say the move paves the way for widespread mining and drilling and ignores a federal court ruling. U.S. officials plan to formally publish what […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Colorado needs strong Oil and Gas Commission wildlife rules
Senate Bill SB19-181 requires the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to protect wildlife and biological resources when permitting oil and gas operations. The COGCC recently proposed draft rules to address this requirement. While we appreciate the effort that has gone into generating these rules, we feel that they need to be strengthened to adequately […]
Posted inUncategorized
Federal judge cancels oil and gas leases on some sage grouse land
BOISE, Idaho — A federal judge has cancelled more than $125 million in oil and gas leases on public lands that are home to the declining bird species greater sage grouse, in a ruling that said the Trump administration illegally curtailed public comment. The ruling doesn’t prevent the administration from selling the leases at a […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Report: Sage-grouse recovery in Colorado, Utah to cost millions and take years
GRAND JUNCTION — A federal agency says rebuilding a sage-grouse population found only in Colorado and Utah could take more than 50 years and cost nearly $561 million. The Daily Sentinel reported Saturday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a draft recovery plan for the Gunnison sage-grouse, which is listed as a threatened species. […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, Growth, News, Politics and Government
Judge blocks Trump from easing energy rules in western U.S. citing sage grouse
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from easing rules on mining, drilling and grazing across millions of acres in seven Western states — including Colorado — saying such activities left unchecked were likely to harm a struggling bird species. The ground-dwelling greater sage grouse […]
Posted inColoradans, Energy, Environment, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Scattering BLM will be good for policy, boss William Pendley says. Not with him at the helm, advocacy groups argue.
Colorado will get more of the Bureau of Land Management’s Washington staff under the Trump administration’s proposed agency reorganization than any other Western state — but whether those employees will have decision-making authority is a hotly contested point. The plan involves scattering almost 300 positions, some currently unfilled, across 11 Western states. Of the 222 […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Sage grouse numbers decline in Idaho since decision not to make birds an endangered species
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho’s sage grouse population has dropped 52% since the federal government decided not to list the birds as an endangered species in the fall of 2015. It’s not yet clear whether the three-year decline is part of a cyclical pattern or indicative of a more serious issue, but the Idaho Statesmanreports the trend […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Restore our national parks using oil and natural gas
On July 4th the line of cars trying to enter Rocky Mountain National Park reached a mile long. It’s a symptom of the growing popularity of public lands across the West as people increasingly enjoy the great outdoors. The toll is adding up, however, as national parks struggle to keep up with the yearly wear […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Conservation groups ask judge to halt Trump administration drilling plan citing sage grouse
By Keith Ridler, The Associated Press BOISE, Idaho — Four conservation groups have asked a judge to block a Trump administration plan allowing drilling, mining and other activities in seven Western states they say will harm sage grouse. Western Watersheds Project and other groups asked for the injunction in U.S. District Court in Idaho late […]