FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2018
DENVER—Today the Bureau of Land Management released the Final Environmental Impact Statements for Interior Secretary Zinke’s proposed changes to landmark sage-grouse conservation plans. In response, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Policy Director Jesse Prentice-Dunn:
“In announcing these changes, Secretary Zinke is breaking a compromise deal made just three years ago by Westerners of all stripes, who set aside their differences to conserve key sage-grouse habitat and provide certainty for communities and industry around the region.
“Now, the Interior Department is punching oil rig-sized loopholes through the sage-grouse plans and preparing to gut the Endangered Species Act at the same time. It paints a grim future for the imperiled bird. Whether it’s caribou in Alaska, mule deer in Wyoming, or sage-grouse in Colorado, under Secretary Zinke, wildlife in the way of oil and gas development doesn’t stand a chance.”
Learn more:
- The government’s plan to save the remaining sage-grouse [Washington Post, 2015]
- Tales from the swamp: Sage-grouse edition [Westwise]
- Zinke ignores public input, flips Westerners the bird [Westwise]
- Endangered Species Act stripped of key provisions in Trump administration proposal [Washington Post]
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.