DENVER—Today, the Bureau of Land Management announced the finalization of changes to sage-grouse conservation plans covering seven Western states. The plans were initially finalized in 2015 after extensive negotiations between Western governors, ranchers, and conservationists. In response, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Policy Director Jesse Prentice-Dunn:
“These plans show that a handshake doesn’t mean anything to David Bernhardt unless it’s with an oil and gas executive. At Bernhardt’s direction, the Interior Department is breaking a landmark deal that was brokered by Western governors, ranchers, and conservationists—all to allow more drilling and mining.
“By punching oil-rig sized loopholes through these plans, the administration will drive the sage grouse closer to an endangered species listing. Unfortunately for the grouse, Bernhardt is also leading a charge to gut the Endangered Species Act. Time and again this administration has shown that it won’t let critical wildlife protections stand in the way of rampant extraction on our public lands.”
Last night, the Center for Western Priorities released an analysis that found more than 20 percent of oil and gas leases in sage-grouse habitat are owned by companies with ties to Acting Secretary David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist.
Learn more
- Analysis: Bernhardt-linked oil and gas companies own more than 20 percent of all oil and gas leases in sage-grouse habitat
- Tales from the swamp: sage-grouse edition
- Trump’s pick to lead Interior delivers favor to major lobbying client
- Interior approved drilling permits for Bernhardt-linked companies during shutdown
- David Bernhardt: walking conflict of interest