Daily News Update, Dec. 7, 2007
Court deals blow to ranchers with Sage
Grouse decision
F ederal
District Court Judge Lynn Winmill issued a decision on Dec. 4 that more
consideration is needed to decide whether or not the Sage Grouse should
be listed as a threatened or endangered species.
On Jan. 12,
2005, a Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) decision stated that a listing
was not warranted. Judge Winmill has remanded the matter back to the
FWS for further consideration.
" The
NCBA and PLC are deeply dismayed by Judge Winmill's latest effort to
manage the Department of the Interior," says Jeff Eisenberg, NCBA
director of federal lands and executive director of the Public Lands
Council (PLC). "Ranchers and other land users had banded together to
put in place the conservation measures needed to protect the grouse and
its habitat. Winmill's decision dismisses these efforts."
PLC and
NCBA are working with partners to evaluate the decision and determine
what the best course of action is for NCBA and PLC members in response.
Sage Grouse
habitat often exists on western rangelands where ranchers graze
livestock. If the bird is listed as a federal endangered species,
ranchers face increased costs, regulatory delays and land-use
restrictions that could seriously impact
their operations.
NCBA and the PLC
have historically supported local
conservation efforts as a more viable means for species protection than
federal listing. The FWS has said these efforts are proving successful
and a formal listing of the bird is not needed.
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