Press Releases

Denver, CO (September 22, 2015) – Today Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that an Endangered Species Act listing of the greater sage grouse is not warranted at this time. Also this week, the Department of the Interior finalized nearly a hundred land use plans imposing sage grouse-based restrictions across the sage grouse’s 11 state range.

In response, Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large) issued the following statement:

“Through hard work, diligence, and common sense, grassroots conservation has prevented a greater sage grouse listing for the time being,” said Chairman Lummis. “But we aren’t out of the woods yet. No listing does not mean no federal regulation and the sage grouse regulations finalized this week sweep across western communities and economies. My home State of Wyoming’s core area strategy represents unprecedented collaboration among communities, industries, and all levels of government. Wyoming is doing its part. Now the federal government needs to do its part to implement the core area strategy faithfully. I am disappointed that Secretary Jewell has failed to make this kind of progress range wide, where unnecessary, onerous restrictions will hurt communities while threats like invasive species and wildfire will continue to hurt the sage grouse. Much work remains to ensure sage grouse conservation across the west is focused on what’s best for the species and for people, and not simply grabbing more land.”

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