APNewsBreak: Feds to ease land restrictions across US West

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

APNewsBreak: Feds to ease land restrictions across US West

By MATTHEW BROWN
March 15, 2019

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration is finalizing plans to ease restrictions on oil and gas drilling and other industries that were meant to protect an imperiled bird species that ranges across the American West, federal officials said Thursday.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management Acting Director Brian Steed told The Associated Press the changes would protect greater sage grouse while addressing concerns that existing policies governing millions of acres of federal land were too restrictive.

Critics say the changes will lead to more disturbances of grouse habitat, undermining efforts to shore up the bird’s population.

A formal announcement is expected Friday.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/276a6253cd7947cc89e72d2285a9230e

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

1. Out here in the fragile desert, Congress approved opening 200,000 acres for use

by off-road vehicles. "Use" doesn't really describe the damage these vehicles and their operators do to the desert ecosystem. The only positive thing is that many Darwin awards are given out each year.

They balanced it out by allocating an additional 45 acres to Joshua Tree National Park.

[MFM008]

2. The bastards

Need more lawsuits.