US eases land restrictions meant to protect bird in West
Matthew Brown, Associated Press
Updated 9:30 pm CDT, Friday, March 15, 2019
Photo: David Zalubowski, AP
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In this April 20, 2013, file photo, male greater sage grouse perform their mating ritual on a lake near Walden, Colo. The Trump administration is finalizing plans to ease restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling and other industry activities that are meant to protect the imperiled bird species that ranges across the American West. A formal announcement is expected Friday, March 15, 2019.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration on Friday finalized changes to sweeping federal land use plans for the West, easing restrictions on energy companies and other industries in a way officials said would still protect a struggling bird species.
The changes by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will guide future efforts to conserve greater sage grouse, ground-dwelling birds that range across portions of 11 Western states.
Environmentalists said the widely-anticipated move will undermine protections for the chicken-sized grouse. It would allow more oil and gas drilling, mining and other activities that can disrupt grouse breeding grounds.
But the changes secured key backing from Democratic and Republican governors in affected states, bolstering the administration's position that revisions were needed to plans crafted under former President Barack Obama.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/science/article/APNewsBreak-US-easing-land-restrictions-across-13690194.php
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