Grouse decision could dampen oil drilling

WASHINGTON — In a move that critics worry could restrict oil drilling and grazing on public lands in Utah and other Western states, the federal government decided Friday that the sage grouse is worthy of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

However, it delayed actually listing the desert-dwelling bird as endangered or threatened. For now, the sage grouse will merely be a "candidate" for listing while officials plan to focus their limited staff and resources on other species that face even higher risk of extinction.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that split decision buys time for states, ranchers and the energy industry to work together to avoid perhaps the need for listing by taking voluntary action now to protect the bird and its dwindling habitat.

"This gives us a window of several years to make sure that we have the plans together to ensure the twin goals here, which are: First, make sure the sage grouse is protected and doesn't have to be put on the endangered species list. … Second, we are able to move forward with continued use and development of our public lands," Salazar said.

He noted that sage grouse populations have declined by 90 percent over the past century and its habitat has been reduced in size by half. But he said efforts by states have stabilized populations of the sage grouse over the past decade.

In fact, the federal government ruled a few years ago that the sage grouse did not need Endangered Species Act protection, but courts ruled that the decision was flawed. Salazar said new reviews showed the bird merits such protection but will remain only a candidate for it while the government focuses on other species facing greater threats.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the Western Congressional Caucus, was among critics who quickly attacked the decision, saying that populations of sage grouse are strong enough that they need no protection and contended that the administration is just seeking another tool to prevent use and development of public lands.

"Not only is today's announcement a direct attack on the hundreds of western communities that depend on access to federal lands for ranching, livestock, mining and energy production ?— it also could potentially destroy opportunities for development of our renewable resources," Bishop said.

Salazar denied that. But U.S. Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey acknowledged the decision means his agency will, for example, require more environmental review of public lands already leased for oil and gas development before drilling is allowed to begin.