Battle royale looms as Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke mulls overhaul of plans to protect sage grouse habitat

Western leaders, including Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, are opposing a possible Trump administration push to overhaul federal plans for protecting greater sage grouse across a Texas-sized area in 10 states.

Those plans were negotiated over five years by state and federal wildlife officials — with private landowners, conservationists and industry groups participating — as an alternative to listing the imperiled sage grouse as an endangered species.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke last week stayed mum on whether he’ll move ahead on a review of the plans.

“Secretary Zinke has made clear his commitment to working with, rather than against, local communities and being a good neighbor to private landowners,” Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift said in a prepared statement. “The Interior Department is looking forward to working with state and local partners to ensure we are striking a true balance between both conservation and responsible multiple use of our public lands.”

Full story at http://dpo.st/2s9BZfY

 

 

 

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