Finding on sage grouse could significantly affect renewable energy, oil and gas, in West
By Mead Gruver, APFriday, March 5, 2010
Interior to announce sage grouse finding Friday
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Interior Department plans to announce whether it will pursue endangered species protection for sage grouse, a decision with major ramifications for the West’s renewable energy and oil and gas industries.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to say Friday whether the department will pursue listing sage grouse as endangered, threatened, or not endangered or threatened.
The department also could decide that listing is warranted but precluded by higher priorities.
Even a “warranted but precluded” finding could affect investment in energy development in the 11 states where sage grouse are found, because it would place greater scrutiny on public lands development that could affect the birds.
Environmentalists say protecting sage grouse would benefit many species and help preserve open spaces.
