Feds Protect Gunnison Sage Grouse..Decision on Greater Sage Grouse due Next Year

[bigtex]

Feds protect sage grouse
Decision to list bird’s cousin is due next year

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press
Article Last Updated: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 9:24pm

Federal authorities have issued a moratorium blocking gas, oil and coal leasing on 800,000 acres of public land in southwestern Colorado and eastern Utah that is habitat for the imperiled Gunnison sage grouse.

DENVER – The federal government this week declared more than 400,000 acres in southwestern Colorado and eastern Utah off-limits to energy exploration or any other kind of development to protect the Gunnison sage grouse, a precursor to a much larger fight over another species of the bird that ranges across 11 Western states.

The Bureau of Land Management directive released Monday formalizes protections the government already had implemented to preserve the Gunnison grouse. A decision about whether to list it as an endangered species is due in November.

BLM spokesman Steven Hall said the protected land falls in 800,000 acres that have been identified as the bird’s general range.

The Gunnison sage grouse lives only in a small sliver of Colorado and Utah, and the estimated 4,500 animals remaining are about one-tenth of its original population. Because it is so depleted, Hall said, its habitat has to be protected aggressively.

A similar species, the greater sage grouse, has more of an impact on the West. The greater grouse, while still below its peak population, is healthier and doesn’t require as stringent on-the-ground development limitations, Hall said.

But its range is far bigger, covering 160 million acres in 11 Western states. That land includes many of the areas under gas and oil development as part of the ongoing energy boom.

“We don’t see as many conflicts between energy production and habitat protection with the Gunnison sage grouse as we do with the greater sage grouse,” Hall said.

A decision about whether to list the greater sage grouse as endangered is due next year. Western states fear the bird will receive federal protection, inhibiting development and ranching in huge parts of their territory.

The BLM’s protections for the Gunnison sage grouse already are causing economic damage, said Kathleen Sgamma of the Western Energy Alliance. The steps the federal government will take if the greater sage grouse is listed will be more devastating.

“It’s a microcosm of what’s happening across the West,” she said of the latest BLM policy.

Last week, the Western Governors Association passed a resolution urging the federal government to defer to states on greater sage grouse conservation.

On Tuesday, Utah legislators set aside $2 million to lobby the federal government to postpone its expected September 2015 listing of the greater grouse.

http://cortezjournal.com/article/20140617/NEWS01/140619817/Feds-protect-sage-grouse--

[bigtex]

So basically this decision on the Gunnison grouse will have no impact in WA since their historical range is relatively small.

HOWEVER, a decision regarding the Greater Sage Grouse will/would have an impact. The map below shows the current and historical range for Sage Grouse in WA per a 2000 WDFW study. So given this study is 14 years old you can determine some of the green areas may be smaller (or bigger). WDFW has been really pushing the grouse relocation/release efforts in Lincoln County so if a map was drawn up today there may be a green spot in Lincoln County now.

[huntrights]

 
Abuse of the ESA and the resulting negative economic impact is becoming increasingly obvious across the nation.  Part of this abuse also appears to fall into the category of a growing federal land grab - control.

[bigtex]

Part of this abuse also appears to fall into the category of a growing federal land grab - control.

Please tell me how it appears to be a land grab? Have the feds acquired any lands in WA for wolves since their ESA listed?

[huntrights]

 
They severely limit use and development of our natural resources  that can have very obvious economic benefits.  We can be good stewards of our lands and its resident wildlife without shutting down use and access.  Whatever label is given to the actions, the results are the same: loss of use, access, and control of the land, water, and resources.  Who gets the control?

Excerpt from the article originally posted:
"Federal authorities have issued a moratorium blocking gas, oil and coal leasing on 800,000 acres of public land ...".

Other interesting examples and articles:

FAILED FEDERAL FOREST POLICIES: ENDANGERING JOBS, FORESTS AND SPECIES
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-112hhrg74531/html/CHRG-112hhrg74531.htm

Excerpt from the document - part of a comment from Congressman Doc Hastings:
"Most concerning, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued
sweeping critical habitat proposals for the Spotted Owl that
amount to a huge land grab in Washington, Oregon and
California, some 13 million acres, including nearly 2 million
acres of private property. The proposals of these largely
outdated data from the '90s, they don't include an economic
impact analysis and they do little, if anything, to address the
concern of the Spotted Owl's decline, mainly another predatory
owl called the Barred Owl."

"Stop The Drilling! A Lizard Is Imperiled"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2011/05/10/stop-the-drilling-a-lizard-is-imperiled/

"Abuse of Endangered Species Act threatens American's private property rights"
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/12/28/abuse-endangered-species-act-threatens-american-private-property-rights/

"Commissioner warns ‘Endangered Species Act’ is a federal land grab"
http://southwestfarmpress.com/government/commissioner-warns-endangered-species-act-federal-land-grab

"Government land grab fears gaining"
http://www.wlj.net/article-9944-government-land-grab-fears-gaining.html

"Federal Land Grab Comes to California at Vail Lake"
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/04/30/Johnson-Land-Vail-BLM-Bundy-Land-Grab-Federal-Rights-California

"Lummis Introduces ESA Litigation Transparency Bill
Joins Working Group in presenting four bills to update the Endangered Species Act"
http://lummis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=374437

"Further Details Sought on Costs of Hundreds of Endangered Species Act Lawsuits and Settlements
Chairman Hastings asks Obama Administration for more information"
http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=297790

"Millions of Taxpayer Dollars Spent on Endangered Species Act Litigation and Attorney Fees"
http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=299899

"Bad for Species, Bad for People: What’s Wrong with the Endangered Species Act and How to Fix It"
http://www.ncpa.org/pub/st303?pg=6

"House Republican call for changes to Endangered Species Act"
http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_25063963/house-republican-call-changes-endangered-species-act

"The Use and Abuse of the Endangered Species Act"
http://www.propertyrightsalliance.org/use-abuse-endangered-species-act-a2995

"NCBA and PLC Support the Modernization of Endangered Species Act"
http://www.beefusa.org/CMDocs/BeefUSA/Beltway%20Beef5.1.2014.pdf

Lawsuit challenges feds over 'sue and settle' tactics on endangered species
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03/18/lawsuit-challenges-feds-over-sue-and-settle-tactics-on-endangered-species/

"VITTER: Endangered Species Act’s hidden costs
Respect for private property at risk"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/8/endangered-species-acts-hidden-costs/

"Vitter Warns Louisiana of EPA’s Secret “Sue and Settle” Deals, Could Impact State"
http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=644862c0-f95a-e23f-b506-828fbd0cab86

"In Utah, a Town Digs Deep to Battle Prairie Dogs
To Keep Critters Out of Airport, Officials Build Barrier Six Feet Underground"
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304020104577384642186959960

"The Radical Abuse of the ESA Threatens the US Economy"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidblackmon/2013/02/18/the-radical-abuse-of-the-esa-threatens-the-us-economy/

"EPA's Secret And Costly 'Sue And Settle' Collusion With Environmental Organizations"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/02/17/epas-secret-and-costly-sue-and-settle-collusion-with-environmental-organizations/2/

“The Sue-and-Settle Racket
An attorney general takes on environmental groups’ war on fossil fuels.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/373810/sue-and-settle-racket-stephen-moore

"Shooting owls, counting slugs, and fighting evolution – US Fish & Wildlife Service at work"
http://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/blog/liberty-live/detail/shooting-owls-counting-slugs-and-fighting-evolution-us-fish-wildlife-service-at-work

Turning Joggers into Outlaws
http://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/blog/liberty-live/detail/turning-joggers-into-outlaws.html

"Thurston County Commissioners put people last"
http://archive.myfreedomfoundation.com/blog/liberty-live/detail/thurston-county-commissioners-put-people-last.html

"DOJ Documents Confirm Center for Biological Diversity Received Millions in Taxpayer Funds from ESA-Related Lawsuits"
http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=301242

"Tiny animal, big threat to property owners"
http://mynorthwest.com/194/2495014/Tiny-animal-big-threat-to-property-owners

“The Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Claims of Property Rights “Takings””
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL31796.pdf

“The Endangered Species Act:
Making Innocent Species the Enemy (full)”
http://perc.org/articles/endangered-species-act-1

"Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for 32 Snail and Slug Species of the Pacific Northwest"
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2008/mollusks-03-13-2008.html




 
The political pendulum will always swing back and forth; perhaps the ESA pendulum is swinging too far in one direction.

[Elkaholic daWg]

Doesn't matter what state it happens in......and that's quite a list.

[bigtex]

Huntnrights,

When most people hear "land grab" they think true land acquisition as in the government has purchased the land, not simply land restrictions typically on current federal lands. If we use your term of "land grab" then every county in this state has "grabbed" all land within their county. Every county can determine where, when, and what you build on your land, what you can remove and when, etc.

[huntrights]

 
An old saying comes to mind: A rose by any other name would smell as sweet; that is, given any label, the results are the same.  Congressman Doc Hastings called the spotted owl situation a "land grab" so the label seemed to fit here as well.  The term was also used in several of the examples given.  Land "takings" can fall into categories of loss of use that normally would be allowed had the ESA restrictions not shut things down or imposed severe restrictions.  Wise and sustainable use of land and natural resources should be the goal we all have.  However, there is little doubt the ESA is being used/abused in some cases to achieve other agendas and apparently as a revenue stream for some organizations.  On the county level, please note the hardships imposed on residents of Thurston County that have Mazama Pocket Gophers on their land (loss of usual and customary use of their land and a likely loss of property value).  There appears to be a pattern (mode of operation).  The subject of this thread is just one example of restrictions that are imposed via the ESA: "Federal authorities have issued a moratorium blocking gas, oil and coal leasing on 800,000 acres of public land in southwestern Colorado and eastern Utah that is habitat for the imperiled Gunnison sage grouse." that appears to fall into the same category as many of the examples given.  It is interesting that it also negatively affects gas, oil, and coal leasing/production that the current administration does not appear to support.  Of course, we must all decide for ourselves.

 
If county commissioners have become little dictators, VOTE them out of office.  We should not allow control over every facet of our lives.  Remember, they work for us.  The same holds true for our state and national representatives. 

[Elkaholic daWg]

Huntnrights,

When most people hear "land grab" they think true land acquisition as in the government has purchased the land, not simply land restrictions typically on current federal lands.

definitely not most people here then

[bigtex]

If county commissioners have become little dictators, VOTE them out of office.  We should not allow control over every facet of our lives.  Remember, they work for us.  The same holds true for our state and national representatives.

Show me a county in this state (or maybe any state) that does not have some type of permitting or restrictions on what you can do on your land. I guess there is no longer any private land in this country, because according to you if there are restrictions, then the government has grabbed the land.

[huntrights]

If county commissioners have become little dictators, VOTE them out of office.  We should not allow control over every facet of our lives.  Remember, they work for us.  The same holds true for our state and national representatives.

Show me a county in this state (or maybe any state) that does not have some type of permitting or restrictions on what you can do on your land. I guess there is no longer any private land in this country, because according to you if there are restrictions, then the government has grabbed the land.

The intent is not to view things in extremes.  Regulations are necessary when they are based on sound and unbiased science, do not unjustly favor the agendas of political or special interest organizations on either side of an issue, and do not place burdens on the affected population without compensation; this is the point being made. 

People should read about sue and settle tactics (see links in prior post) and the cash flow generated through the Equal Access to Justice Act.  Again, there appears to be a pattern of abuse.

Environmental groups collecting millions from federal agencies they sue, studies show
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/08/environmental-groups-paid-millions-by-federal-agencies-sue-studies-show/

Lummis, Barrasso Fight Activist Lawsuits
http://lummis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=243017

EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR A FEW -- (Senate - April 10, 2013)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r113:S10AP3-0016:

Equal Access to Justice Act / Justice Fund Transparency Act
http://www.publiclandscouncil.org/equalaccesstojusticeactjusticefundtransparencyact.aspx

Equal Access to Justice Act Abuse
https://www.westernlegacyalliance.org/eaja-abuse-home-page/equal-access-to-justice-act-abuse

Reform the Equal Access to Justice Act
http://www.beefusa.org/uDocs/LB-EAJA.pdf

Paying the bill for environmental litigation
http://perc.org/articles/paying-bill-environmental-litigation


Real people in Thurston County have been negatively affected by the Mazama Pocket Gopher's status and the resulting restrictions on their property with no compensation for loss of use of their land or loss in value of their property. 

Tales of Tyranny - The Jay Howell Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fYpHlzngNg

Gopher's 'Endangered' Status Irks Property Rights Leaders
http://www.myfreedomfoundation.com/blogs/olympia-report/gophers-endangered-status-irks-property-rights-leaders

Gophers, Artillery, and US Fish & Wildlife
http://www.myfreedomfoundation.com/blogs/liberty-live/gophers-artillery-and-us-fish-wildlife


Regarding the ESA and Washington's protection and reintroduction of wolves, the following book is highly recommended:

"The Real Wolf" by Ted B. Lyon and Will N. Graves (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Real-Wolf-Economics-Co-Existing/dp/159152122X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403284585&sr=8-1&keywords=the+real+wolf

It is very enlightening.