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BLM Failed to Analyze Grazing Impacts to Sage-grouse, Judge Rules
On February 6, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that the BLM
renewed grazing permits in southwestern Idaho without fully analyzing how
the grazing allotments may affect the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus
urophasianus), a chicken-like bird that inhabits 11 western states and which
has been identified by the FWS as a candidate for listing under the
Endangered Species Act. The five renewed ranching permits cover more than
318,000 acres of public land that also contain large tracts of sensitive
sage-grouse habitat.
The Western Watersheds Project <http://www.westernwatersheds.org/> (WWP)
initiated the ruling by originally challenging 600 federal grazing
allotments covering 40 million acres across southern Idaho and Nevada. WWP
subsequently decided to concentrate on five test areas that represent a core
population of sage grouse. Winmill's 55-page ruling
<http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-idd-4_08-cv-00435/pdf/USCOURTS-idd-4_
08-cv-00435-2.pdf> stated that the BLM violated the National Environmental
Protection Act by failing to conduct an analysis of the cumulative impacts
of grazing over an adequately wide area, and violated the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act by not remaining consistent with their land use
plans, which govern the BLM's actions in the region. WWP now plans to
challenge other BLM grazing allotments in southern Idaho.
Sources: The Republic
<http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/351f139e35024071a382860bc4e52f6a/ID--
Sage-Grouse-Ruling/> (February 11, 2012), The Idaho Statesman
<http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/13/1992092/judge-b-lynn-winmill-drive
s-sage.html> (February 13, 2012), E&E Publishing LLC (Land Letter, February
16, 2012)
On February 6, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that the BLM
renewed grazing permits in southwestern Idaho without fully analyzing how
the grazing allotments may affect the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus
urophasianus), a chicken-like bird that inhabits 11 western states and which
has been identified by the FWS as a candidate for listing under the
Endangered Species Act. The five renewed ranching permits cover more than
318,000 acres of public land that also contain large tracts of sensitive
sage-grouse habitat.
The Western Watersheds Project <http://www.westernwatersheds.org/> (WWP)
initiated the ruling by originally challenging 600 federal grazing
allotments covering 40 million acres across southern Idaho and Nevada. WWP
subsequently decided to concentrate on five test areas that represent a core
population of sage grouse. Winmill's 55-page ruling
<http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-idd-4_08-cv-00435/pdf/USCOURTS-idd-4_
08-cv-00435-2.pdf> stated that the BLM violated the National Environmental
Protection Act by failing to conduct an analysis of the cumulative impacts
of grazing over an adequately wide area, and violated the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act by not remaining consistent with their land use
plans, which govern the BLM's actions in the region. WWP now plans to
challenge other BLM grazing allotments in southern Idaho.
Sources: The Republic
<http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/351f139e35024071a382860bc4e52f6a/ID--
Sage-Grouse-Ruling/> (February 11, 2012), The Idaho Statesman
<http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/13/1992092/judge-b-lynn-winmill-drive
s-sage.html> (February 13, 2012), E&E Publishing LLC (Land Letter, February
16, 2012)