Grouse Plan Amendments issued

On March 15, the Bureau of Land Management issued its Records of Decision (RODs) that amend the greater sage grouse public lands use plans in several states including Colorado. The plans, as amended, will signficantly reduce protections for large acreages of greater sage grouse habitat in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. The plans, including the Colorado plan, make it easier for companies to request and obtain waivbers, execptions or modifications to no-surface occupany stipulations. This will place a greater burden on Colorado Parks and Wildlife to monitor proposed leases and stipulations and to push back against requests for waivers, exceptions and modifications.

Here, however, is BLM’s press release: www.blm.gov/press-release/sage-grouse-conservation-plan-amendments-supported-affected-states-governors