In our reading the notes bring up the environmental impact of energy production on the sage grouse. Just last week, Thursday February 2, Judge B. Lynn Winmill declined to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to take immediate action to protect the sage grouse. Environmental protection groups Western Watershed Project and WildEarth Guardians wanted the federal government to put policies in place to protect the sage grouse. The hope of the environmental groups was to have the sage grouse added to the endangered species list. This is controversial because, if added to the list, there is the potential to slow energy production in western states.
Though Judge Winmill ruled in favor of the FWS, he was critical of the lack of scientific proof in the agency’s guidelines. However, because the scientists for the agency did follow up the guidelines with the research needed to show that the guidelines were appropriate, the court allowed the guidelines to continue.
This is not the end of this debate by any means. “The Interior Department is under a separate federal court order to decide by the end of 2015 whether the birds ultimately should receive Endangered Species Act Protection.” So stay tuned.
The entire story can be found at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017417810_apwysagegrouse3rdldwritethru.html
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