The long-awaited decision has been made – it has been determined that the greater sage-grouse does not require protection under the Endangered Species Act ("ESA").

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service conducted a status review and found that the greater sage-grouse remains relatively abundant and does not face the risk of extinction.  The species has been withdrawn from the ESA candidate species list.

It was determined that "the primary threats to greater sage-grouse have been ameliorated by conservation efforts implemented by Federal, State and private landowners."  Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewel, champions these conservation efforts as being "unprecedented" and "extraordinary."

Secretary Jewell's announcement can be heard here.

This month, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service reportedly completed amendments to federal land use plans addressing threats to the sage-grouse – representing the largest landscape-scale conservation planning effort in U.S. history.  In addition, as I previously discussed in my blog post " Will the Greater Sage-Grouse Be Listed As An Endangered Species," states in the sage-grouse core area, such as Wyoming, played a big part in the effort by creating sage-grouse conservation plans.

We agree with Secretary Jewell that there is a bright future for the sage-grouse through the collaborative efforts of all levels of government, ranchers, conservationists and the oil and gas industry.  The decision stands to have a great impact on ranching and energy operations in the West.

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